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  • #3066 Reply

    Swpmn
    Spectator

    Recently, I became quite concerned over the following statement made by Lares Research:

    “Lares Research is the only laser manufacturer recognized by the Academy of Laser Dentistry as a laser training course provider”

    I’ve spent a great deal of time and effort making sure I had the minimal Standard Proficiency Certification from the Academy of Laser Dentistry(ALD) for my two chosen wavelengths. My instructors were Robert Convissar, Donald Coluzzi and John Graeber but my ALD Standard Proficiency certificates were issued from training courses offered by manufacturers other than Lares. When Lares verbally presented the claim this past weekend I decided not to argue the point because I wasn’t 100% sure of my facts.

    Well, it does appear that Lares Research is in fact the only laser manufacturer recognized by the ALD as a Dental Laser Standard Proficiency Course Provider. The other eleven Recognized Providers are individual dentists or dental hygienists. Convissar and Graeber are listed as Provisionally Recognized with some “minor revisions or edits” necessary prior to this Friday, July 15, 2005.

    What’s the deal with a single laser manufacturer being a Recognized Provider by the ALD and all of the other Recognized Providers either individual dentists or dental hygienists? Are there not individuals with Instructor/Mastership status working with Biolase, Deka, HOYA, Lumenis/Opus, Millennium Dental Technologies, ZAP, etc.?

    Wouldn’t it make just common scientific sense for the Academy not to associate itself with a particular laser manufacturer? Certainly not the first time this question has been raised as I’ve seen it once before even during my very short time as an ALD member.

    What happens if the dentist receives training from a Provisionally Recognized Provider? Is the ALD Standard Proficiency Certification invalid? How does the doctor make sure the course she/he is taking will be officially sanctioned by the ALD and result in Standard Proficiency Certification?

    I’m really kind of pi&#36&#36*d off by this seemingly vague policy and considering presentation to the Academy. If my comments are too controversial, feel free to Private Message or e-mail me: [email=”dral@clearwatersmiles.com.”]dral@clearwatersmiles.com.[/email]

    #8494 Reply

    Robert Gregg DDS
    Spectator

    Hey Al,

    All it takes to get an ALD accepted course provider status is MONEY! For ALD it’s all about the money and the politics of it.

    Del and I are Master/Educators certified by ALD. We’re not recognized because we don’t pay to be so acknowledged–assuming they would accept our course curriculum anyway.

    It would makes sense not to be so closely affliated with one company. That’s what got ALD into CREDIBILITY trouble with so many manufacturers other than American Dental Laser (ADL) in 1990 that led the others to conclude ALD was biased against all lasers except FRP Nd:YAG and specifically ADL’s Nd:YAG.

    Now ALD is doing it again? What a surprise! Are some of the same people involved? Yep.

    For Lares Research that has no clinicians qualified in ALD Educator status it’s kind of amazing they qualify for anything clinical/educational/instructional. Heck, they don’t even understand FWFM.

    But they get away with it by having Prof Joel White on their payroll who is the keeper of the Category II Standard Proficienct CD-ROMs. He crafted a custom CD-ROM modified from those that the 1st Educators Course paid for and gave to Lares for a piece of the action in 1999 and (imagine this!) it was approved by the scientific and certification committee that White oversees at ALD!!

    ALD has very arbitrary standards for “accepted” course providers and recognized instructors. They give ALD SP to those who watch an inadequate CD-ROM with a self-test, yet refused (for 2 years) to ackowledge/recognize MDT’s 3 Day Bootcamp with clinical hands-on and tests above and beyond the requirements spelled-out in the the Curiculum Guidelines for Dental Laser Education.

    When I was on the Board of ALD, I tried to warn the good folks on the board at the time like Emile Martin, Dennis Petrinni, Steve Parker that ALD was risking irrelevance if they don’t apply their standards fairly and even-handedly. (They felt they did since they accepted cash, checks, credit cards, money orders, Western Union)

    When two or three people have undue influence in an organization, other people’s opinions don’t matter if they conflict with the agendas and parochialism of the Powers that be–such an organization can get in trouble.

    When WCLI came on the scene the statement was made by Biolase that they considered ALD irrelevant.

    When ALD kept changing the requirements for MDT to obtain course recognition from year to year, failed MDT customers during Advanced Proficiency saying hygienists can regenerate bone (so LANAP is not that advanced of a laser procedure), and Joel White’s SP taught that long pulse duration was a marketing gimmick, Del and felt the ALD’s biases had gone too far.

    I resigned from the ALD board, Del and I quite ALD as both corporatre and individual members.

    It’s been 5 years.

    We used to buy an ALD membership for each customer of MDT–the first company to ever do that. Other companies followed, for a while, until we resigned. No longer. I actually think the ALD Crew got scared of the increasing members from MDT thinking they might loose their power base. Never even ocurred to us. But that’s how important complete control over the agenda is to them.

    So take heart Al. Your certificates are as good as they ever were–they just were not all that necessary and important in the first place. 12 to 15 years ago, AP and AP WERE important since most of what we did as early adopters clinically was all FDA “off-label” uses.

    Nearly everything we do now with our lasers is FDA cleared, hence the need for separate qualifications establishing that we are education based in our clinical applications and not wild Cowboys are just not as necessary.

    Standard proficiency will evolve away from ALD as lasers become accepted and taught in dental schools and CE courses. I’ve done CE courses at UCLA and I’m talking with other schools to develop a CE curriculum for laser standard proficiency that will follow accepted guidelines for education psychometrics and recognition by State Boards, not the narrow politics of a few in an organization that has strayed from the intention of the Founding organizers

    So, Allen, I think you should be upset as a lot of others have been over the lack of a cogent, fair, evenly applied, clearly stated policy from ALD. And it should invlove more than “they paid their corporate dues”……

    Bob

    #8508 Reply

    cadavis
    Spectator

    I joined the ALD recently, although I really wish I hadn’t. I took the standard proficiency course through OpusDent (Symphony of Light). It was supposedly ALD certified. The program binder actually had a seal stating “ALD RECOGNIZED STANDARD PROFICIENCY PROVIDER” right on the cover. Unfortunately, I found out that ALD no longer recognizes OpusDent, so my certification is invalid from their point of view. They said I’d have to take it over again by one of “their” instructors. I apparently can’t go on to more advanced certification until I do.
    So I wasted good money on a membership in a f***ed up organization. That’s what I get for not doing my homework.

    Chris Davis

    #8488 Reply

    Glenn van As
    Spectator

    Now Chris, my question is why does the ALD not recognize Opus Dent.

    I would like to know this. I am a member of the ALD and I can easily touch base with some people I know to find out some more information for you about this.

    Do you want to take the ALD standard proficiency exam. I would definitely get Opus to pay for your course then or start a minor war with them.

    I can ask Ken Magid if he knows what is going on with Opus to find out about this.

    Please let me know if you want me to help you find out how to get to the bottom of this. I would first approach the Opus people and see if they wont get you accredited (because the arent) then I would demand that they pay for your testing with the ALD. After all you paid for their laser, its the least they can do.

    Let me know if you want me to lean on a few people for you.

    Give me some more details about what happened.

    Thanks

    Glenn

    #8499 Reply

    Robert Gregg DDS
    Spectator

    Glenn, Al, and All,

    ALD is increasingly isolating themself. They have never recognized MDT’s Standard Proficiency even when we were corporate members, Certified Dental Laser Educators, etc.

    Course recognition is only for the Chosen Few and those who meet mystery requirements–including money of course.

    It gets better.

    I am at the CDA San Francisco Sept 10, 2005.

    There was a “Lasers in Dentistry” seminar put on today by Joel White, Don Coluzzi, and Peter Reichman–sometimes known and identified through their close association with the ALD–Recognized “Big S” standard proficiency providers and all.;)

    Nearly every laser company in attendance at the CDA was representated at the seminar from what I could see as I stood and looked in the open door. Millennium’s participation was refused.

    There were multiple diodes represented, multiple erbiums plateforms represented, other FRP Nd:YAGs represented.

    But the only FRP Nd:YAG (the Periolase) with 7 variable pulse durations, a built-in power meter, joule counter, procedure driven menu calibrated for a new and exclusive FDA perio clearance for “laser assisted new attachment procedure” (LANAP) was refused participation.:confused:

    Fascinating………..

    A few manufacturers who were included later asked me why we didn’t participate. When I told them we were not allowed to participate after requesting to do so, they were incredulous.:confused: :confused:

    This is the second show–the AGD in Washington DC was the first–where we were told that the sponsor could exclude whomever they wanted.

    Just an FYI to those who think its just isolated, accidental, or temporary.
    Bob

    #8489 Reply

    Glenn van As
    Spectator

    Bob , that is sad to see. I wonder why there are these political games in the ALD arena. I for one think that there is room fo rall the laser companies to be involved.

    I dont really know how many lasers are “sold” at these meetings. I think many come to hear what lasers can do. The buying time often takes 6-7 exposures before someone will buy anyways.

    I hope that it all gets rectified. I like the ALD because of its science basis. I have learned alot from the academy but I hate the political aspect of what seems to be a common occurrence and I hope that eventually it will return to a clinical, less political arena with the emphasis on science and less on rhetoric.

    Hope the rest of the meeting is better for you.

    Sincerely,

    Glenn

    #8505 Reply

    Swpmn
    Spectator
    QUOTE
    I joined the ALD recently, although I really wish I hadn’t.   I took the standard proficiency course through OpusDent (Symphony of Light).  It was supposedly ALD certified.  The program binder actually had a seal stating “ALD RECOGNIZED STANDARD PROFICIENCY PROVIDER” right on the cover.  Unfortunately, I found out that ALD no longer recognizes OpusDent, so my certification is invalid from their point of view.  They said I’d have to take it over again by one of “their” instructors.  I apparently can’t go on to more advanced certification until I do.  
    So I wasted good money on a membership in a f***ed up organization.  That’s what I get for not doing my homework.

    Chris Davis

    No, no, no, that ain’t gonna work. This is precisely the confusion I was alluding to when starting this thread and now it has come to “light”. With the exception of Lares, the ALD Standard Proficiency Certification can only be obtained via instruction from Recognized dentists or dental hygienists. If anyone does not have access to the list of Recognized Providers I will gladly post the list on the forum.

    Opus WAS a Recognized Provider in 2003 but they are not today. What they are doing Dr. Davis is using the same ALD-stamped course binder they gave myself and Dr. David Kimmel that year. ALD even had a “recruitment booth” in the back of the seminar room. The Academy’s association with Opus that year was a source of controversy.

    Dr. Davis, what you need to do is:

    1) Photocopy your binder which has the ALD logo and send a letter to the ALD DEMANDING that your Standard Proficiency be recognized.

    2) Send a similar letter to Opus DEMANDING:
    a) A full refund of course fee or,
    b) As Dr. van As suggested, Opus pay the fee for you to obtain Standard Proficiency at the Source 2006 in Arizona

    Do not let this go. It is absolutely absurd that a doctor can be led to believe they are obtaining ALD Standard Proficiency and then being told the course was not recognized.

    Al

    #8490 Reply

    Glenn van As
    Spectator

    I discussed this with the ALD by email. IT is exactly as Allan mentioned.

    The course must be provided by an accredited course provider.

    The course must be recognized by the ALD.

    I would be pissed off at Opus for this in my opinion because they are the ones leading you to believe that the course would be recognized by the ALD when they are not a recognized provider. If someone outside of the company provides the information then it will be recognized.

    I hope that helps you, great stuff Allan and yes this is not good when companies mislead people on the ALD certification which is going to and is right now becoming alot harder to obtain.

    Glenn

    #8500 Reply

    Robert Gregg DDS
    Spectator

    Glenn,

    I don’t think Opus is to blame. I’d check out the story a bit more.

    I spoke with John Rice from Opus this weekend and ALD may have retroactively inactivating past participants’ course recognition.

    This is the same as they have done in other matters like my Charter (Founding) Membership. Even though no one at ALD disputes that Del and I are founding members–recognized in the “Charter Membership” category (and the plaque that we both have)–they refused to recognize it on our Source Membership badges when we came back as members in 1997 since our membership was not continuous.

    Bob

    #8506 Reply

    Swpmn
    Spectator

    A follow up on this thread to demonstrate the confusion over ALD Standard Proficiency:

    On the http://www.symphony-of-light.com website, there are four seminars advertised through the end of this year. While all four have a heading “…& Certification Program”, if one reads carefully, only one of the seminars mentions ALD Standard Proficiency. Yet I double checked the ALD website again today, and neither the company or the instructors are listed as Recognized Standard Proficiency Course Providers.

    But to quote the ALD website(http://www.laserdentistry.org):

    An applicant who has taken a non-recognized course would not be accepted.

    …………………………………………

    What gives? Beats me or perhaps I’m beating a dead horse. But many of us were lead to believe that attaining Standard Proficiency from the ALD was the “standard of care” to demonstrate that we had some idea of what the heck we were doing. The idea that doctors may be misled on their Certification greatly disturbs me.

    #8491 Reply

    Glenn van As
    Spectator

    Hi folks……..I got an email from Stu Coleton who forwarded Gail Siminovksy reply (CAE of the ALD)

    WHat it said is that in order to get Standard Proficiency the course but be given by a member of the ALD who has been given RCP (Recognized Course Provider) by the ALD.

    In the past Drs. Joel White, Peter Rechmann and others have offered the lecturing for Opus.

    If the course was not taught by someone who is recognized as a registered course provider then the standard proficiency will not be given out by the ALD.

    The company may have used handout materials that were used in a course taught by someone who was capable of being the RCP but in this case it most likely wasnt.

    I hope that this clears up any confusion on the matter. Basically the course was probably taught by someone not recognized by the ALD and as such the course should not have been advertised as being provided as a standard proficiency course.

    Hope this helps…….

    Glenn

    #8480 Reply

    Don Coluzzi
    Spectator

    Hello everyone: I very seldom post, but I enjoy reading all of the threads. I do need to say something about five things in this thread.
    First for Al Williams: Lares is not a Standard Coure Provider. There has to be a dentist who is a Standard Course Provider as a lead faculty at any Lares Course. I’ve been making a fuss about this at ALD for some time now, and ALD’s language about SCP’s is clear, BUT somehow Lares didn’t get the correct verbiage on their brochure…..Rest assured that if Lares schedules an ALD recognized Standard Course, there will be an ALD recognized Course provider there to teach it.
    Second, for Bob Gregg: Bob, please don’t say that “…all it takes is money…” for “…ALD accepted course provider status…” You know that’s not true, and further, it shouldn’t be a “mystery” nor are there “very arbitrary standards” at ALD for a recognized course provider. The rest of your verbiage of your July 13 post is incredible. I’m surprised at your anger and vehement disregard for the facts in your posts, Bob. I thought you were better than that! Then I get to your more recent posts, and I still see your distortion and anger.
    Third, for Dr. Chris Davis: Chris, you were lied to by Opus, and it’s that simple. Just so you know, the ALD recognized Course Provider list was updated at the ALD New Orleans meeting early last April. Opus knew then, and still knows now what and who has to be present to give a recognized course (like Lares, above.) You should follow Al Williams’ suggestions and get this rectified from Opus. Once again, I’m really disappointed in (I still think of him as a friend) Bob Gregg’s proclaiming another untruth about “….ALD’s retroactively inactivating past participant’s course recognition.” Bob, please, this sort of thing can form a terrible, viscious, and false rumor–don’t say things like that.
    Fourth: For Bob again: I really would like to know why your company was “locked out” of the CDA meeting. As one of the presenters, I was told that CDA did all of the arranging for the laser devices to be present for our hands-on course. I’ll try and find out more, because it’s absolutely terrible that you were discriminated against at CDA, if that’s really what happened. I can’t speak for the AGD meeting, but I dismayed that the same thing happened twice.
    Fifth (and last, thank God) Standard Proficiency is important, honorable, and a significant achievement for any laser practitioner. There are efforts by a few of us to insert it into a dental school curriculum (thanks Bob, for your work on that) All ALD has been trying to do is to make sure the course that ALD recognizes is the best educational experience possible. So, Dr. Chris, sorry that you think ALD is f***ed up, but the reality is that Opus lied to you. E mail me privately, don@laser-dentistry.com, if you want to take about either ALD or if I can be of any help to you with your Opus problem. Dr. Al, your advice is right on–if one wants an ALD recognized Standard Course, one needs to make sure that the course provider (company, individual) is truthful about that going in. Dr. Bob–please be careful making such outrageous statements–you’ve contributed so much to lasers in dentistry, I like that huge part of you and detest your rumors and innuendos. Thanks for reading this far………………..DON

    #8495 Reply

    Robert Gregg DDS
    Spectator

    Don,

    I am better than you described me.  

    Nothing I said was untrue, said out of “disregard” for the facts, “distorted” or said out of anger.  

    Del and I and MDT/IALD experienced the issues I raised 1st hand, so nothing was exaggerated or false.

    These are matters we dealt with at ALD with arbitrary application of Provider course standards.  Maybe you need to learn the specifics before you accuse me of making “outrageous” statements.  But you in particular never bothered to inquire why I resigned from the ALD Board, or why Del and I resigned our individual and MDT its corporate membership.  So how would you know?

    The truth hurts and it often offends and if the ALD believes I have defamed them then they can come here and defend themselves.  I understand that they lurk here on a regular basis but never post.  Are YOU their unofficial spokesperson?  I’ll be happy to spar with you…….in pubic, where you can’t easily dismiss the content.

    Like many bureaucracies and organizations, the ALD doesn’t like their unfair and arbitrary applications exposed to the light of day.  Well, I’m not afraid to say what no one else is willing to say–sort of why I piss people and organizations off who don’t like hearing what everyone else is thinking, or worse, experiencing.

    You say it’s not about the money with ALD.  You either don’t know what you are talking about are the one not being honest.

    In advance of Laser Hands-On Lecture at the AGD meeting, my staff at MDT was told by ALD staff that we were not invited to the workshop–and could not attend.  (I can easily share the email exchanges here if you’d like).  

    I personally called the AGD and was told that it was an ALD sponsored meeting and the sponsor could exclude anyone they wanted and we were being excluded.  When we were discussing with ALD, we were told that if we bought an ALD Corporate Membership for &#365,000, then we would be allowed to attend the ALD sponsored AGD Workshop.  This from an academy with a supposed interest in representing all things lasers to the entire dental profession?!

    So, my friend, don’t you dare tell me or the rest of the audience that it’s not about the money with ALD.  Don’t tell me and everyone else that I am reporting “vicious”, “false”, “rumor” or “innuendo”, when I know the facts first hand–and you have yet to discover them.  It puts your integrity into question.

    And MDT is not the only company that was forced to pay “conditional” (extortion?) money–not sponsorship money to support the workshop or AGD–but ALD payola.  Other companies were required to pay MUCH more than &#365,000.  One company executive told me they were required to pay &#3620,000 in order to participate.

    The CDA Workshop issue was handled by Del so I don’t have the specifics.  (Integrity in reporting and representation?) But Del told me several times that he made contact with the meeting/workshop organizers and was told MDT was excluded.  (Heresay until Del posts and confirms.)

    When you came to shake my hand at the door during  the start of the CDA Laser Workshop, I guess it didn’t occur to you to ask why we weren’t participating?  But you didn’t stand still long enough to inquire before returning to your seat.  Since neither I nor MDT was invited, I left.  And curiosity never called on you to find out more during the entire time MDT had a booth that entire weekend.  Del and I found that interesting, but not surprising.  Kinda like after my ALD Board resignation.

    Call me a disgruntled Founder of the ALD, but don’t describe me as angry–or a “Charter Member” (because that was retroactively revoked by the ALD Board :confused:  ).

    Care to describe my characterizations about the revoking of my Charter Membership status being a vicious, false, disappointing, untrue statement?  I’m still waiting for the ALD Police to show up at my office and take back my plaque that says “Charter Member”. 😉  Good luck. cool.gif

    Don, do you really think, and want to honestly represent to all who read here that I’m the only past ALD “contributor” to feel as I do?  Hardly.  Where are all the old ALD Presidents at the annual meetings?  Pick, Rosenberg, Kutsch, Passes, to name a few?  Why don’t they come to the annual meetings anymore?

    Do you want me to continue to outline the curious and arbitrary activities of the ALD on this forum?

    Why has attendance at ALD annual meeting been stagnant for the past 5 years?

    How on earth did John Featherstone receive the TH Maiman for research award when he wasn’t even an ALD member? That was not policy as I remember from the ALD By-Laws.

    How on earth was John Featherstone granted an honorary membership in ALD when he was mostly critical of ALD and otherwise the boss of Joel White at UCSF?

    You all in the ALD need to do some serious soul-searching as you have lost your collective way and the mission and goals for ALD that people like me and Del, and many others who were among the original Founders/Charter members before you and the new group changed the direction of ALD.

    Okay Don Coluzzi, here’s one you didn’t like:

    Once again, I’m really disappointed in (I still think of him as a friend) Bob Gregg’s proclaiming another untruth about “….ALD’s retroactively inactivating past participant’s course recognition.”  Bob, please, this sort of thing can form a terrible, viscious, and false rumor–don’t say things like that.

    Fact:  ALD doesn’t recognize the Standard Proficiency of any dentist who took a course from a once recognized ALD Course Provider, if the provider no longer is recognized for not paying their membership dues.  This is retroactive back to when a dentist took a SP course when the Provider was recognized.

    If it isn’t ALD “official” policy, then someone needs to tell ALD staff, since MDT customers who took SP when we were (conditionally) recognized SP providers were told later that ALD didn’t recognize their MDT/IALD certification.

    So, Don Coluzzi, please don’t act shocked, “disappointed” or outraged.  We could settle the issue with a post of the written and established policy on this website and proove me all WRONG!  Why doesn’t the ALD staff do it since they lurk and could make the post themselves?

    But then, the policy would be disclosed and have to be followed and applied evenly and not arbitrarily.  Darn!

    I fully expect for ALD to continue to marginalize me, Del, MDT, Laser ANAP, the variable pulsed PerioLase MVP-7, Professor Ray Yukna and his 3rd largest human histology in the perio literature (not a “small” study as represented by you and others) whether we are corporate members or not.

    In marginalizing us, ALD marginalizes itself.

    Keep smiling! 😉

    Bob

    #8481 Reply

    Don Coluzzi
    Spectator

    Hello Bob: Now I’m more confused than before. My intention in my previous post was to clarify things for Drs Al and Chris and to also defend and explain what I called (among other things) your inaccurate statements, which, although you disagree are still inaccurate.
    I do appreciate your comments about the AGD meeting, which as I said I knew nothing about. If, in fact ALD paid to have that even, I guess the ALD can invite whomever it wishes. However, it’s even more mysterious to me what could have happened behind the scenes at the CDA. I did shake your hand, and then I had to get to work–you’re right, I wasn’t paying attention to you participating or not, because I thought CDA set up everything. I hope to learn more from CDA next week about that.
    Bob, I still hold my position about what you’ve said.
    There are no arbitrary or mysterious things about becoming a Course Provider. You said you were provisionally recognized, so you know know that. There always has been a rigorous protocol for submission and review of the materials to the ALD, and, except for a fee of &#36250., it’s not about money. When you say things like arbitrary and it’s only about money, you’re wrong.
    Corporate sponsorship is a different thing, and yes it costs money, as does all advertising, product promotion, and exhbiting. This has nothing to do with a Standard Course. Your comments about payola and extortion are disgusting, and whatever company official told you about paying &#3620000 probably was including all of the advertising costs and fees that the company spent with ALD for the year. I do know that the 2005 Corporate Membership dues are &#36795.
    Just for the record, I am speaking as a member of the ALD, and as a member of the Certification Committee, that oversees things like Standard and Advanced Proficiency. You state that “
    Fact: ALD doesn’t recognize the Standard Proficiency of any dentist who took a course from a once recognized ALD Course Provider, if the provider no longer is recognized for not paying their membership dues. This is retroactive back to when a dentist took a SP course when the Provider was recognized.”
    That “fact” is entirely false. An ALD recognized Standard Proficiency certificate is valid forever (whatever time frame that is.) It requires no dues payment, does not expire, needs no renewal. If the Standard Course provider no longer is recognized (like you) that doesn’t change the certificates you gave out when you were recognized, even provisionally. However, using Dr. Davis’ post about Opus as an example, if there’s not an ALD recognized Course Provider there, the certificate is not ALD recognized. It’s as simple as that. The course content and teaching are not any less of a good thing, it’s just that the course isn’t recognized. I can’t believe that any ALD staff (all three of them!) ever said that your ALD recognized courses and the certificates produced were now invalid. My fact above is the truth, and that’s the policy.
    I hope this clarifies the Standard Course and certificate discussion–that’s the policy, and I thought you knew it–we don’t have to disclose anything, and the light of day doesn’t bring anything different to the words.
    To pick a couple of nits: I don’t know what your deal is on “lurking,” I’m not speaking for anyone other than myself and my ALD membership understanding, and your opinion of ALD loosing its collective way is only one view. ALD has tremendous support and is a viable organization. The marginalization you mention is something that I personally don’t want, but you need to revisit your facts, as you’ve stated them–you accuse me of not knowing what I’m talking about, and I will say the same for you.
    We’ll “talk” again…………DON

    #8493 Reply

    Michael D Swick
    Spectator

    From the desk of: Michael D. Swick DMD Chair of Education ALD.

    These are the official policies of the ALD Board regarding RCPs, recognized course providers and Certification.

    1.Anyone who successfully completes a standard course given by a recognized course provider prior to 2006 is granted the status of standard proficient by the course provider for the Academy, by necessity this will change slightly in 2006.
    2.If the course provider was provisionally recognized at the time of the course, whether the provider achieves full RCP status or not, the candidate will still be granted Standard Proficiency.
    3.If the former RCP’s course was not granted provisional acceptance or was rejected at the time of reapplication the courses will not be recognized. This is retroactive to the deadline for reapplication as stated in the letter received by the RCP. Integrity dictates this is the responsibility of the course provider to inform the candidates their current status not the duty of the Academy as there is no mechanism available to do so unless the candidate contacts the Academy for verification. The ALD posts the names of RCPs but not the names of providers who have lost their status.
    4.If a RCP later allows his or her RCP status to lapse the persons who have attained Standard Proficiency status will still be recognized as Standard Proficient as long as the RCP was recognized when the course was taken. Once a level of certification is attained the ALD has no mechanism for its removal.
    5.The current policy is that RCPs are recognized for a period of three years. At that time reapplication and review for RCP status must be made in a timely manner in order for courses to maintain approval. The Policies and Procedures for Recognition and Renewal of Dental Laser Education Courses and Teaching Faculty-ALD Recognized Dental Laser Standard Proficiency Course Providers were adopted by the board of directors and became enforceable June 3, 2004. All Standard Course providers were notified in writing that their current recognition would have expired April 1, 2005 by a letter dated June 16 2004 and they were encouraged to submit for a 3 year recognition 2005-2008, by October 15, 2004.
    6.Corporate Policy. Specifically, in regard to Lares, since there have been many inquires regarding their approval as a course provider. As they have stated, currently they are the only approved corporate Recognized Course Provider, not by the Academy’s choice or some special association of Lares with the Academy, but due to the fact that they are the only ones who bothered to apply for corporate Recognition. To clarify the situation though, in the manual of policy sent to all RCP’s it clearly states that if a an academic institution, a company or other organization requests to be a RCP at least one of the persons on their teaching faculty (the lead faculty) must also be an ALD RCP and must teach a major portion of the program. (This implies a live presentation performed by a RCP). With regard to the CD Lares uses, it is a nice adjunct course material but in itself does not meet the requirements as defined by the education committee for an ALD standard proficiency course. Lares however is free to give their own laser certification from the CD but it is not recognized but the ALD for Standard Proficiency Certification without an approved course provider giving an approved live course. These statements come from the June 2004 Policy revision and have been reviewed by the committee and verified.

    The full text of the policy can be found in:

    The Policies and Procedures for Recognition and Renewal of Dental Laser Education Courses and Teaching Faculty-ALD Recognized Dental Laser Standard Proficiency Course Providers

    Prepared June 2003 by:

    Peter Rechmann, Professor Dr.med.dent.
    Chair, Education and Research Committee

    Dr. Bill Siminovsky, Vice Chair
    Dr. Craig Gimbel
    Dr. Fritz Parkins
    Dr. Michael Swick
    Mr. John Sulewski
    Gail Siminovsky, Executive director

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