A Brief History Of The HCDA

When I began practicing in Columbia in 1973, Howard and Anne Arundel Counties were combined into one unit known as The Western Shore Dental Association, most of our meetings were held in Glen Burnie, and perhaps 75% or more of the membership was from AA county. During those years, two Howard Countians served as Western Shore President, Dennis Sullivan and George Krupinsky. In Howard County, Fred Schoenbrodt, Chris O'connell, Raj Saini, Charles Smith, Phil Markin and others helped with public health activities such as health screenings for the handicapped, childrens' dental health week, and a county wide emergency phone line for patients without a dentist.

This semi formal group became known as the Howard County Dental Study Club and met in Raj Saini's Century Plaza office for quite a few years, but by the early 1980's, it became apparent that neither Western Shore nor the Howard County Dental Study Club could adequately address local issues, so with the help of the HCDSC and the leadership of Steve White, Raj Saini, Phil Markin and others, Howard County got its own charter and split with Western Shore in 1984. Western Shore was gracious and donated enough money for the initial funding of the HCDA treasury.

For the past 20 years, we've had about four meetings a year with speakers for CE credits. We've sponsored two all day seminars, donated to local charities,and helped the health department open a dental clinic. We've had meetings for staff and family and a very well attended harbor dinner cruise. We've held our meetings at Crystal's, Kings Contrivance, the Sheraton, the Belmont, the Best Western, and now, That's Amore.

Our leaders have included Steve White, Raj Saini, Phil Markin, Ted Sobkov, George Hurwitz, Fred Schoenbrot, Byron Bonebreak, Charles Smith, Richard Nessif, Kevin Doring, Joe Davidson, Barbara Tatum, Robert Eggert, Casey Crafton, Ernest England, Robert Winnard,Ty Saini, and our president elect is Burt Waxman. Some have served more than one term. Charles Smith, Ed Gillis, and Merv Pinerman have been our Trustees.

Ed Gillis has served as MSDA President and Joe Davidson has served as MSDA Vice President, and convention scientific chairman. Our members Eric Katkow and Richard Tatum have served on the Board of Dental Examiners. Ted Sobkov played an important roll in the formation of DAC, Ed Gillis and Dennis Sullivan played key rolls in developing the Maryland Forensic Dental Program, and David Halpern has been a national leader with the AGD.

It is difficult to condense two or three decades of activity into a few paragraphs so I am sure I have left important events out, and I'm positive I have not mentioned many of the people who have contributed to the success of our society.I apologize for these ommisions.

The HCDA has been an important part of my life because of the people and the goals we've undertaken. I hope it will be part of your lives also.

Respectfully submitted, Joseph Davidson DDS