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79R10456 MMS-D

By:  Pena                                                         H.R. No. 1275



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Texas Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) plays a 
vital role in advancing excellence in dental care through its 
support and promotion of high-quality continuing dental education 
(CE); and
	WHEREAS, Established in 1961 as a constituent of the national 
Academy of General Dentistry, the Texas AGD is the second-largest 
dental organization in the state, with more than 2,400 members; and
	WHEREAS, The Texas academy provides outstanding educational 
programs to its members through its 14 local components, through 
the Lone Star Dental Conference, which it instituted in 1991, and 
through its cosponsorship of speakers at the annual meetings of the 
Texas Dental Association and the Southwest Dental Conference at 
Dallas; the organization also reviews program providers and 
approves those that meet the "14 Standards of Quality Continuing 
Education"; and
	WHEREAS, Each year, in addition, the Texas AGD confers one of 
the most prestigious awards a Texas dentist can receive, 
designation as Texas Dentist of the Year; and
	WHEREAS, Dentists who belong to the state academy are 
required to meet the high standards set by the national AGD, which 
mandates that members maintain 75 CE hours over a three-year 
period, more than double the number of hours required by the State 
Board of Dental Examiners for relicensure; and
	WHEREAS, The AGD also bestows two distinctions on members who 
meet the rigorous criteria of those ranks:  Fellowship, for those 
who have belonged to the AGD for at least three years, who have 
completed 500 CE hours, and who have passed a rigorous examination; 
and Mastership, for Fellows who have gone on to complete a 
challenging course of hands-on study, totaling 600 CE hours, in 16 
dental disciplines; and
	WHEREAS, At the annual meeting of the national academy in 
2004, the admirable efforts of the Texas AGD and its members were 
recognized with the Constituent of the Year Award; Website of the 
Year Award; Public Information Award; and Continuing Education 
Award of Excellence, Honorable Mention; and
	WHEREAS, For more than four decades, the Texas AGD has 
encouraged and facilitated the continuing education of general 
dentists in Texas and contributed immeasurably to the outstanding 
quality of oral health care in the Lone Star State; and
	WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Pena has justly recognized the 
Texas AGD by authoring this resolution in its behalf during the 
Regular Session of the 79th Texas Legislature; now, therefore, be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the Texas Academy of General Dentistry 
for its commitment to fostering excellence in the field of general 
dentistry and extend to its staff and its members sincere best 
wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the Texas Academy of General Dentistry as an 
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.