{"id":11781,"date":"2023-03-29T10:56:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T14:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/?page_id=11781"},"modified":"2025-01-02T12:23:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T17:23:11","slug":"mda-health-and-well-being-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/practice-resources\/programs-services\/health-and-well-being\/mda-health-and-well-being-program\/","title":{"rendered":"MDA Health and Well-Being Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>MDA Health and Well-Being Program<\/h1>\n<p><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1680537302152{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221;]Substance abuse and other addictions are real hazards to dental professionals. You may feel shame, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness. Likewise, the stress of dental practice can sometimes become unmanageable. Your practice, your reputation, and the well-being of your family, patients, and employees are all at stake.<\/p>\n<p>Start the recovery process through the MDA Health and Well-Being Program. This advocacy program matches those in need with concerned colleagues who\u2019ve had similar experiences or who are familiar with addiction, recovery, or related issues.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_cta h2=&#8221;Reach Out Today&#8221; txt_align=&#8221;center&#8221; color=&#8221;turquoise&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1735838575991{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>517-346-9453<\/h4>\n<p>8 a.m. until 4 p.m.<br \/>\nMonday through Friday<\/p>\n<p>Or, email using the button below.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"mailto:care@michigandental.org\">Send Email<\/a><\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_cta][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1680101559994{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>How the Program Works<\/h3>\n<p>The MDA Health and Well-Being Program matches those in need with concerned colleagues who\u2019ve had similar experiences or who are familiar with addiction, recovery, or related issues. The program assists MDA members, their families, or staff in recovery, and is completely confidential. Just speak with the the staff and you&#8217;ll be given the number of a concerned colleague who is also a program member. After your initial call, background information is gathered so you can start getting the help you need. If you&#8217;re calling about a family or dental team member, you&#8217;ll be informed about contact made with them regarding your concerns. Your identity, family, and practice are protected at all times, so all you have to worry about is getting your life back.<\/p>\n<h3>Reporting Impaired Colleagues<\/h3>\n<p>The safety of patients, co-workers, and their families always takes first priority. As a health professional, you may find yourself having &#8220;reasonable cause to believe&#8221; that a colleague is &#8220;impaired.&#8221; You are required by state law to report the person to state licensure authorities. Mandatory reporting doesn&#8217;t apply if you obtain the knowledge as a patient or when serving on a peer review committee for a professional association or health facility. Michigan law also requires licensees to report their own convictions by calling the state at 517-373-3196 or calling the Michigan Health Professionals Recovery Program at 800-453-3784.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>What People Are Saying &#8230;<\/h3>\n<p>The following are testimonials from dental professionals and their spouses about the MDA Care and Well-Being Program:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember standing out in the garage drinking my vodka and orange juice. I said, \u2018you\u2019re killing yourself, you\u2019re going to lose everything. From deep inside the voice of addiction said, \u2018I don\u2019t care. I like to drink.\u2019 I never want to forget that voice. It said I no longer had the ability to choose not to drink. A little over 15 years ago my wife called the MDA and asked for help. They put her in touch with the MDA\u2019s Care and Well-Being Program. They did an intervention and just may have saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cStopping drinking was the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever done, and thank God there was the MDA Care and Well Being Program to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never felt so much freedom in all my life since I\u2019ve given up drinking and drugging.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cI was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I got help. Thank you, MDA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cI can remember my dad was always in a very strange mood when he drank. He was always too emotional, and either very angry or very loving. Now that he\u2019s sober, he\u2019s an incredible dad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Daughter of an MDA member<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cOne of the things that hurt a lot was being embarrassed in front of people. Fights with spouses or others. I was embarrassed to have friends over because I never knew what you were going to say or how you were going to act. You definitely had a different personality when you drank. I&#8217;m extremely glad you don\u2019t drink anymore. You are so much more fun to be around now. I don&#8217;t have to worry about what kind of mood you&#8217;ll be in. I&#8217;m never embarrassed to be with you anymore. I know you will always be there for me now. I am so proud of everything you have done. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dental spouse<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cToday I am in good recovery. I am grateful for all the help I\u2019ve received &#8230; Today, I know that I have a choice to be happy in this life \u2014 if I choose to remain in recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cThe MDA\u2019s Care and Well-Being Program has assisted over 200 Michigan dental professionals. Many dental family members in recovery today are leading sober lives, and their mental or emotional disorders are under control, thanks to the Care and Well-Being Program committee referrals to treatment facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A Care and Well-Being Program committee member<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s reassuring to know you can always call your MDA Care and Well-Being Program first and get the answers you may need to save a practice, a career, and maybe a life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A Care and Well-Being Program committee member<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\u201cThe doctor admitted to his addictions and knew he had to seek help. He got it, and he has been a new man for the past 8 years. He has a wonderful practice and a great outlook on his life. He has a beautiful grandchild he can truly enjoy and all of my respect. What a difference on decision can make! I will always be a believer in him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 A dental team member<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text] MDA Health and Well-Being Program [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1680537302152{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221;]Substance abuse and other addictions are real hazards to dental professionals. You may feel shame, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness. Likewise, the stress of dental practice can sometimes become unmanageable. Your practice, your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":934,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-template-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","protect_children":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-11781","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-11-17 09:25:57","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11781"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20286,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11781\/revisions\/20286"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}