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SUMMARY: In this episode, Ryan Dunn and Paul Logan provide updates on the Virginia General Assembly's busy legislative session. They discuss the Virginia Dental Association's (VDA) proactive efforts concerning oral healthcare legislation and budget requests. Key topics include the fate of House Bill 537, which sought to prohibit water fluoridation, and Senate Bill 99, which sought to lift the medical malpractice cap for young patients. The episode also covers various budget requests, including funding for the Virginia Community College System's dental hygiene programs, the VCU School of Dentistry's new facilities, and opposition to cuts to Virginia’s dental Medicaid benefit. They also cover VDA bills, which provide pathways for skilled international dental providers to apply for hygiene licensure and enable dental assistants to expand their roles. VDA members are encouraged to contact their legislators and to continue their advocacy and engagement.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles with four national and statewide associations while also spending time working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

GUEST(S): Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his three- and six-year-old daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA Action Alert on Workforce

Sign up for VDA Text Alerts

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Guest(s): Paul Logan

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to thefulcrumpodcast@vadental.org.

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice.

Music in this episode from Epidemic Sound

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In this episode, Ryan Dunn and Paul Logan recap a successful Lobby Day and discuss legislation the VDA supports and opposes, including efforts to protect community water fluoridation, maintain adult Medicaid dental benefits, and strengthen the dental workforce. The episode also highlights VDA-backed bills to expand the VCU School of Dentistry, expedite pathways for internationally educated dentists to become hygienists, and certification for dental assistants to perform scaling and polishing. Throughout the conversation, Ryan and Paul emphasize how member involvement is vital in shaping and protecting the future of dentistry in Virginia.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles with four national and statewide associations while also spending time working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

GUEST(S): Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his three- and six-year-old daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA Action Alert on Medical Malpractice

VDA Action Alert on Workforce

Sign up for VDA Text Alerts

Johns Hopkins Study - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Periodontal Expanded Function Dental Assistants

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Guest(s): Paul Logan

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to thefulcrumpodcast@vadental.org.

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice.

Music in this episode from Epidemic Sound

Send us a review.

In this episode, Ryan Dunn, CEO at the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), is joined by Paul Logan, the VDA’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. They discuss the VDA's focused advocacy efforts in anticipation of the 2026 General Assembly. Specifically, they highlight a 'three-legged stool' approach: advocating for increased budget for dental workforce programs, creating an expedited licensure path for internationally trained dentists to practice hygiene, and introducing a preventative assistant role to alleviate workforce shortages. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of dental workforce issues, the existing shortages, and the strategic initiatives required to address these problems. The episode also outlines upcoming legislative advocacy events and encourages VDA members to participate actively.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

GUEST: Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early-career dentists, and working with a broad range of stakeholders to address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his three- and six-year-old daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Dental Days at the Capitol

VDA Text Alerts

VDA 2026 Legislative Initiatives

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Guest: Paul Logan

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to thefulcrumpodcast@vadental.org.

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice.

Music in this episode from Epidemic Sound