New Foundation Executive Director Laura Fleming Doyle
The Foundation Selects new Executive Director:
Laura Fleming Doyle, CAE
By Dr. Howard Mark
The Board of Trustees of the PFA Foundation is delighted to inform the PFA Fellows across the globe of the selection of Laura Fleming Doyle, CAE, of Herndon, Virginia, as its new Executive Director. After an ex-haustive search, underway since December 2008, and the review of many resumes by the Search Committee, chaired by Dr. Kevin Roach of Canada, with the addition of Drs. Michael Perpich of Minnesota, James Englander of Wisconsin, and Howard Mark of Connecticut, and the interview of three finalists in Chicago on June 26-27, 2009, by the Board of Trustees, Ms. Doyle was unanimously chosen to assume this position. The enthusiasm for this fine lady was most palpable and allowed the Board a collective sigh of relief as it ended this most important task.
The Board of Trustees is most grateful to past President Malcolm David Campbell, who took over the reins of the office in October on an interim basis after the San Antonio Meeting. For those of you who cannot appreci-ate the complexity of the Executive Director position, consider the following: review and stabilizing the financial structure of the Foundation; interacting with the Board; looking into new sources of funding; sending letters to all the dental schools earmarked for the receipt of scholarships (some 85 across the globe); the receipt of grant applications, coupled with the full review of all applications, sending copies to all of the grant reviewers with appropriate summarization of these projects; enabling the scheduling of the Annual Meeting in Hawaii; working with the Academy to be certain of its schedule as well; and, at the same time, doing all the preliminary legwork for the Executive Director search that took an inordinate amount of time to coordinate for the Search Committee. It was, and is, truly mind-boggling, and we are indebted to David for his willing-ness to undertake this when he should be doing less work!
The three finalists were indeed worthy candidates. Their resumes were outstanding and the reaction of all the references that were called for each one was absolutely incredible. Anyone of the three could have been se-lected, but Ms. Doyle made the deepest and most laudatory impression on the Board members. Now, the work begins in earnest, as the Board has elected to expand and grow in outreach, in sustainability, and in its devel-opment of a truly international organization, more representative of the scope of Fellowship, and even more dedicated to service, leadership, and scholarship. Ms. Doyle has already requested that the Board pursue a strategic plan, applicable to the next 3-5 years, which will set a new direction and emphasis on its function-ing. AND, WE ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS AGENDA! --even though it means much preparation and work on the part of each of us.
We anticipate that Laura will be with us in Hawaii, where, we hope, many of the Fellows will come by to meet her at the various PFA functions--the Awards Luncheon, the President's Reception, and the President's Dinner. It will be worth your while to do so!
The Board of Trustees of the Foundation urges all Fellows to look over the request for donations as part of the dues mailing by the Academy. We would appreciate all of you to seriously consider making a donation to the fullest extent you can when you receive the request. Your funding increases the ability of the Foundation to fully fund the scholarship program, which identifies the third-year dental student considered of high leadership and scholastic qualities by his/her dental school, for this award (which this year, should be in the amount of $1500.00). Over $1.4 million has been expended in this manner since 1996. In addition, any monies are applied to the Grants Program for support of the project applications the Foundation receives each year. Over the past 12+ years, the Foundation has given out some $2.7 million to assist these projects, which materially aid those in need as regards oral health across the world, we want to expand these efforts, in both cases, be-cause they are well deserving of our help.
These are exciting times for the Foundation, despite the downturn in the worldwide economy. An opportunity exists for the Foundation to become a force to be reckoned with on many levels--won't you join us to make this a reality?!