Membership Information

Benefits of the Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry (WSPD), the Western District of the AAPD

WSPD is comprised of the following: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Canadian Provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory. Of the five regional districts of the AAPD, the two oldest are the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Both older district are well known for providing both quality continuing education and top-notch social events. Established in 2002, the WSPD has grown to become an effective regional district representative organization and encourages our state components to become more involved like the largest state component in our district: the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry (CSPD).

Besides the camaraderie, here are some of the benefits and value of WSPD membership:

  • Continuing Education
    WSPD has traditionally held their annual meeting in conjunction with the CSPD. You are eligible to attend this outstanding meeting and scientific session at a reduced member registration fee. The WSPD has offered a PALS course in the past and sponsors a program/speaker. Members also enjoy reduced registration fees at continuing education courses held within the Western District.
  • CSPD-WSPD Quarterly Bulletin
    Members outside of California receive acces to the electronic version of the CSPD-WSPD Quarterly Bulletin
  • 30 Day Free Access to Practical Reviews in Pediatric Dentistry On-Demand
    The WSPD has arranged for you to receive FREE 30-day access to Practical Reviews On-Demand. With this free access, you can keep up with the latest information in the field of pediatric dentistry plus more than 30 other specialty areas
  • AAPD Representation and Cultivation of Leaders
    Every three years, each district elects a District Trustee to represent them to the AAPD. The WSPD provides the opportunity for the Trustee and AAPD to understand your state's issues and concerns in order to better represent you to the AAPD. With my exception, the trustees have always been from Washington State or California. The district structure allows members of the smaller states a better chance to pursue leadership roles at the District and Leadership Institute. The relationships that I forged through the WSPD were instrumental in my election as District VI (Western District) Trustee, in spite of the fact that the Nevada Academy is not a very active component of the AAPD. One voting member of the District VI sits on the Nomination Committee of the AAPD. It is a committee that recommends the candidates for both the Secretary/Treasurer and Trustee at Large of the AAPD. Involvement in the WSPD provides opportunity for the district members to get involved in the activities of the AAPD.
  • Address Issues Specific to our Region
    WSPD allows each state in our district to share their concerns and issues in order to effectively solve these problems. Further, it allows for states within the district or the entire district to collective address issues to the AAPD
  • Strength in Numbers
    When the District speaks as a unified voice, we have significantly more influence. Without the WSPD, the smaller states in our district would have very minimal voice within the AAPD. A recent example was the decision by the AAPD Board of Trustees not to make any changes to Affiliate Membership privileges, specifically, not allowing the use of any logo materials or AAPD membership status. Without the voice of the WSPD and its component members, this may not have occurred.

AAPD Active and Life Members who reside and practice in the Western District benefit from AAPD tri-partite structure. Currently, AAPD Members are assessed a separate $40 District assessment that are charged in addition to your AAPD and State dues. This assessment is currently billed by your WSPD-AAPD State Component. The WSPD has significant benefits for you and pediatric dentistry that make it well worth the $40.00 membership fee.

For those who are not Active and Life Members of AAPD or are not Active or Life members of the Western District State Component please contact WSPD Secretary, Dr. Oariona Lowe to join the WSPD exclusively for $40.

Dr. Christine Roalofs
Executive Assistant, WSPD