Dr. Anna Munne, GHDS President
Hola! As a proud member of the Greater Houston Dental Society, I am deeply honored and humbled to embark on this
journey of leadership and service to our dental community as your new president.
Just so you know a little bit about me, I grew up in Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, a little town 20 minutes north of Barcelona, Spain, where the pines trees reach the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a beautiful and safe place to spend my early years where I forged dreams about how my future would be.
I am the oldest child of a family of six children (three females and three males), and yes, my mom is still alive. It is hard to pronounce my last name as it is French Swiss. Some pronounce it like “money,” “mann,” “meeoonee” etc. I have lost planes, early on, by not recognizing my name when it was called from the standby list. It is pronounced moon-ne.
I graduated from medical and dental school in Spain and completed my certificate of Periodontics from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. In Spain, I worked in emergency medicine as well as in Endodontics. I practice in the museum district, and I am married to Jeffrey, my husband of 22 years. We have three Maltese furry babies, (Sofia, Siena, and Sassy).
I remember how much I wanted to be a good periodontist and all the effort that went into it. Nonetheless, sometimes our profession brings challenges that make us question our choices. I think that our younger colleagues might be experiencing some of that. Having a hard day at work is normal in all the professions and businesses, but it doesn’t account for the high level of burn-out that we are seeing these days at early stages of our profession.
I come from a generation where it was unthinkable not to be a part of your professional organization. As soon as I relocated to the U.S. for my residency, I became an ADA member. When I first started coming to monthly meetings, I didn’t know anyone. But the members were very welcoming and friendly, which made me want to come back.
Organized dentistry has given me friends and a support system. I navigated through my 34 years of practicing in the U.S. constantly rekindling my passion for dentistry through continuing education and my dental friends. And the term “Continuing” Education, roots from the fact that education can never stop. This gives fuel to our eagerness to perform great dentistry, train our skills, enable us to dream and materialize a new form of practice. As a result, we enrich our souls, obtain professional fulfilment, deliver improved services to our patients and community, and benefit our family as well.
Our beloved GHDS has the means to provide all those needs, education, camaraderie, mentorship, community service and the sense of “community” to all members. We have additional benefits provided by our parent organizations ADA and TDA, compiling a growing benefits package. I cannot imagine practicing dentistry without the support and protection that ADA and TDA bring us.
This is a message that must be carried by us to all non-members, especially for those of you who have children in the profession or who are planning to join the profession. What does the future hold for dentists without an organism which protects the rights and well-being of its members?
The strength of an organization resides on their membership body, not on their leadership, budget, or recognition of individual members. The power is in “the numbers.” As our dental professional community is increasing, so do the needs of our professional organization, so it is representative of such community. The landscape of dentistry is evolving rapidly, presenting us with both challenges and opportunities. As we navigate these changing times, we need to expand our community and welcome new members. It is crucial to engage younger generations and communicate the great advantages that offer organized dentistry.
But to shape the future, we need to listen to them intentionally and act purposefully. In the face of uncertainty and change, our vision for the dental society must be one of adaptability, innovation, and unity. We need fresh perspectives, diverse talents, and innovative ideas to thrive.
I call upon each of you to be ambassadors for our profession. Reach out to colleagues, students, and young professionals, and invite them to join us in shaping the future of dentistry. Together we can build a stronger, more inclusive community that is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Let’s make our legacy to dentistry one beyond what we do for our patients. Let’s contribute to the significance of our profession and the growth of our organization.
My sincere appreciation to all the volunteers who year after year have given support and arduous work for the GHDS. To accomplish all these goals, I am blessed with a team of staff members who are smart, committed and dedicated, and a wonderful group of volunteer colleagues. Together, we will chart a course that embraces change, fosters resilience, and ensures the sustainability of our profession. I encourage you to join us!
My goal is to lead with a forward-thinking mindset, guiding us through, with a clear focus on the future of dentistry.
In closing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for supporting the Greater Houston Dental Society. I am privileged to serve as your president and look forward to working alongside our board of directors and officers to advance our shared mission. Please reach out to me with any comments, suggestions, or ideas. My door and my heart are open for you!