Welcome to Pierce County Dental Society!

Pierce County Dental Society is a component society for current members of the American Dental Association and Washington State Dental Association.

Click Here To View All Our Corporate Sponsors

May President's Message - Dr. J. Perry Ormiston

Dear Members,

In the ever-evolving world of modern dentistry, our professional identities are shaped not only by our clinical expertise but also by the relationships we build—with our patients, our teams, and, most importantly, with each other.

Serving as President of the Pierce County Dental Society has been a rewarding experience.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a group of passionate and dedicated individuals who are committed to advancing our profession. Rest assured, the future of our society is in excellent hands. Dr. Tina Olsson will be stepping into the role of president, with Dr. Tiffany Lamberton as president-elect, Dr. Thomas Gessel as treasurer, and Dr. Julie Fuller as secretary. I want to express my sincere thanks to each of them for their previous service and for their willingness to continue leading in these important roles.

I’d also like to extend my personal gratitude to our at-large members for their dedicated service over the past year: Dr. Guillermo Chacon, Dr. Michael Chiulli, Dr. Jed de la Paz, Dr. Stuart Hersey, Dr. David Ludwig, Dr. Jeffrey Osborn, Dr. Sonia Pal, and Dr. Karl Smith.

Furthermore, we owe a great deal of thanks to Dr. Kim Nordberg for his immeasurable contributions to our organization. Kim served on our Board of Directors with unparalleled dedication. His wisdom, guidance, and commitment to advancing our profession have left a lasting impact. We are forever grateful for the leadership he provided and the kindness he shared with all of us.

Finally, I’m excited to announce that Dr. Leslie Whalen will be joining our board of directors this fall. We’re fortunate to have her join us as we continue our work together.

As we look ahead, it’s important to recognize that, as members of this dental society, we walk a fine line between being both colleagues and competitors. This dual role requires a careful balance of professionalism, mutual respect, and understanding.

On the one hand, we share a common mission: to improve oral health, promote evidence-based practices, and raise the standard of care in our communities. We attend the same conferences, refer patients to each other, and, at times, consult on complex cases. This collaboration strengthens our profession and leads to better outcomes for our patients.

On the other hand, dentistry is a competitive marketplace. Patients have choices, marketing is omnipresent, and the pressure to grow our practices can sometimes foster a sense of rivalry. But this is not a flaw of the system—it’s an inherent feature of any skilled profession in a free economy.

The key is to approach competition through the lens of professionalism and ethics. Healthy competition drives us to innovate, adopt new technologies, refine patient experiences, and expand access to care. But when competition turns into antagonism or undermines trust, it erodes the very foundation of our profession. Our desire for growth—whether in reputation, relevance, or financial success—should never overshadow our commitment to being good colleagues and good neighbors.

I hope we can all continue to foster a culture where excellence is shared, where healthy competition drives personal and professional growth, and where every dentist in our society is not only a respected colleague but also a worthy peer.

All the best,

Perry Ormiston
President, Pierce County Dental Society

If you are not receiving the PCDS GMM registrations in your email, please update Cindy with your correct email.

All registrations and newsletter are virtual through your provided email address.