Korean Dental Association staff member Sooyoun Kim (left), Korean Dental Association Director of International Affairs Dr. Bongchun Hur and CDA President Dr. Jillian Stacey.
By Jillian Stacey, D.D.S., CDA President
From the Autumn 2025 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
My parents have always encouraged me to get involved beyond a superficial level in all facets of my life. Being nurtured into cultivating a passion for leadership has opened many doors for me, including being CDA president. Walking through those doors and moving through each chapter of my life with intentional engagement has connected me to friends, mentors and community that make up who I am.
I got to experience a meaningful example of the power of connection through organized dentistry during my recent trip to Seoul, South Korea. I am a longtime fan of Korean pop music. I have always appreciated Korean culture, and my mother’s ancestors come from Korea. Our ADA president and one of my personal mentors, Dr. Brett Kessler, heard about the trip and put me in touch with members of the Korean Dental Association (KDA). Thanks to Dr. Kessler’s recommendations, I was soon in touch with the KDA Director of International Affairs Dr. Bongchun Hur. We planned to have dinner together with some other dental leaders in South Korea while I was there.
Dr. Hur came to the hotel where my family was staying and took us to a splendid Italian restaurant – a respite from the hot, humid Seoul summer. We dined with him and Sooyoun Kim, a KDA staff member. Throughout our multi-course meal, we discussed similarities and differences of dentistry in the U.S. and South Korea. It was refreshing, eye-opening and comforting to exchange tales regaling the ups and downs of the dental profession that only those practicing or associated with our field could understand. For example, we discussed the everyday challenges of being a dentist and operating a dental practice. Despite many shared difficulties, we found that we share a common joy in treating and helping patients in our communities. In addition, exchanging anecdotes about the differences of our daily lives gave me perspective and opened my worldview even more. Having these discussions with individuals on the other side of the world left both parties feeling more understood and encouraged in both our dental and personal journeys. At the end of the night our hearts were warmed by the genuine kindness and hospitality they showed us.
The next day, my friend Danping and I were invited to tour Dr. Hur’s dental clinic, where we met another notable dentist, Dr. Young-Ku Heo. Dr. Heo is the founder of an implant company, NeoBiotech, and his showroom was in the same building as Dr. Hur’s clinic. Dr. Heo showed us his many innovative implant technologies, and we could tell how passionate he was about his work. He animatedly shared a story with us regarding how he once live-streamed a CE course to hundreds of people where he used cameras to perform a sinus lift and implant placement on himself! After a hot cup of tea and further dental discussion, with a signed copy of his oral surgery textbook. We felt honored to be treated with such hospitality and grace by our Korean colleagues during these two days, making it a unique and meaningful experience.
For me, and many others, organized dentistry creates spaces and opportunities for these important adventures. By being invested in our profession and its well-being, we open ourselves up to experiences and friendships that enrich both our personal and professional lives. We are all capable of achieving so much, and it is exciting when passions from different aspects of our lives come together to make us feel fulfilled and joyful.
My advice to my colleagues is to get involved beyond a superficial level. Get involved in clubs that cultivate your hobbies, extracurricular activities that strengthen your skills, and professional organizations that expand your network. It is this community that will keep you going on the toughest days. The CDA is a professional organization that has brought people from all walks of life together, and this is truly the most special thing we do. You can find dental community elsewhere, but nowhere will it be more impactful than through the CDA.
