DENTIST
LUIS DOMINICIS, DDS
Private Practice
KCLA Webcast October 3, 2003
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EDUCATION
· 1953 - Born in Cuba, came to the
United States in May 1968 as a political refugee, and arrived in
California August same year.
· 1969 - Graduated from Rosemont
Junior High School in La Crescenta.
· While attending high school worked
part time as a gardener in Pasadena on weekdays after school, as a dishwasher,
cook and waiter at the Broiler Hut in La Canada-Flintridge on weekends.
· Graduated from Bell Gardens High
School, in Bell Gardens.
· 1972 to 1974 - Attended Cerritos
College. General courses, such as psychology, etc. were taken, at the
same time began taking courses towards becoming a Dental Technician.
· 1974 - Completed formal training
as a Dental Technician.
· 1974 - In March I was denied admission
to the UCLA School of Dentistry due to lack of financial stability.
· 1983 to1988 - Attended dental school
at Universidad de Guanajuato, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Graduated with
honors and a 9.33 grade point average during the 5 years of dental education.
· 1988 to1989 - One year of internship
in Advanced Oral Rehabilitation at the Universidad de Guanajuato.
CAREERPATH
1974 to 1981- Began career as a Dental Technician, developed skills in
fixed, removable partial, complete dentures and surgical stints.
1981 to 1983 - While working full time as Dental Technician, worked as
Quality control inspector at the Chrysler Corporation Auto Inspection
facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. Then worked later at Lockheed
Aircrafts in Burbank as an electrical avionics installer, at Hughes Helicopters
in Culver City on the MD500 Helicopter as an Airframe installer and at
Gish Auto Repair Shop in Maywood.
All of the above second jobs were done so that I could save enough money
to follow my life long dream of becoming a Dentist.
1988 to 1991- CEO of "Agliesa sa. de cv." In Guanajuato, Mexico.
Exclusive distributor of "PENNZOIL" industrial, agricultural
oil and lubricants in the States of Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro
and Michoacan, Mexico.
1993 - In June became a member of the Los Angeles Dental Society, local
component of CD A and ADA.
1994 to Present - Participant in numerous Health Fairs in minority and
poor communities of Cudahy, South Gate, Huntington Park, Maywood, Bell
Gardens, Compton and South Central Los Angeles such as the Cinco de Mayo,
Dia del Nino and Dia de la Raza health fairs.
1995 to Present - Acting Secretary of The Latin American Dental Association,
a non-profit dental association.
1995 to1999 - Participant in The Dental Forum, an ethnic and gender based
meeting sponsored by CDA.
1996 to 1997 - Participated in Task Force to help find common ground between
foreign trained dentists and those from accredited schools. Gave input
and helped shape the content of what was to become in particular the title
addition of one more opportunity (4 instead of 3) for the RT Examination,
the appendage of "DDS" and the Accreditation of Foreign Dental
Schools. Testified in favor of dues increase by the Dental Board at Business
and Professions Committee hearings.
1997 to Present - Participant of CDA's "Legislature Day" in
Sacramento.
1997 to 2000 - Worked with the Dental Board in the process of the Regulatory
package of the Accreditation of Foreign Dental Schools.
1997 to Present - Elected to the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles
Dental Society, tripartite of CDA and ADA.
1997 - Received Certificate of Recognition from Delta Dental of California
PMI division.
1998 to 2002 - Consultant of Dental Issues to State Legislatures.
1998 - Received Distinguished Award from the California State Senate.
1998 - Received Distinguished Award from The Indian Dental Association
for helping in the passage of AB1116.
1998 - Received a framed signed original of bill AB1116 from CDA.
1998 to 2002 - Delegate of CDA's House of Delegates, governing body of
CDA.
1998 - Participated in CDA's spokesperson training seminar.
1999 to 2001 - Area Representative of Los Angeles Dental Society, local
component of CDA and ADA.
1999 - Spokesperson for CDA in national television channel, The Fox Channel.
2000 to 2002 - Elected member of the steering committee of the Interorganizational
Affairs Committee of CDA.
2000 - Spokesperson for CDA at various Spanish speaking news media channels
events.
2001 to 2002 - Elected Chair of Membership Committee of Los Angeles Dental
Society, local component of CDA and ADA.
2001 to present - Became part-time Faculty of the University of Southern
California (USC), supervising students in their senior year of dental
school in the clinics at the Union Rescue Mission facility in downtown
Los Angeles. This is done Pro-Bono (at no cost).
2002 - Participant of ADA's Annual Conference on Membership Recruitment
and Retention at ADA's headquarters in Chicago.
2002 - Member of ADA's Tripartite Grassroots Membership Initiative, attended
seminar at ADA's headquarters in Chicago.
2002 - Training Workshop at ADA's headquarter: "New Dentist Transition
Program & Getting Off To a Smart Start Program ", designed to
coordinate and present programs at local Dental Schools.
2002 - Participant of CDA's Component Ethics Seminar in Sacramento.
2002 - In May selected as a member of the On-Site Team, which made a
comprehensive, qualitative onsite review of the Universidad de la Salle
in Mexico; this was an innovative approach to approving foreign dental
schools.
2002 - In May sponsored a "CINCO DE MAYO ADA CANDIDATE FUNDRAISER"
for ADA President Elect-Candidate Gene Sekiguchi and for ADA Speaker of
the House Sig Abelson.
2002 - In June invited by CDA's President, Dr. Steve Chan, to represent
the Latin American Dental Association at the November CDA's House of Delegates.
2002 - In June worked with Assembly Member Marco Firebaugh staff in
exploring the feasibility of opening a Latino Dental Clinic, a free clinic,
in the poor communities of Bell Gardens and Huntington Park.
2002 - Participated in an informational hearing of manpower issues in
the dental profession, accreditation of foreign dental schools and foreign
trained dentists sponsored by Senator Liz Figueroa.
2002 - Nominated to CDA's Council on Community Health which acts as a
liaison to local dental societies, state and local agencies and the public
for the purpose of enhancing dental health education, awareness and access
to dental care.
2002- Participated in an informational hearing on dental materials, their
benefits and negative effects, sponsored by the Dental Board of California.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
The Latin American Dental Association: Acting Secretary
Los Angeles Dental Society
California Dental Association
American Dental Association
This CV was last updated in 2002.