Pittsfield Dentist Named Among '10 Under Ten'

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dr. Neha Das, a pediatric dentist, practicing in Pittsfield, has been recognized by the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) as one of the  "10 Under Ten" for 2022. 
 
Established in 2005 by the MDS, the annual recognition highlights the diversity of new dentists in Massachusetts and their impact on the dental profession. 
 
To qualify, dentists must have graduated from dental school within the past ten years, be an MDS member, and made significant contributions to the profession, their community, and organized dentistry. 
 
"When I was a junior in college, I went back to my parents' hometown in India to do some volunteer work in a medical van; however, when I got there, I found out the physician I was supposed to be shadowing was out on maternity leave. They put me in a dental van instead, and I was fascinated. I loved the combination of science and art, and there was a true sense of grati­fication whenever we could help someone. When I got back home, I knew my plans had changed. I didn't want to be a physician anymore—I was going to become a dentist," Dr. Das said.
 
An At-Large Trustee with the MDS, Dr. Das is inspired by the work of the dentists active in the society and dedicated to the profession.
 
Currently, a resident of Lenox, Dr. Das earned her Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) and did her residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of California in San Francisco. She credits her husband and her colleague dental practice owner Dr. Lisa Gamache with helping her maintain a healthy work-life balance.
 
The dentists are featured in the Spring 2022 issue of the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society, and they were honored earlier this year at Yankee Dental Congress 2022. Yankee is New England's largest dental meeting and is presented by the MDS in cooperation with the dental societies of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Tags: dentist,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Letter: Board Balance Needed on Dalton Public Safety Advisory Committee

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I share Dave Martindale's concerns about appointing individuals with actual or perceived conflicts of interest to the newly formed Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee leadership. Several committee members either represent departments that would occupy and directly benefit from the proposed facility or have personal connections to those individuals, raising concerns about the committee's ability to impartially balance a best-in-class facility against a cost-conscious solution.

While their perspectives are valuable, the committee would benefit from a more balanced membership that includes independent residents focused on affordability, long-term planning, and the town's broader financial obligations.

I support the town's decision to explore a combined public safety facility. However, the police station needs assessment should be revisited before the town advances a specific plan. The assessment projects a 32 percent increase in total call volume and a 68 percent increase in staffing by 2045. Those projections are unrealistic based on historical call volume, crime statistics trends and the town's financial outlook — particularly when future budget constraints may require staffing reductions.

The town has already invested considerable time and money pursuing a standalone police station after previously rejecting a combined facility. Now that a joint facility is again under consideration, residents deserve a transparent process based on realistic projections and a cost-conscious evaluation of the town's actual needs.

The town manager and Select Board should consider adding neutral community members to the committee and designating the police chief and interim fire chief as non-voting advisers. They should also revise the needs assessment using supportable staffing, call volume, and population assumptions. A public safety facility is a significant long-term investment, and the town should ensure that the final proposal balances public safety needs with fiscal responsibility.

Amy Lennin
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories