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TAPD Legislative Spotlight—Joe Castellano, DDS
Name: Joe Castellano, DDS
Position: Legislative Committee; Past-President
Number of years in practice: 30
Where you went to dental school and completed residency: UT Dental Branch Houston; Residency- UTHSC San Antonio
Number of years as a TAPD member: 20
What made you decide to get involved as a member of the TAPD Legislative Committee: I have tried to stay involved with TAPD after finishing my years on the TAPD’s Executive Committee. TAPD’s legislative priorities are very important for our specialty and even more so to the children we serve each day. I want to be a part of TAPD’s team that is making sure the children of Texas continue to be well cared for.
What is your goal for the legislative session: To get better reimbursement rates for general anesthesia coverage and hopefully make operating room access easier for our members to obtain and care for their patients’.
What have you learned in your time as a TAPD member: I have learned that our organization is small in the scheme of things, but we can and have accomplished great things. When we focus on what is important- the kids- the folks in Austin understand the importance and are willing to listen.
What surprised you the most about the legislative process: You need to understand how the systems works. Even if a priority seems simple and logical, there are a lot of moving part in the system. Your legislation can quickly get bogged down or forgotten. It is important that you have
a great lobbyist supporting the legislation and help navigate the waters.
What are you most proud of about TAPD: We manage to get things done in the legislative process and make sure the children of Texas receive the best care possible.