Mayes

2007 Professional Biography

Don Mayes, DDS (deceased)-- Dr. Mayes served as Vice-Chair of the NADP Foundation Board from its inception in 1997 until the time that it was replaced by the NADP Board in 2002.  He was key to the Foundation’s development of NADP’s Dental Plan Accreditation Standards (DPAS).  More importantly, Don raised awareness of our industry with his original book and the recent republication, “Dental Benefits: A Guide to Dental PPOs, HMOs, and Other Managed Plans.”  He was one of the most frequently sought presenters about the industry in a broad array of forums.  In each he would recognize and promote NADP.  As well, he presented for NADP in Virtual Seminars and conferences and contributed his library which contains the early history of the CDT to NADP.

Dr. Mayes started his career as a neighborhood dentist in 1959, in rural Sunbury. In 1970, he left private practice to become vice president of Pennsylvania Blue Shield, where he developed the insurer's first dental plan. Later, he joined Alpha Health Strategies, a firm that managed health-care benefits for big companies, as vice president for dental programs. In 1991, Dr. Mayes began his own dental benefits consulting firm in Hershey, Don Mayes & Associates, where he was president at the time of his death.

His book “Dental Benefits: A Guide to Dental PPOs, HMOs and Other Managed Plans" published by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans is the primer on dental benefits.  NADP reviewed and provided edits to the first edition, a fact which Don frequently mentioned in presentations.  NADP staff and many volunteers contributed chapters for the last edition.