Jeffrey P. Feingold

1946 - 2021

Dr. Jeffrey P. Feingold
October 7, 2021
Delray Beach, Florida - 1946-2021
A trailblazer in dentistry and dental managed care
Dr. Jeffrey P. Feingold, DDS, MSD, Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, passed away peacefully at home in Delray Beach, Florida, on October 7, 2021, after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. He will be remembered for his love of family, dedication to his faith, and loyalty to his friends. His entrepreneurial and professional prowess, along with his passion and exuberance for politics were inspirational to all he met, and he leaves behind an impressive legacy. He was an icon, a true American patriot, and tireless supporter of the Jewish State of Israel and always said, "I lived the American Dream."
He was a force of nature and a change agent in dental managed care across the nation and a risk-taker with the tenacity to make all of his endeavors successful. Jeffrey, a periodontist by profession was also a visionary with a tireless work ethic who developed the concept of combining general dentistry and multiple dental specialties under one roof, co-founding the Dentaland Organization with his wife, Barbara, in 1975. He developed his first multi-specialty practice into a chain of seven locations that spanned the eastern coast of Florida, from Aventura to Melbourne.
While operating Dentaland dental centers, their offices treated many patients from underserved communities who suffered greatly from dental disease but could not get proper care. In response, he championed their needs for affordable, high quality dental care for Florida's children and adults by founding Managed Care of North America, Inc., (MCNA Dental Plans) with the goal of managing Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) dental benefits for state agencies and providing exceptional service to their members and dentists.
Jeffrey pioneered the dental Medicaid managed care model and was a trailblazer for the industry he believed in. This model was a huge success by greatly enhancing access to care and treating more members at a lower cost for the Florida Medicaid and Healthy Kids CHIP programs. This concept was transformational and was soon pitched to other states. Within a few years MCNA was administering the dental benefits for Medicaid programs nationwide, becoming the premier and largest privately held full-risk administrator of Medicaid and CHIP programs with state agencies. Both of Jeffrey's business empires were sold, the Dentaland Organization to Great Expressions Dental and MCNA to United Healthcare.
He pursued academic achievement with the same determination that became the trademark for who he was. A graduate of Tulane University and New York University College of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery, he went on to complete a residency at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, New York. While there, he donated his time and skills as a dentist treating migrant farmworkers. This work touched his heart and would be instrumental in his future as an innovator in the dental profession. Determined to practice at the pinnacle of his profession, Jeffrey earned his Master of Science and Certificate in Periodontology from Fairleigh Dickinson University Dental School. He went on to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
His greatest love that he was most passionate about was his family. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara, whom he met and married in 1973. They moved to South Florida in 1975 where they raised three wonderful children, Eric (Deana) Feingold, Glen Feingold, and Samantha (Dr. Jonathan) Criss. Jeffrey's greatest pride was his seven precious grandchildren, Ethan, Lauren, Dylan, Madison, Miles, Hunter, and Emerson. He spent immeasurable time with them over the years at their activities, school events, and traveling together. He is also survived by his brother Stephen (Michele), his sister Rhonda, and his brother-in-law Dr. Steven Moss, who was his medical advocate.
Jeffrey was born in Brooklyn, New York. The pride and dedication that both his grandfather and father showed in supporting the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel were a poignant motivation for Jeffrey's own philanthropic pursuits later in life and were at the heart and soul of his core beliefs.
He was a titan in politics and his interest evolved into active participation in state and national politics in various ways. He forged many close relationships, including lasting friendships with former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Senator Tom Cotton, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, and Congressman Brian Mast, to name a few. Jeffrey and his wife were co-chairs of both Governor Ron DeSantis and former Governor Rick Scott's first trips to Israel after they were elected to office.
Two of his most treasured moments were being invited by the State Department to witness the historic move of the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2018. In 2019, Jeffrey received the high honor of a Presidential Appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council Board.
He also believed strongly in service leadership and was a powerful presence, leaving a profound mark for the better on all of the boards he sat on and organizations he was involved with. He has served as Florida Chair and National Board Member of the Republican Jewish Coalition, and has held the position of Chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council of the Republican Party of Florida for many years. Jeffrey served multiple terms as a member of the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees and as an appointed Development Board member for the University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center.
Another top priority in his life included philanthropy for the Jewish community, the Jewish State of Israel, and many educational opportunities. He and Barbara found many ways to give back, especially through a long-standing relationship with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. The most meaningful gift for Jeffrey was The Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Feingold Family Synagogue and Sefer Torah on The Mishmar Hanegev Army Base in The Negev, Israel. The ribbon cutting ceremony coincided with the Bar Mitzvah of their oldest grandson, Ethan, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in the summer of 2018. His belief in education led the couple to also make transformational gifts to Florida Atlantic University and the University of Texas San Antonio School of Dentistry, which drove the construction of innovative spaces that enrich higher education opportunities.
Jeffrey's trademark in life was pushing beyond the limits, constantly striving to do better and achieve more. His love and zest for life and fighting spirit served as a source of inspiration for all those who were lucky enough to know and work with him. "My dad made a lot of people's careers; he changed people's lives," said his son Glen. Jeffrey's legacy of generosity and giving back positively impacted thousands of lives throughout his lifetime, characterizing a life well lived to its fullest.
In his memory, donations may be made in Jeffrey's name to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. (https://www.ushmm.org) or the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (https://www.fidf.org).