Journalist Mary Otto's coverage of the 2007 death of12-year-old Deamonte Driver for the Washington Post spurred Congressional hearings and reforms of dental programs serving poor and working poor children in Maryland and nationwide. For Otto, the story of a child's death from complications of tooth decay, was also the beginning of a decade-long reporting journey that resulted in her book Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality and the Struggle for Oral Health in America. In her talk, she will discuss what she learned and welcome questions about her work.

Service Month is supported by

Pacific Dental Services has pioneered the concept of modern dentistry to equip dentists with the latest, proven technology, the best operational practices and procedures, highly skilled support staff, and a commitment to ongoing training and education. Join us for a three-part series highlighting the importance of mentorship as an associate dentist, how to develop your personal clinical philosophy and what technology advancements are essential to a successful practice through an exclusive look into the “office of the future.”

In part I of the series, attendees will learn how select a mentor whose career goals align with theirs and what questions to ask in a job interview to assess a mentorship. Attendees will also hear about how to excel during the first two years of an associateship.

In this session, attendees will hear from an ASDA member who coordinated an outstanding community service event that brought Give Back A Smile (the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Charitable Foundation) together with jewelry brand Kendra Scott. Attendees will hear about the success and methodology that led to raising over $5,000, learn how to work with a business, and understand tips to increase event engagement. Resources to coordinate your own community service event and fundraiser will also be shared.

The purpose of the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Week is to establish foundational knowledge about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and provide resources for chapters to create cultures of inclusion with their members.

At the core of inclusion is the opportunity and ability to have meaningful, and sometimes difficult, conversations. During this panel discussion, you will gain tools to help you have open dialogue about DEIB topics. You will also discover what some of the existing barriers are to productive dialogue and how you may see those barriers at work for a chapter, a practice, and the industry. 

With the end of dental school comes an entirely new life experience. You have the tools to be a successful doctor, but you may still have some uncertainties about what to expect from post-graduate life. Join our panel of new dentists who will share details about their last few months of dental school and first year in practice.

Be sure to bring your questions about being a new dentist. This session is an opportunity to get those questions answered from individuals who were recently in your position.

There is no single leadership style or strategy that is effective in all scenarios. The most successful leaders are those who can read a situation and adapt their approach to what is most needed at that time, for that group of people. This is a skill that will help you through challenging scenarios in dental school and throughout your career. In this interactive session, an ASDA alum will share his experiences and tips for how you can be an effective leader. You’ll also have an opportunity to discuss leadership styles and strategies in breakout groups with fellow ASDA members. 

Whether it be a long-term goal or a New Years’ resolution, we all make promises to ourselves with the best of intentions that don’t always come to fruition. This year, make it a priority to see your promises through. During this session, we’ll explore best practices and tips for setting personal and professional goals.

It’s no secret that the life of a dental student can be demanding. The weight of your academic workload, extracurricular responsibilities and personal pressures can be overwhelming at times. Without proper coping mechanisms, this can lead to manifestations of student burnout: emotional exhaustion, stress and isolation. Join ASDA alumni in this session as they share their first-hand experiences with student burnout. Learn how they overcame burnout and gain insights to how you can maintain your ASDA Fever and enthusiasm for your career.

Join ASDA alum and past editor-in-chief, Dr. Stephen Rogers, as he shares key tips and insights for creating written material. He’ll also review common errors and pitfalls in the writing process and how to avoid them. Whether you’re working on a personal statement or journal article, you’ll take away insights to enhance your writing skills and strengthen your editing abilities.

When stress becomes overwhelming, you can feel like you’re spiraling out of control. Over time, high levels of stress can have a negative impact on your health, relationships or quality of life. While you can’t eliminate stress altogether, there are effective ways to reduce stress and regain control. Learn how managing stress can help you reduce its harmful effects, provide you with healthier ways to cope and prevent stress from spiraling out of control again in the future.

This webinar is only available to ASDA members

As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, our social boundaries and expectations also change. In this session we’ll discuss the importance of maintaining your social wellness and personal relationships during this time of uncertainty. We will outline tips for adapting to new social distancing guidelines, online classes and exams and varying workloads, while continuing to prioritize the important people and passions in your life. 

The profession of dentistry is known to be stressful, and its effects can be detrimental to the dental provider personally and professionally. The stressors of the dental profession start with dental students in the first years of their dental education. The practices of yoga and meditation are grounded in evidence-based research and have been proven to reduce stress, increase resilience and decrease burnout. This webinar with Dr. Christina Pastan will address the stresses dental students face in their four years of training, the importance of developing self-regulation skills through mind-body practices and how these practices can help reduce stress and promote personal and professional development. 

In this session, Dr. Pastan will address this concept, then be joined by a panel of Tufts Dental students talking about how they have incorporated mind-body practices into their dental school experience. 

Do you beat yourself up for past mistakes or constantly compare yourself to others and feel you don’t measure up? This webinar is designed to help students reduce self-criticism and learn to be more compassionate towards themselves. The presenter will explain the concept of self-compassion and discuss some of the research backing its importance. Participants will then learn practical ways to be more kind and caring toward themselves especially when they are struggling, therein helping them get past obstacles and live a happier and more productive life. 

ASDA members will walk away from this program with an understanding of how to communicate effectively with their future patients and clinical team. Attendees will have the opportunity to uncover their DISC personality type, learn how it relates to their leadership style and explore proven communication techniques. This webinar will be led by the founding partner of Heartland Dental, Dr. Bill Bloink, who is considered a communications expert within the dental industry.