ADA CE Online course teaches how associations are governed
New Port Richey, Fla.鈥擜s he prepared for the presidency of his component dental society, Dr. Jeremy Albert sought ways to hone his leadership skills and become better informed about organized dentistry.
“I had been active in the ADA since graduating dental school but have to admit that I understood very little about the structure and hierarchy of the American Dental Association,” said Dr. Albert, who becomes president of Florida’s West Pasco Dental Association, a component society of the West Coast District Dental Association, next year. Questions lingered over the Association’s tripartite structure, the roles of constituent and component societies, the Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates.
As a member of the ADA Committee on the New Dentist, Dr. Albert was aware of a new ADA CE Online course, “Understanding Associations,” that was launched in 2008. He signed up for the free course and completed it online between patient visits in only a few days.
“To me, Understanding Associations is a must-read for any member of organized dentistry,” said Dr. Albert. “We know so much about our national government’s structure, but how many of our ADA members really know how their professional organization is set up and governed? The series answers a lot of the questions that new leaders often have to piece together on their own over their early years of practice.”
Understanding Associations is a self-guided course designed to help dentists identify their leadership type, conduct effective meetings, set goals and gain a better understanding of the professional association’s role in the political process. Offered only for ADA members, this free course has nine units that dentists can complete at their own pace鈥攕topping and starting as needed.
The Committee on the New Dentist developed the course as a way for the ADA to help members strengthen leadership skills and foster effective leadership within organized dentistry. It was created primarily for dentists in practice 10 years or less; however, all dentists will find it valuable.
“Many new dentists just don’t know how organized dentistry works and want to contribute to their profession through active involvement,” said Dr. Brandon Maddox, chair of the Committee on the New Dentist. “These courses help to provide a knowledge base for potential new dentist leadership as well as information for those who are just plain interested.”
Units in the course include:
- Associations 101;
- Effective Leadership;
- Strategic Planning;
- Association Committees;
- Formation and Procedure;
- Recruitment and Retention;
- Finances and Budgeting;
- Communications;
- Diversity and Political Action.
The course must be completed by the end of the calendar year, and dentists who complete it will be awarded three hours of continuing education. Participants are encouraged to check with their state dental board to determine whether this credit will be accepted by their licensing jurisdiction.
To sign up for the course or to see the other 110 ADA CE Online courses, go to www.adaceonline.org.
For more information on leadership development offerings from the ADA Committee on the New Dentist, such as Web seminars and workshops, contact the CND at Ext. 2779 or newdentist@ada.org.