Aloha spirit for annual session

Honolulu鈥擳he American Dental Association will host its 150th annual session and sesquicentennial celebration Sept. 30-Oct. 4 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Those attending will find a variety of opportunities to learn, network and enjoy ADA-exclusive special events鈥攑lus Hawaii’s many options for sightseeing, dining, shopping and relaxing in paradise.

Registration is now open at www.ada.org/goto/session. The annual session preliminary program is available in a user-friendly, downloadable format online as of March 31, or available via U.S. mail in April. (Call toll-free, 1-800-232-1432 or e-mail annualsession@ada.org for a copy of the preliminary program.)

Attendees should register early to reserve spots in their choice of CE courses and housing and the best options in travel schedules and airfare.

Continuing education courses will be held Oct. 1-4, the World Marketplace Exhibition will be open Oct. 1-3 and the House of Delegates meets Oct. 2-6.

The Opening General Session and Distinguished Speaker Series is set for Wednesday evening, Sept. 30, at the famed Waikiki Shell. The ADA Distinguished Speaker Series is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products, a division of McNEIL-PPC Inc.

Those attending can also celebrate the ADA’s 150th anniversary and enjoy an evening under the stars at on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Waikiki Shell. The ADA will host a special Hawaii-themed event exclusively for annual session attendees.

Nearly 180 continuing education programs offered at annual session are designed to help dentists and staff enhance their clinical skills and learn the latest developments in dentistry.

New this year, registrants can earn up to 6 hours of self-study CE online before annual session even starts by signing up for one or more of the 40 courses in the ADA365 community.

Attendees can also earn up to 3 hours of CE by attending courses at the ADA Live Operatory Center, a unique blend of product training and CE featuring 3-D imaging, and by visiting the ADA’s new Competition Hub to view high-tech Education Exchange Competition table clinic presentations and Adult Preventive Care Practice of the Year entries.

Also returning will be the ADA’s Education In The Round series, featuring live patient procedures conducted in a fully functional dental operatory and projected on 60-inch flat-screen monitors.

Educational tracks for new dentists and dental assistants, in addition to those covering the topics of team-building and esthetics, will allow participants to target their own CE needs and interests.

Annual session goers can also extend their CE opportunities and visit Kauai, Maui or Hawaii’s Big Island for one of three post-session CE courses Oct. 6 and 7.

The ADA World Marketplace Exhibition offers attendees a chance to test-drive the latest products and equipment from more than 350 leading providers of dental products and services, find money-saving specials and more.

The Hawaii Convention Center features open-air areas, a spectacular Hawaiian art collection, a rooftop garden and more. The center is located near the world-famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, where many of the ADA’s official hotels are located. Shuttle buses will provide a quick ride to the convention center from ADA hotels not in walking distance of the center.

Step outside the convention center to experience Hawaii’s “aloha spirit”鈥攖he combination of the islands’ multicultural heritage and a lifestyle that respects nature and culture.

Hawaiian cuisine reflects the fusion of many cultures and culinary styles, incorporating the flavors of Asia and Europe with fresh local ingredients. There is a choice for every palate, from award-winning four-star dining establishments to shrimp shacks and other local eateries that serve up local favorites.

From designer fashions and fine art to local arts and crafts and souvenirs, Hawaii offers a wide range of exciting shopping options housed in tiny shops, glitzy malls and open-air markets.

The island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, is famed for its variety of unique experiences from four-star restaurants and high-end shopping in Honolulu to hundreds of peaceful beaches, exciting water activities and attractions like Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head Crater.

Some 30 ADA tours, from ocean activities to sightseeing to dining cruises, showcase the best of Hawaii’s pastimes and scenery.

Beyond the beaches of Oahu, other Hawaiian islands await. Those registered for annual session can take advantage of special room rates at ADA official hotels on the islands of Kauai, Maui and Hawaii, in addition to other areas of Oahu, before, during and after annual session. There are several properties to choose from on each island.

A three-page annual session overview is contained in the March 16 issue of ADA News, beginning on page 40. For more information on the annual session, log on to www.ada.org/goto/session.