Sun, networking and CE

Miami鈥擵ibrant continuing education opportunities, leadership programming and professional camaraderie await dentists who have been in practice for fewer than 10 years at the ADA 23rd New Dentist Conference.

Set for April 30-May 2 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, the conference welcomes all dentists, dental students and staff members to this southern cultural paradise. New dentists, dental students and graduate students will find conference programs and events especially geared to their needs.

“The conference is truly unique in its mix of clinical, practice management and professional-issue CE and networking opportunities,” said Dr. Brandon Maddox, chair of the ADA Committee on the New Dentist. “All CE courses are designed to help newer dentists address many of the practice issues that they may not have learned about in dental school.”

The 2009 New Dentist Conference takes place about two months earlier than those of recent years, he added. “So be sure to register by March 6 to take advantage of the early bird registration sweepstakes.”

A special highlight of the conference is the ADA-Pankey Education Connection, which this year features hands-on courses that take place at the Florida-based Pankey Institute. APEC is a joint collaboration between the ADA and Pankey Institute that features CE opportunities for members with a special emphasis on programming for new dentists.

In addition to clinical, practice management and professional-issue courses, attendees will find a number of events that facilitate connections with fellow new dentists across the country. “The New Dentist Conference is a great networking experience in that you can socialize with others in the same boat as you are,” said Dr. Maddox. “It’s also a quaint conference with about 300 attendees, so you really have a chance to get to know everyone else to some degree.”

This year’s conference includes a special May 1 evening event at Jungle Island, an 18-acre theme park, sponsored by the American Dental Political Action Committee, and the conference kicks off April 30 with leadership programming for new dentist volunteers.

“We’re not only there for CE, but also to learn what it takes to have a local or state new dentist committee,” said Dr. Maddox. “People get involved in the new dentist committee idea exchange, discuss programs and activities that have been successful, and propose new ideas. This gives us a chance to renew enthusiasm among all of the committees.”

To register for the conference online, visit www.ada.org/goto/newdentconf. For more information about the event, contact the Committee on the New Dentist at Ext. 2779 or send a message to newdentist@ada.org.

Register by March 6 to be eligible for special prizes, including a free meeting registration, free lodging or four nights at an official ADA hotel in Honolulu for the 2009 annual session. Register by April 24 to receive preconference rates.

The New Dentist Conference is sponsored by ADPAC, ADA Insurance Plans, ADA Business Resources and Florida’s West Coast District Dental Association.