Leadership Institute is valuable to all Ohio dentists

The ODA will host its annual Leadership Institute on Friday, March 15, 2019 and Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton Hotel in Columbus. This event is open to all ODA members and is a great way to recharge your batteries. This year’s programming is especially enticing with valuable information on dental practice issues, regulatory compliance and leadership development.

The first day of this innovative two-day event starts with an opening keynote session at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15, by Mike Graham, who is the ADA’s vice president for government and public affairs. Mike has worked with the ADA for more than 20 years and has been involved in government affairs for more than 30 years at the state and federal levels. He has an insider’s view of Washington, D.C., and politics. I am sure attendees will enjoy his discussion of the current political turmoil in Washington and what that may mean for dentistry.

Following lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two of the following informative one-hour breakout sessions:

“The Power of Advocacy: Delivering a Positive Message for Dentistry” – The profession of dentistry and oral health seem to be in the spotlight today more than ever. Mike Graham; Dr. Matt Messina, who is an ADA media spokesperson and member of the ADA’s Council on Government Affairs; ODA’s contract lobbyist, Adam Hewit; and ODA’s Director of Legal and Legislative Services Eric Richmond, will participate in a panel discussion on the latest issues impacting oral health care and delivering a positive message for dentistry in any setting.

“The Oral Health Implications of E-Cigarettes” – As we all know, E-cigarettes have rapidly increased in popularity over the past few years, especially among young adults. They are also being marketed as smoking cessation tools. However, these are products that vaporize nicotine, glycol and glycerol along with several flavoring agents to create products that are potentially harmful to human health. Dr. Purnima Kumar, who is a professor in the Division of Periodontology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, will discuss the current scientific information regarding these devices and liquids and how they impact oral health.

“Update on Dental Insurance Issues in Ohio” – ODA’s Director of Dental Services Chris Moore has more than 30 years of experience working on dental insurance and third-party payer issues for the ODA. He will share his insights on dental benefits, including tips for ensuring that you get paid for the services you provide in a timely manner and other strategies for lessening the administrative burden related to dental insurance claims.

As many readers of this column know, Dr. Joe Crowley recently concluded his term as president of the American Dental Association. Dr. Crowley was the first ADA president from Ohio since Dr. Frank Casto served in that role in 1935. Following the breakout sessions, Crowley will discuss his term as ADA president in a forum moderated by the current Seventh District ADA Trustee Dr. Billie Sue Kyger. They will discuss the current issues affecting dentistry at the national level. Friday’s Leadership Institute activities will then close with a reception honoring Dr. Crowley’s service as ADA president.

Following breakfast on Saturday morning, valuable and informative programming will continue with a keynote presentation from Martin Saperstein, Ph.D., who is the founding president of Saperstein Associates, one of Ohio’s leading survey research firms. Saperstein will discuss the results of two recent surveys: the ODA membership survey and a survey of the public in Ohio related to dental specialties.

Saperstein has conducted ODA member surveys at various intervals over the last 30 years. Last fall, we commissioned Saperstein to conduct another far-ranging survey to gain insights into various aspects of the current state of dentistry in Ohio, including practice-related information (e.g., trends in dental insurance acceptance, overhead costs, DSO affiliation, use of technology, etc.) and gauging our members’ attitudes toward organized dentistry and our various publications and programs. Saperstein will present the results of the membership survey at the Leadership Institute.

Saperstein also recently conducted a survey of the public in Ohio to gather information related to the public’s understanding of specialties in dentistry and the effect that specialty advertising has on the public’s decisions related to seeking care, including the choice of provider. This information is of obvious interest to both general dentists and specialists as they can learn more about their patients’ understanding of dental specialties. This information is also valuable as the ADA and state regulatory boards, including the Ohio State Dental Board, examine specialty recognition and advertising issues.

Saperstein will also discuss the current state of survey research generally, especially in light of the perceived poor performance of political polling prior to recent state and national elections.

As part of Saturday’s programming, the ODA Executive Committee will hold a town hall session, discussing the ODA’s priorities for the year and the implications of the recent member survey results for future programs. The ODA’s officers will also be available to answer your questions and hear your input.

Finally, Saturday’s Leadership Institute programming will conclude with a presentation from leadership development guru Robert Stevenson. With over 30 years of extensive corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Robert Stevenson understands what it takes to succeed. He teaches professionals how to deal with risk, competition, and the ever-changing business environment. Stevenson is the author of the best-selling book, “How to Soar Like an Eagle in a World Full of Turkeys; A Practical Guide to Personal and Professional Achievement.” His latest book, “Raise Your Line” has just been released. Stevenson has shared his leadership strategies across the globe to many diverse entities, including Harley Davidson, Hilton Hotels, Allstate Insurance, and the American Dental Association. I’ve participated in programs with Stevenson at the ADA. He is an insightful and engaging speaker. I am sure you will enjoy him and learn some valuable insights on leadership.

Immediately following the conclusion of the Leadership Institute at noon on Saturday, March 16, the ODA Subcouncil on New Dentists invites dentists, dental residents and dental students who are looking to sell a practice, buy a practice, hire an associate or become an associate to attend a free job MATCH event. These MATCH events have proven very valuable for those who are looking for a transition in their professional lives.

As you can see, the 2019 ODA Leadership Institute is full of great information, speakers and social events. And best of all, the entire event is free of charge for ODA members. Please join us in Columbus on March 15-16. You won’t be disappointed.