Attend the 2026 ODA Leadership Institute on March 13-14, 2026 at the Hilton Columbus Polaris Hotel, 8700 Lyra Dr, Columbus, OH. The event will feature keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, breakout sessions and opportunities for camaraderie and fellowship.
Leadership Institute is an exclusive opportunity designed to help participants enhance their leadership skills in their practice, at their jobs, for their community and for their profession. By developing leadership abilities and fostering stronger relationships, attendees can amplify their impact in all areas of their professional and personal lives.
Free for ODA member dentists, dental residents and dental students as a benefit of your membership.
Click here to register now.
The ODA Leadership Institute is sponsored by Superior Dental Care.
Agenda
Presented By:
Presented By:
Hiring and retaining great team members has become one of the biggest challenges facing dental practices today—and social media is one of the most powerful (and underutilized) tools to solve it. In this keynote session, Kristi will show attendees how to strategically use social media to attract the right candidates, showcase authentic practice culture, and strengthen team loyalty long after the hire. Attendees will learn how to move beyond “Help Wanted” posts and instead build a magnetic employer brand that resonates with today’s workforce. This session will provide practical, real-world examples and actionable strategies dental leaders can implement immediately to support long-term recruitment success and team retention. Social Profiles discussed by positional hiring will include Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Indeed.com (which should be treated as a social site for employers) and your own practice website. Kristi also will provide insights into what other practices across the country are doing to recruit and retain employees. She will also share recommendations about traits to look for in key positions and why these traits are vital to practice success – for example, why recruiting front desk associates with a sales mentality is more important than knowledge of practice management software.
Round 1: 12:50 PM – 1:50 PM
Round 2: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
AI and the Future of Dental Practice Marketing: What You Need to Know Now (1 CE Credit)
Speaker: Kristi Simone
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how dental practices market, communicate, and grow; and understanding its implications is no longer optional. In this breakout session, Kristi will break down what AI really means for dental practice marketing and communication, separating “hype” from reality. Attendees will learn how AI is already being used in areas such as phone answering, appointment scheduling, content creation, patient communication, Search Engine Optimization, ad targeting, reputation management, and analytics, and what that means for efficiency, consistency, and competitive advantage. This session will also address ethical considerations, best practices, and how to thoughtfully integrate AI tools without losing the human connection that patients value most. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to leverage AI responsibly and strategically in their marketing efforts. Dentists will learn how AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude rank your practice when someone is searching for a dentist near them and the key steps you need to take to ensure your practice is included in that search.
Ethical Dental Dilemmas: What Would You Do? (1 CE Credit)
Speaker: Dr. Kelly Roth
Dr. Kelly Roth, a general dentist from Canton who currently serves as the Ohio Dental Association’s Speaker of the House of Delegates, just finished her term as Chair of the ADA’s Council on Ethics, Bylaws, and Judicial Affairs and is a past Chair of the ODA’s Ethics Subcommittee. Dr. Roth will present a breakout session during the upcoming ODA Leadership Institute on dealing with challenging ethical dilemmas within the practice of dentistry. She will start with a review of the ADA’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, as well as review of the ADA’s current white paper on “Clinical Autonomy in Dentistry,” and then move into various real-life scenarios and show how the Principles can apply in each situation. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ethical dilemmas for an interactive workshop experience.
Update on Legal and Regulatory Issues for Ohio Dentists (1 CE Credit)
Speaker: Eric Richmond, Esq
Join the ODA’s Director of Legal and Legislative Services for a course on common regulatory and legal issues in the dental office. This course will discuss the most asked questions the ODA receives regarding regulatory compliance and strategies for managing risk in a dental practice. These topics range from how to effectively terminate the dentist patient relationship to the necessity of having a terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license. The presentation will include discussion of how regulatory agencies such as the Ohio State Dental Board, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and others impact the practice of dentistry. This course will bring insights regarding the most recent changes to the regulatory and legal landscape for dentists in Ohio.
Presented By:
Our member dentist surveys regularly show that dentists are very interested in legislative advocacy because they know that government actions can significantly impact the dental delivery system, their practices, their businesses, and their jobs. This panel of government affairs specialists has more than 50 years of advocacy experience. They will discuss legislative issues at the Ohio Statehouse that would impact on dentistry, including community water fluoridation, dental insurance reform, and workforce initiatives. The panel will also answer your questions related to legislation and the political process.
The ODA Subcouncil on New Dentists invites new dentists who are in practice 10 years or less, dental residents and dental students to a social event on Friday evening after the Leadership Institute reception. More details, including the location for this social event, are available upon registration.
Presented By:
Presented By:
As the Seventh District Trustee for the American Dental Association, Dr. Manny Chopra will discuss recent changes at the ADA and how the ADA is advancing its mission to help dentists succeed and advance oral health, including discussing the ADA’s recent advocacy at the national level, and many other issues.
Presented By:
The ODA Executive Committee, made up of the elected officers of the association, will provide updates on the current state of dentistry in Ohio and discuss priorities including workforce and dental insurance issues. Executive Committee members will also answer attendees’ questions.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the latest trends in dentistry in Ohio
- Get the latest information on what the ODA is doing to address issues related to workforce, dental insurance and dental education
Presented By:
Great leaders don’t settle for comfort; they seek challenge. That’s where Ryan Hawk comes in. Over the last decade, Ryan has distilled insights from over 700 interviews on The Learning Leader Show into powerful, actionable keynotes for Fortune 500 companies, high-growth startups, and world-class conferences. Ryan does not just motivate. He equips leaders with the mindset, tools, and clear next steps to raise their standards and lead with greater intention, both in the office and at home. This presentation will challenge you to think like high-performance coaches; lead with clarity, conviction, and curiosity; build cultures rooted in excellence and accountability; and push your edges and challenge the status quo. Ryan will combine compelling stories, scientific insight, and practical tools that you can use immediately when you return to your practice on Monday.
Presented By:
Dr. Tom Paumier will give a brief review of his election and discuss his vision for the ADA as he completes his term as ADA President-Elect and prepares for his year as ADA President beginning in October of 2026.
Continuing Education Courses
The ODA is an ADA CERP provider and is recognized by the Ohio State Dental Board as a permanent sponsor of CE. Click here to learn more. Attendees can earn up to 4 CE credits.
Using Social Media to Recruit, Engage, and Retain Today’s Dental Team (1 CE Credit)
AI and the Future of Dental Practice Marketing: What You Need to Know Now (1 CE Credit)
Ethical Dental Dilemmas: What Would You Do? (1 CE Credit)
Update on Legal and Regulatory Issues for Ohio Dentists (1 CE Credit)
The Pursuit of Excellence (1 CE Credit)
Accommodations
Hilton Columbus Polaris HotelThe ODA has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Columbus Polaris Hotel, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH. The deadline to reserve a room in the ODA’s hotel block and receive a discount is February 19. For more details on the hotel block and to reserve a room, click here.
The ODA has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Columbus Polaris Hotel, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH. The deadline to reserve a room in the ODA’s hotel block and receive a discount is February 19. For more details on the hotel block and to reserve a room, click here.
