ASDA introduces students to organized dentistry and provides opportunities to develop leadership skills. ASDA national leaders have gone on to serve on ADA’s New Dentist Committee, state and local societies and as presenters at ASDA, AGD and ADA national meetings.
ASDA central office staff would like to thank its members for volunteering their time and talents towards advancing the dental profession. You truly are making a difference in the lives of others. Watch this brief thank you video.
This diagram shows the structure of ASDA and how the Board, Councils, Editorial Board and other national leaders work together.
Elected Positions (elected by House of Delegates or chapter delegates at Annual Session):
Appointed Positions (selected from a pool of applicants by board of trustees):
How to Apply
Only active ASDA predoctoral members may apply (unless otherwise stated). We strongly encourage students to contact the current leaders to learn more about the position before applying. Once an application is submitted, no changes to the materials can be made. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications for 2014-15 will open Oct. 2013. Applications for all positions, except district trustee, will be due Jan. 2014. District trustee applications are due Feb. 27, 2014 at Annual Session.
Meeting Attendance Requirements
National leaders must be able to attend
each meeting as listed in their position description. Applicants who can not attend all required meetings will not be considered - no exceptions. Please review this
carefully before applying. Click here for a list of national meetings. Funding is provided for required meetings
and includes: transportation to/from meetings, meals, hotel
accommodations, a per diem based on the length of the meeting and
reimbursement for baggage fees.
Elections and Appointments
The 2014-15 appointed leaders will be selected by the 2013-14 board of trustees in January 2014. Elected leaders (the executive committee, speaker of the House and district trustees) will be selected at Annual Session, Feb. 26 - March 1, 2014 in Anaheim, Ca. All 2014-15 national leaders will begin their term at the conclusion of Annual Session.
Orientation & Leadership Training
ASDA national leaders are introduced to their new role through an orientation program (in-person and via conference calls), including:
- Overview of ASDA organizational structure, standing rules, policies and procedures
- Tips for leading a team – along with a copy of "Enhancing Committee Effectiveness"
- Position-specific training from prior year's leaders
- Resources for how to make strategic decisions
- Mentorship from ASDA staff and other leaders in organized dentistry
Elected Positions:
Executive Committee
 The executive committee consists of the president, two vice presidents and the executive director (ASDA staff). The president serves as the spokesperson for the association. He or she interacts with leaders and members at all levels and has the opportunity to address issues important to ASDA with organizations including ADA, ADEA and other dental student groups. The president works closely with the vice presidents and staff in making key decisions to further the association. The two vice presidents work closely with the president in making
decisions in the best interest of the association. The vice presidents
may serve as spokespersons for ASDA when requested.
President Duties
Vice President Duties
Executive Committee Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
District Trustees
District trustees guide chapters in their district and act as the official liaison between the local chapters and national ASDA. Each district trustee serves as a member of the board of trustees.
District Trustee Duties
District Trustee Application
Speaker of the House of Delegates
The speaker of the House of Delegates presides over the House of Delegates business meetings at Annual Session and guides members through the resolution process. The speaker should be familiar with parliamentary procedure and the policy-making process. The speaker serves as a non-voting member of the board of trustees.
Speaker of the House Duties
Speaker of the House Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Appointed Positions:
Editorial Board
The ASDA editorial board is comprised of the editor-in-chief, electronic editor and four contributing editors. The editorial board provides editorial direction for Mouth, ASDA News, and Mouthing Off. All editorial board members solicit authors and then work with contributors to develop topics and edit their articles.
The editor-in-chief serves as chair of the editorial board and a non-voting member of the board of trustees. The editor-in-chief also serves on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, council chairs and president to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
Editor-in-Chief Duties
Editor-in-Chief Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Contributing editors focus on issues of concern to dental students and new dentists and identify relevant article topics. Contributing editors recruit and contact authors for ASDA’s publications and write materials as needed.
Contributing Editor Duties
Contributing Editor Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
The electronic editor manages ASDA’s award-winning blog, Mouthing Off. Specific responsibilities include editorial discretion over blog content and identification and management of blog contributors.
Electronic Editor Duties
Electronic Editor Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Councils
ASDA’s councils are instrumental in creating projects and initiatives to further the association’s goals. Councils act on resolutions passed by the House of Delegates and help to identify programs and recommend policies to meet the needs and interests of dental students.
 Council chairs supervise and direct the activities of the council and facilitate council meetings. At the end of their term, chairs attend ASDA's Annual Session. Council chairs also serve on ASDA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee (SPOC) with the executive director, president and editor-in-chief to monitor the association’s progress of the goals in the strategic plan.
Council associates serve as a member of a council and participate in all council activities. Associates are encouraged to apply for the council chair position the following year.
Council on Education and Licensure
The Council on Education and Licensure provides leadership in the areas of dental education, research and licensure. The council maintains relationships with licensure communities of interest, including examination boards and state dental boards and actively pursues opportunities to move ASDA’s licensure policies forward.
Council on Education and Licensure Chair Duties
Council on Education and Licensure Chair Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Education and Licensure Associate Duties
Council on Education and Licensure Associate Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Membership
The Council on Membership promotes the recruitment and retention of members. This council provides direct assistance to individual chapters or trustees, proposes new member benefits and develops new resources for ASDA chapters.
Council on Membership Chair Duties
Council on Membership Chair Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Membership Associate Duties
Council on Membership Associate Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Professional Issues
The Council on Professional Issues serves the association as a resource on dental practice administration and professional issues, such as ethics and barriers to care. The council also reviews ASDA’s Code of Ethics and recommends changes as necessary.
Council on Professional Issues Chair Duties
Council on Professional Issues Chair Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Professional Issues Associate Duties
Council on Professional Issues Associate Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Communications
The Council on Communications improves communications between ASDA’s leadership and membership by creating and disseminating media and fostering and evaluating feedback from members.
Council on Communications Chair Duties
Council on Communications Chair Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Communications Associate Duties
Council on Communications Associate Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Council on Advocacy
The Council on Advocacy monitors and reports on current
legislation relevant to dental students and the profession. The council also plans National Dental Student Lobby Day and provides assistance to chapters in organizing grassroots political
activities. The council is composed of a chair, ADPAC student director and five legislative coordinators.
Council on Advocacy Chair Duties
Council on Advocacy Chair Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
The ADPAC student director serves as liaison to the ADPAC board of directors, with full voting rights. The ADPAC student director also provides leadership in the areas of legislation and advocacy.
ADPAC Student Director Duties
ADPAC Student Director Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Legislative coordinators (LCs) work by the direction of the chair of the Council on Advocacy. They represent the chapters in their region and guide chapters on grassroots activities such as ADPAC drives, state lobby days and email campaigns.
Legislative Coordinator Duties
Legislative Coordinator Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Externships
Externships offer an exciting first step to becoming leaders in organized dentistry. The externship program allows dental students to experience national and state health policy legislation and association management. Externs work four weeks over the summer in the ADA’s Washington, D.C. office or ASDA central office in Chicago. Externs receive a stipend, transportation to and from Chicago or Washington, D.C., and student housing near the office.
Two Chicago administrative externs are selected to work at ASDA’s central office, becoming directly involved in many aspects of the association including marketing, communications, operations, membership and meetings. Externs spend time in each department of the central office and have specific responsibilities including the completion of projects assigned by ASDA staff. For a more in-depth look at the Chicago externship, read this August 2012 ASDA News article "ASDA externs learn all about organized dentistry in the windy city."
Chicago Extern Duties
Chicago Extern Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Two Washington National Health Policy externs are selected to work in the Washington, D.C. office of the ADA, becoming directly involved in the legislative process through congressional lobbying, contact with health policy experts and extensive research and position development. Externs have specific responsibilities including the completion of projects assigned by the ADA staff. Externs are also expected to identify projects to meet the needs and interests of dental students and to develop and propose association policy, or policy revision, as needed.
Washington, D.C. Extern Duties
Washington, D.C. Extern Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Predental Consultant
The predental consultant is a unique opportunity for a predental member to serve in an ASDA national leadership position. This position will provide insight into the unique needs of ASDA's predental members and help keep councils and central office staff informed of predental topics and issues. The predental consultant will serve as liaison between the predental advisory committee and the council on membership.
Predental Consultant Duties
Predental Consultant Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
Predental Advisory Committee
The predental advisory committee is made up of up to five predental members who provide feedback on predental student focused initiatives. They will work closely with the predental consultant and the council on membership to ensure that new programs properly address the needs of predental members.
Predental Advisory Committee Duties
Predental Advisory Committee Application (2014-15 apps available in Oct.)
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