Journalist Mary Otto's coverage of the 2007 death of12-year-old Deamonte Driver for the Washington Post spurred Congressional hearings and reforms of dental programs serving poor and working poor children in Maryland and nationwide. For Otto, the story of a child's death from complications of tooth decay, was also the beginning of a decade-long reporting journey that resulted in her book Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality and the Struggle for Oral Health in America. In her talk, she will discuss what she learned and welcome questions about her work.

Service Month is supported by

In this session, attendees will hear from an ASDA member who coordinated an outstanding community service event that brought Give Back A Smile (the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Charitable Foundation) together with jewelry brand Kendra Scott. Attendees will hear about the success and methodology that led to raising over $5,000, learn how to work with a business, and understand tips to increase event engagement. Resources to coordinate your own community service event and fundraiser will also be shared.

The purpose of the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Week is to establish foundational knowledge about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and provide resources for chapters to create cultures of inclusion with their members.

At the core of inclusion is the opportunity and ability to have meaningful, and sometimes difficult, conversations. During this panel discussion, you will gain tools to help you have open dialogue about DEIB topics. You will also discover what some of the existing barriers are to productive dialogue and how you may see those barriers at work for a chapter, a practice, and the industry. 

With the end of dental school comes an entirely new life experience. You have the tools to be a successful doctor, but you may still have some uncertainties about what to expect from post-graduate life. Join our panel of new dentists who will share details about their last few months of dental school and first year in practice.

Be sure to bring your questions about being a new dentist. This session is an opportunity to get those questions answered from individuals who were recently in your position.

There is no single leadership style or strategy that is effective in all scenarios. The most successful leaders are those who can read a situation and adapt their approach to what is most needed at that time, for that group of people. This is a skill that will help you through challenging scenarios in dental school and throughout your career. In this interactive session, an ASDA alum will share his experiences and tips for how you can be an effective leader. You’ll also have an opportunity to discuss leadership styles and strategies in breakout groups with fellow ASDA members. 

It’s no secret that the life of a dental student can be demanding. The weight of your academic workload, extracurricular responsibilities and personal pressures can be overwhelming at times. Without proper coping mechanisms, this can lead to manifestations of student burnout: emotional exhaustion, stress and isolation. Join ASDA alumni in this session as they share their first-hand experiences with student burnout. Learn how they overcame burnout and gain insights to how you can maintain your ASDA Fever and enthusiasm for your career.

Join ASDA alum and past editor-in-chief, Dr. Stephen Rogers, as he shares key tips and insights for creating written material. He’ll also review common errors and pitfalls in the writing process and how to avoid them. Whether you’re working on a personal statement or journal article, you’ll take away insights to enhance your writing skills and strengthen your editing abilities.

When stress becomes overwhelming, you can feel like you’re spiraling out of control. Over time, high levels of stress can have a negative impact on your health, relationships or quality of life. While you can’t eliminate stress altogether, there are effective ways to reduce stress and regain control. Learn how managing stress can help you reduce its harmful effects, provide you with healthier ways to cope and prevent stress from spiraling out of control again in the future.

This webinar is only available to ASDA members

As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, our social boundaries and expectations also change. In this session we’ll discuss the importance of maintaining your social wellness and personal relationships during this time of uncertainty. We will outline tips for adapting to new social distancing guidelines, online classes and exams and varying workloads, while continuing to prioritize the important people and passions in your life.