Plenary Sessions

Exploring the Frontiers of Science and Human Potential
Sunday, March 19, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. | Long Beach Convention Center: Exhibit Hall B
Opening Plenary Session

Mae C. Jemison, M.D., leads 100 Year Starship, an initiative seed-funded by the DoD’s Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to make human travel beyond the solar system a reality within a century. She is founder of the technology consulting firm The Jemison Group, Inc., which integrates the critical impact of sociocultural issues into designing and implementing technologies, such as using satellite technology to deliver health care in West Africa and solar dish Stirling engines to generate electricity in developing countries. As the first woman of color to go into space, Dr. Jemison was a NASA astronaut for six years and flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-47 Spacelab J(apan) mission in September 1992. An environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College, she taught sustainable development and technology design and ran The Jemison Institute for Advancing Technologies in Developing Countries. She was an A.D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. Dr. Jemison is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has garnered many of the nation’s highest national, academic and institutional honors for her public service as an astronaut, scientist, health care provider and educator. Dedicating her life’s work to scientific, technological and medical advancements, Dr. Jemison explores the frontiers of science and the human potential.

Inclusion, Excellence and Dental Education
Sunday, March 19, 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. | Long Beach Convention Center: Grand Ballroom A
“In the Mix” Series 

Please Note: This is a ticketed event. Tickets are $59, and may be purchased in the registration process, by editing your registration or onsite at the registration counter. 

Honoring a rich history of more than 20 years of Discourse & Dessert events at the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, the “In the Mix” series continues the legacy of important conversations around issues of diversity, inclusion and gender. This new program considers inclusion in all its forms and facets. The events will be structured to provide ample opportunities for discussion and networking, allowing participants to truly be “in the mix” as they move from table to table engaging with each other. Anne L. Koch, D.M.D., will set the stage by highlighting the barriers transgender individuals face to receiving quality medical care. The consequences of inadequate medical treatment are staggering, and Dr. Koch will present facts illustrating the gravity of this public health issue. Following her keynote, participants will join each other at high top tables with a refreshing beverage and unique questions designed to promote discussion.

Dr. Koch received both her D.M.D. and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental). She is a past Director of the Postdoctoral Program in Endodontics at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Following her clinical and academic career, Dr. Koch formed her own successful technology and development company, Real World Endo, of which she was CEO and President. The author of more than 150 articles in her prior specialty field, Dr. Koch has presented more than 1,000 lectures worldwide. Dr. Koch maintains a faculty position at Penn Dental in the Department of Endodontics and serves as a Senior Fellow with Penn Medicine. She also is a member of the Board of Overseers for Penn Dental.

Double Perspective: Ana Navarro, J.D., and Hilary Rosen
Monday, March 20, 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. | Long Beach Convention Center: Exhibit Hall B
Political Spotlight

It’s a new year with a new president, and this year’s Political Spotlight will provide commentary, insight and political analysis on the new Trump Administration in a point-counterpoint format with Republican Strategist Ana Navarro and Democratic Consultant Hilary Rosen.

Ana Navarro, J.D., is a Republican strategist and a political analyst for CNN and CNN en Español. Respected on both sides of the aisle for her straight shooting and candor, she frequently appears in the media, including Meet the Press, Bill Maher’s Real Time, Anderson Cooper 360 and The View. Previously she was the national Hispanic co-chair for Governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 campaign, the national co-chair of John McCain’s Hispanic Advisory Council in 2008, and the national surrogate for the McCain 2008 campaign. She served on Governor Jeb Bush’s transition team in 1998 and was his first Director of Immigration Policy in the Executive Office of the Governor. In 2001, she served as ambassador to the United Nation’s Human Rights Commission, devoting much energy to condemning human rights abuses in Cuba. In 1999, she worked in the private sector, representing private and public clients on federal issues, particularly related to immigration, trade and policy affecting Central America. In 1997, she was a special advisor to the government of Nicaragua and one of the primary advocates for NACARA (Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act).

Hilary Rosen is a strategist who navigates the intersection of communications, media and politics. She brings a wealth of experience to clients needing high-octane assistance in a variety of public affairs challenges, such as creating and executing large-scale campaigns, publicity and reputation management and crisis communications. She was Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America from 1987 to 2003. She then became the Political Director and Editor at-Large of HuffingtonPost.com and on-air contributor first at CNBC and MSNBC, and now at CNN. Earlier in her career she worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne. Ms. Rosen is a behindthe-scenes go-to media consultant on progressive and LGBT issues. When the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 headed to the Supreme Court, the Respect for Marriage Coalition turned to Ms. Rosen for assistance. She led the Coalition’s communication efforts ahead of the Court’s favorable decisions and was recognized by Out Magazine, which placed her on their 2013 Out100 list, and the SKDKnickerbocker team won several awards for their work. 

Cracking Creativity: Re-Engaging Our Innate Creativity for Greater Productivity & Growth
Tuesday, March 21, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. | Long Beach Convention Center: Exhibit Hall B
Closing Plenary Session

Abigail Posner is Head of Strategic Planning at Google’s ZOO, a creative think tank for agencies and brands. As a thought leader, author, manager and corporate executive, she has spent her life catalyzing change and creating impact. She draws on her degree in Social Anthropology from Harvard University to shine a unique, humanistic lens on culture, business and technology that brings fresh perspective to corporate culture, product development, branding and marketing. While at Google, she launched an industry-first thought leadership series on human beings’ emotional relationships with the digital space: Humanizing Digital. This research decodes technology in an inspiring and useful way. Previously, Ms. Posner was Executive Vice President, Strategy Director at Publicis New York, and Head of Strategic Planning at DDB New York. She blogs regularly on topics around beauty in our culture at Beautyskew.com. She has published a range of articles on marketing, digital culture and beauty, and is a contributor to Advertising Age and Google’s sites. She has been featured in several publications, including Business Insider, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, La Presse, CNBC, Mumbrella, AdNews, B&T and Globes Israel. You can be creative too. Yes, you. Now more than ever we have access to a virtually endless topography to explore and reconnect us to our innate creativity. Learn how the modern world can actually help to reconnect us to our pre-digital, if not pre-technological, humanity and yield a profound difference in our professional and personal lives.