ADEA Chair of the Board Symposia


The 2024 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition will feature plenary sessions and three ADEA Chair of the Board Symposia addressing diverse and unique paths to empowering tomorrow's leaders, promoting access to oral health and forging global connections―each designed to lift the overall conference theme, “New Beginnings, Endless Opportunities."



Sunday, March 10Monday, March 11

ADEA CHAIR OF THE BOARD SYMPOSIA

10:30 a.m. – noon
Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow

10:30 a.m. – noon
Crafting Pathways to Promote Access to Oral Health: Education, Research and Health Care


1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Global Collaborations to Change: The Paradigm of Oral Health Education and Care

 

 



ADEA CHAIR OF THE BOARD SYMPOSIUM
Sunday, March 10  |  10:30 a.m. - noon

Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow




Empowerment, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the act of giving and promoting self-actualization to grant official authority. Inherent in every individual is a natural power that stems from their humanity. The role of a leader is not just to wield authority, but to explore, understand and discover ways to provide opportunities for their team members to exercise the innate empowerment that comes with being human.


As the first ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition of ADEA’s second century of dental education, this symposium will explore the characteristics, skills and strategies essential for leaders to empower their teams. By doing so, they can foster thriving collaborations and environments that drive change to collectively impact the communities they serve and the future of oral health education. .


Learning Objectives:

  • Identify strategies, barriers and common misconceptions related to empower team members.
  • Examine effective approaches and areas where there might be gaps in empowering others.
  • Discuss the role of people’s intersectionality in the empowerment process.
  • Apply best practices for fostering empowerment within academic institutions.

 



ADEA CHAIR OF THE BOARD SYMPOSIUM
Monday, March 11  |  10:30 a.m. - noon

Crafting Pathways to Promote Access to Oral Health:
Education, Research and Health Care




In 2021, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research published the report, Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges. This report underscores the urgent need to address disparities arising from the intersectionality of social and systemic determinants of health, which pose both advances and challenges to health, particularly the nation’s oral health.


Over two decades prior, Surgeon General David Satcher released the pivotal report, Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, examining our nation’s oral health status, emphasizing its profound impact on overall health and well-being. This report also highlighted the vital role of dental education in establishing the infrastructure for oral, dental and craniofacial research.


Considering the historical significance of these two reports, and the central role of dental education in research and equitable access to oral health care, our panel aims to explore and propose innovative trends within each area. These trends will not only creatively advocate for increased access to education for the next generation of oral health care providers, but also revolutionize education to new heights and promote access to care for underserved populations.


This symposium’s goal is to create a dynamic and comprehensive event that explores various dimensions of promoting access to dental education, research and health care, ultimately fostering innovation and addressing the challenges highlighted in the referenced reports.


Learning Objectives:

  • Examine the critical importance of creating pathways that promote access to oral health education, research and care.
  • Illustrate how dental education and research can play a fundamental role in expanding access to health care for underserved populations.
  • Articulate the impact of implementing emerging trends in higher education to advance oral health education.
  • Explore the various roles and contributions of faculty in the establishment of innovative research pathways.
  • Advocate creatively to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to access dental education.
  • Explain the potential of telehealth in expanding access to dental care, particularly in underserved areas.
  • Describe effective strategies for engaging communities and reaching underserved populations to promote oral health education and care.

 



ADEA CHAIR OF THE BOARD SYMPOSIUM
Monday, March 11  |  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Global Collaborations to Change:
The Paradigm of Oral Health Education and Care




At the dawn of ADEA’s second century in oral health education and as we emerge from a devastating pandemic, there is consensus that what happens in one corner of the world can affect others, that health equity is imperative, that oral health is part of general health and that the traditional models of oral health education have not eliminated the need for service in areas with poor access to health care for the most vulnerable populations worldwide.


There is an imperative need for global partnerships and collaborations to improve access to health care, education and service. As resources, innovative ideas and experience in creating thought-provoking models emerge, we are challenged by the need to change the paradigm to provide more health care access to the underserved in ever-changing political and environmental climates.


Throughout the years, ADEA has embarked on many global collaborations, including engagements with ADEE and IADR/AADOCR/CAD. The 2024 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, New Beginnings, Endless Opportunities, shines a spotlight on the importance of global collaborations. This symposium will share key takeaways from our global partners’ experiences alongside an exploration of Cuba’s approach to oral health care and education. Experts in global health will share their thoughts on new and creative oral health education models and the urgent need to rethink oral health care globally.


The discussion will lead into the 2024 ADEA International Women’s Leadership Conference VII, which is followed by the 2024 IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, all taking place in New Orleans in March 2024. .


Learning Objectives:

  • Describe innovative oral health education models.
  • Identify opportunities to collaborate with global partners providing access to health care that can be sustainable.
  • Apply tools and resources to build capacity for the current and next generation of oral health educators as we prepare the workforce with sustainable opportunities.
  • Explore the role of international collaborations and partnerships in advancing global oral health initiatives.
  • Identify innovative solutions and best practices from international contexts that can be adapted to improve access to oral health services.