CareerFusion continues in Florida

During the 4.5 days of learning and networking that CareerFusion offers, hygienists will learn about a lot of great new products and will have a lot of great ideas they’re excited about incorporating into their practices. Angie Stone, RDH, BS, told them how to get their doctors on board.

After Shirley Gutkowski , RDH, BSDH, FACE, kicked off Sunday morning with a talk about the experiences that got her where she is today, Stone, who is the editor in chief of Hygiene Tribune, continued the morning with a talk about proposal writing. Stone talked to attendees about what should go into a proposal and gave an example of a proposal she submitted to her doctor.

Before you can write a proposal, you need to know what you want to change or incorporate, why you want to do it, how it’s going to be done and who’s going to do it, she said. Proposals should be short and to the point, with a clear, specific message.

After Stone’s talk, the group split up into Mac and PC users for a tutorial. The day continued with more table talks and more opportunities for learning.

It all starts here

Dreams. Friendship. Memories.

That was the theme to this year’s Tournament of Roses parade, and is a theme that Fran Pangakis, RDH, CPVC, said perfectly fits CareerFusion.

Pangakis spoke at Saturday morning’s session about the importance of dreams, friendship and memories.  Without dreams, nothing would change. Dreams are the reason attendess made the trip to be part of CareerFusion.

The friendships made at CareerFusion last after you leave, Pangakis said, and support and connections made through those friendships will help attendees achieve those dreams they came with. The connections attendees make at CareerFusion likely will lead them to that next opportunity. She encouraged everyone to make a point of talking to every person in the room, because you really don’t know who you’re going to meet and where a conversation might lead. And the memories you make are yours to take with you, and something that everyone will cherish.

Pangakis also talked about crossing the line to get from where you are to where you really want to be. There are challenges, but you have to choose to commit, to work hard, to focus and to be resilient.

The day continued with another talk from Pangakis and Tim Twigg, Owner and President of Bent Ericksen & Associates. The pair talked about the importance of being truly engaged in your work and what it really takes to build a successful team.

“It’s not just being there physically, it’s being there,” Twigg said. “Bring your whole self, your whole capabilities to whatever it is you’re doing.”

They also talked about the importance of understanding and harvesting the power of emotions. They gave group members advice on how to increase their EQ (emotional IQ), from taking responsibility of their own emotions and happiness to examining their feelings rather than the actions and motives of other people.

The day concluded with a cocktail party, where attendees had the chance to make the all-important connections and friendships that they will carry with them long after they leave Daytona.

CareerFusion 2011 kicks off in Florida

These dental hygienists are here to set themselves apart. They’re here to become leaders, to grow both personally and professionally. That’s what CareerFusion is all about.

This year’s attendees, some new and some returning for the fourth time, gathered Saturday morning in Daytona Beach, Fla. to network, to learn how to step out of their comfort zones and to be introduced to opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Beth Thompson, RDH, BS, FACE, kicked off the 4.5 day event and reminded attendees why they’re there. It’s about creating a relaxed, supportive environment that fosters growth, whether attendees are looking to start doing more speaking engagements, writing more or are ready to do something outside of clinical hygiene.

Throughout the week, attendees will have plenty of time to form new friendships and to network. Through table top exercises, they’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the product offerings from this year’s corporate partners, which includes Coltene Whaledent, DentalVibe, Springstone Patient Financing, The Art of Practice Management, Cetylite Industries, Xlear, Orascoptic, DSM Worldwide, Crosstex International and Bent Ericksen & Associates

DPR honors AADOM founder Heather Colicchio

Even though Heather Colicchio didn’t begin her career in the dental industry, she sure has made an impact during the last seven years she’s been part of it.

She is the founder of the AADOM and works to bring education, support and a feeling of community to its members. Her efforts earned her a spot as one of DPR’s Top 25 Women in Dentistry.

During the afternoon portion of Saturday’s conference, all the past and the current Office Manager of the Year gathered on stage to honor Colicchio while Lorie Streeter, VP of Business Development, read the nomination letter she submitted to DPR. Advanstar Dental Media Director of Content Thais Carter also was on hand to congratulate Colicchio as well as Adrianna Manning, an office manager who also made this year’s Top 25 list.

Carter talked to the group about why DPR developed the Top 25 and the importance of looking beyond the products to the people who make them and this industry successful. She also encouraged the group to think about who they might want to nominate for next year’s Top 25.

After the awards ceremony, the AADOM charter fellowship class members were inducted, complete with cap and gown.  The afternoon continued with a raffle and prizes from exhibitors, including a Kindle, cash, an iPad, gift certificates and an iPod nano. This conference wrapped up with attendees breaking into roundtables by specialty for discussion, and with a lot of enthusiastic members looking forward to next year’s meeting in Nashville.

An AADOM update

 2011 is going to be a busy year for AADOM.

During the meeting Saturday morning, President Heather Colicchio outlined what’s coming up for the organization next year, and there’s plenty to look forward to.

Here’s a rundown of what’s coming:

Consultants will be part of the popular member forum to help answer the many questions office managers post.

The website, which houses a jobs board and an article library among other features, will be revamped so it’s easier to navigate. There also are plans for a form book that will be easy to access from the website. Each form will be customizable.

Virtual Study Club Session 2 will kick off in 2011, and this interactive learning will cover topics from the art of hiring to communication skills for dealing with difficult patients. Teresa Duncan, MS, will teach these classes, which will be available in the afternoon and evening.

AADOM also will be working with local associations next year to form state chapters. They are looking for volunteers to help make this happen.

The scholarship fund, run by members for members, will help office managers get to next year’s conference. That conference will be Sept. 9-11 in Nashville. Registration for next year’s meeting has already begun.

AADOM fills day two with more education, fun

Find your inner leader.

Keynote speaker Katherine Eitel began Saturday’s AADOM conference with “Lioness Leadership: Awaken the Instinctive Leader in You,” encouraging attendees to tap into their potential as well as to look for potential in the people around them.

“The greatest leaders I’ve seen in my life, it’s not about what they’re doing but how they’re being,” she said. “Leadership is really personal growth. You can’t lead others if you can’t lead yourself.”

Eitel talked about the importance of making mind shifts to become better leaders and the way great leaders think, speak and act. It’s important to challenge your belief system, she said, because that opens up so many great possibilities both personally and professionally.

The day continued with industry sessions with a variety of manufacturers, including Lighthouse Management, CareCredit, Patterson Dental and The Consulting U. During lunch, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of the expert panel, which included Eitel and Lois Banta of the Speaking Consulting Network.  Questions about oral cancer screening, insurance and getting doctors more excited about the morning huddle were among the many topics the panel addressed.

Office Manager of the Year Announced

Melissa Meredith of Central Arkansas Dental Associates is 2010’s Office Manager of the Year.

Last year’s winner, Kay Valentine of Indy Smiles Family Dentistry, announced this year’s winner during lunch Friday afternoon.

“This is a great honor,” Meredith said as she accepted her award and thanked the doctors and owners of her practice for nominating her and for sending her to this weekend’s conference. “I have worked very hard.”

This is the sixth time the AADOM has given this award to an office manager. Meredith received a $1,000 check courtesy of CareCredit as well as a life-time membership in AADOM.

The dentist/office manager relationship

 Though they may not always say it, the dentists you work with do appreciate what you do.

During the lunch break Friday afternoon, Chicago dentist Dr. William Simon talked about all the important things his office manager, Adriana Manning, has done for his practice over the years and how vital she’s been in the practice’s success. He also took the time to give attendees advice on how they can build stronger relationships with their dentists and see even more success in their offices.

 “If I could sum up in one sentence what an office manager means to me, I would say my office manager improves my quality of life,” he said.  “As the Mastercard ads go, that’s priceless.”

Dentistry has evolved into a more complex business over the years, he said, and office managers have become an essential part of making a practice successful.  Knowing this, there are plenty of ways to improve the relationship between office manager and dentist.  Communication is critical, and goals should be set for the doctor, the office manager and the practice. The office manager and the doctor should know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Let the doctor know what you’re doing every day and make sure you understand your doctor’s definition of success and that it’s something you can get excited about.

 At the end of the talk, Dr. Simon read a letter that he wrote to nominate Manning for AADOM’s annual Office Manager of the Year award. He talked about all she’s done for his practice over the years, from helping him modernize his office to helping him rebuild twice—once  after a fire and once after a sudden notice to vacate. The letter nominating Manning, who was chosen as one of DPR’s Top 25 Women in Dentistry, shows how much dentists notice and appreciate what their office managers do.

AADOM meeting kicks off in Vegas

A little singing. A little dancing. A lot of education and networking.

The sixth annual American Association of Dental Office Managers conference kicked off Friday morning with music and dancing to get this year’s attendees energized for the weekend’s meeting. During the welcome session President Heather Colicchio and VP of Business Development Lorie Streeter took the time to introduce all of this year’s speakers and exhibitors, who waved, danced and high fived their way to the main stage.

This year’s meeting features about 40 exhibitors, including Patterson Dental, Henry Schein, Jameson Management, Miles and Associates, Dental Health News, Smile Reminder and 1-800 Dentist. During their weekend in Las Vegas, attendees have the chance for some one-on-one time with manufacturers to learn more about products they may want to bring to their practice.

After the morning dance party and time to visit with exhibitors, conference goers had the chance to take in a variety of courses, including Fred Joyal’s “The Practice Promise: How to Create your Brand; Larry Wintersteen’s “All Stressed Up and No Place to Go; and Judy Kay Mausolf’s “Conflict, Gossip and Tension Resolution for the Dental Office.”

Dux Dental Launches ShortCut at ADA

This all-in-one retraction cord delivery system is designed to address problems associated with using retraction cord in a bottle. The ShortCut features a built-in cutter so there is no need for sterile scissors. The same amount of cord dispenses every time, with  a simple click to make communication between the dentist and the assistant easier when the need to cut cord unexpedtedly arises during a procedure. It is available in all GingiBRAID sizes and medicaments.