The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) hosted their annual conference from March 9-12 in New Orleans. Oral health educators, students and professionals from around the country attended the event.

VCU School of Dentistry faculty, staff and students made their presence known through multiple awards, poster sessions and overall involvement in the conference.

The following students and faculty from VCU School of Dentistry presented their work:

Endodontics

• Dr. Ana Cristina Andrada: “Endless Opportunities Utilizing Digital Dentistry: Preparing Students for Licensure Exams”

Endodontics and Oral Diagnostic Sciences

• Dr. Ana Cristina Andrada and Dr. Sarah Glass: “Short Talks: Faculty Development Marketplace:  A Forum for Collaboration”

Pediatric Dentistry

• Dr. Jeffrey Johnson: “New Beginnings, Innovative Leadership, Endless Opportunities”
• Dr. Paula Coates: ADA 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Program Symposium

Periodontics

• Dr. Amirreza Ghassemi: CODA Accreditation for Advanced and Graduate Education

Dental Hygiene

• Marion Manski: “Panel Discussion: Program Director Survey Results, Chair Allied Dental Program Directors”

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Dr. Alexandra Glickman: Mentor and ADCFP Poster

Dental Public Health and Policy

• Dr. Carlos Smith: “Anti-Black Racism: Oral Health Justice in Education, Practice and Research”, “The Health Equity Elephant in the Room: Unpacking Workforce Racial Battle Fatigue” and “AI, ChatGPT and the Unknown: Cultivating an Ethical Approach and Response”

General Practice

• Dr. Harmeet Chiang: Orientation, Leadership Institute 

Information Technology

• Brent Idleman: “CARET - Replacing all of those reports” and “AI, ChatGPT and the Unknown: Cultivating An Ethical Approach and Response”

Student presentations

• Jared Bergman (D2): “Evaluation of Virtual Reality Simulation in Dental Education: Administration of Local Anesthesia”
• Suraj Kandalam (D3): “Modern Teaching Practices in Dental Academia: Endodontology Fellowship”

The following faculty members transitioned into leadership roles at this session:

• Dr. Ana Andrada: chair of Endodontic Section
• Dr. Amir Ghassemi: chair of Advanced Graduate Education Section and Chair of Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technologies SIG
• Dr. VaCora Rainey: chair elect of the Practice Management Section
• Dr. Harmeet Chiang: select as a fellow for the ADEA Leadership Institute class of 2024-2025
• Dr. Paula Coates: graduated from the ADEA Emerging Leaders Institute
• Marion Manski: Nominated to serve as Board Director of Allied Dental Program Directors Council for the next three years and will serve on the ADEA executive board

Congratulations to our students who received the bronze award for student chapter Distinguished Chapter Award—Bronze Level Chapter!

Bronze Level Chapters are registered ADEA chapters who have hosted one to two chapter events throughout the academic year and have chapter members who participated in ADEA national events such as the ADEA Capitol Hill Day, ADEA Advanced Dental Education eForum, ADEA Diversity Workshop, ADEA Fall Meetings, ADEA Student Diversity Leadership Program, and the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.