Leadership Institute

For years, key leaders within the AAPD discussed the urgency of nurturing and supporting leadership within the ranks of the Academy's membership. Leadership, with its many different connotations, embodies the skills and vision necessary for effective representation on AAPD governance bodies, involvement in organized dentistry, and contributing to personal development. There is no more important need of skill sets than shaping the leadership qualities of our current and future leaders in pediatric dentistry.

The AAPD Leadership Institute was the innovation of AAPD Past President and current Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children Trustee Dr. David K. Curtis and has become part of Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children's vision for the future. The AAPD Leadership Institute trains current and future members with the necessary skills to shape their philosophical and operational approaches to maximize leadership potential and performance. The first cohort of AAPD members and corporate representatives, Leadership Institute I, met at Kellogg in December from 2004-2006.

Partners

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children is proud to partner in this endeavor with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Ultradent Products, Inc. The Kellogg School of Management is an institution that embodies an outstanding academic reputation, world-renowned faculty, and a host of innovative programs with extensive experience in customizing programs for various groups, including numerous non-profit organizations. Ultradent Products, Inc., a world leader in the development and manufacturing of dental products, has endowed the AAPD Leadership Institute through a $1 million gift to Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children. This generous donation distinguishes Ultradent as an industry leader dedicated to excellence and committed to improving the dental health of children and the professionals dedicated to them.

Program

A class of 30 individuals will enroll in an educational engagement focusing on an array of topics important for leadership development. The structure of the program is a three-year course involving a four day live-in experience at Kellogg each December. Enrollees will participate in learning experiences with some of "the best and the brightest" minds in this field. All curricular elements will apply to those in private practice, academia, and any other pursuits in which they may be engaged. Leadership Institute II will convene its first class Dec. 13 - 16, 2007.

Benefits

The AAPD Leadership Institute was the first institute of its kind among dental and medical organizations. Although others have leadership programming, none have established an ongoing commitment with the financial resources to support in perpetuity a leadership focus of and for the organization. Leadership Institute II graduates will possess the skill sets that transcend every aspect of life, and therefore the experience is intended to be valuable in supporting involvement in the AAPD and the development of the personal and professional lives of the participants.

Click here to access more information and application for Leadership Institute II.