As we count down the days until the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, I’m already thinking ahead to another meeting in the Midwest - Professional Dental Assisting. Modeled after RDH® magazine’s highly successful Under One Roof conference for dental hygienists, Professional Dental Assisting (PDA) will focus on hands-on courses and lectures that will make dental assistants more proficient and more excited about their jobs.
Scheduled for May 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis, PDA is presented in alliance with the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). PDA will be a conference for dental assistants only, offering these key members of the dental office a chance to interact with other assistants and a chance to learn from some of the best-known trainers and speakers in the nation.
PDA will offer keynote lectures by two of the most popular speakers in the dental industry - Dr. Cathy Jameson and DE&M’s own Mary Govoni. Each will speak directly to dental assistants in their lectures. I have the opportunity to work with these two individuals on a regular basis, and I know they have a special place in their hearts for dental assistants.
There will also be tons of continuing-education opportunities for front- and back-office dental assistants with hands-on courses ranging from taking impressions to proper infection control techniques to working with digital/intraoral cameras.
The registration fee of $195 includes receptions and lunches. With hands-on courses scheduled to begin Thursday at 2 p.m., it should be a weekend packed with opportunities to expand horizons and improve skills. There will also be plenty of free time in the evenings for dental assistants to explore the vibrant nightlife and great restaurants of downtown Indianapolis.
Some of the highlights of the conference include:
- A Friday Night Offsite Networking Event is scheduled at Jillian’s from 7 to 11 p.m. Dental assistants can gather for an evening of networking and fun at Jillian’s to play the night away - Jillian’s features a “jillian” things to do!
Your ticket to fun includes appetizers, three hours of unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, beer, and wine, 7,000 point player card and fun prizes, admission to the Groove Shack, and round-trip transportation to and from the Hyatt. The fee is $65 per person. - Lectures and hands-on workshops by Kristine Hodsdon, Virginia Moore, Debbie Castagna, Dr. Sheri Doniger, and other nationally known speakers.
- Every dental assistant’s role in the office will be addressed at PDA. Expanded function dental assistants will have courses. Front desk assistants will have topics geared toward their needs. Registered and certified dental assistants will find plenty of choices. Since every member of the office plays a vital role in the success of the practice, every member deserves to have courses and topics that will interest them at PDA.
What’s the bottom line? It’s going to be a great meeting. For more information, call (800) 633-1681 or log on to www.professionaldentalassisting.com. The Web site is constantly being updated with the latest speakers and courses. You can also find more information on page 41.
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Kevin Henry
Editor
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