“When we first began planning the team programs for Annual Session 2021, we considered how to balance business knowledge and personal development,” says Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham.

Dr. Featheringham and Orthodontic Staff Program Co-chair Dr. Anthony Puntillo developed the Collaborative Concepts for Doctors and Team program as well as the Orthodontic Team Program. They were aided by Mrs. Susan Roberts, who also serves on the Annual Session Planning Committee and provided input on the Collaborative Concepts All Team lecture track.

“When COVID-19 hit and most practices were closed for a time, we realized our colleagues were finding time for reflection on gaps in their knowledge of practice management,” says Dr. Featheringham. “Many orthodontists were realizing the need for high-level leadership skills to collaborate with their teams to reopen, trying to quickly ramp up their tech knowledge to make virtual appointments a reality, and trying to address concerns about mental health and well-being for themselves, their families and team members.

“In many cases, our relationships with our teams deepened as we navigated the crisis together,” adds Dr. Featheringham. “So, we took another look at our Annual Session program and began refining to provide the most helpful and current lecture content in all of these areas.”

A lecture by a widely regarded speaker who addresses mental health and well-being topics is expected to be an Annual Session highlight for many.

“Jessica Rector was the Number One requested future speaker from recent Annual Session team program evaluations,” says Dr. Featheringham. “This year she will present, ‘Fire Up Your Thinking:  Manage Your Mental Health Through Change, Uncertainty and Challenges.’ This lecture is part of the Culture, Coaching and Leadership series in the Collaborative Concepts Program. Some of the other great lectures in this series will include Dr. Courtney Dunn presenting, ‘How to Establish a Culture of Teamwork and Change Your Practice for the Better,’ and Dr. Jamie Reynolds speaking on ‘Team Incentives.’”

Many leadership ideas pertaining to COVID-19-related challenges and beyond will be explored in the Team Building series in Collaborative Concepts, and in the Human Resource series in the Orthodontic Team Program.

“Dr. Anil Idiculla will kick off the Team Building series with his lecture, ‘The Boston Team Party,” says Dr. Featheringham. “In the HR series we will have several interesting presentations including Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca speaking on ‘One Team, One Score: Effective HR Management and Teamwork for the Orthodontic Office.”

Inclusiveness at all levels is a key topic in many of today’s workplaces. Offering expert insights on this topic will be Joanne Lipman, presenting, “Developing a Healthy, Inclusive Workplace: Process and Measures, a Featured Lecture in the All Team series. Ms. Lipman is the author of THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID: What Men Need to Know (and Women Need to Tell Them).

“This lecture was planned by the AAO Special Committee on Women Orthodontists, which is working on initiatives to help the AAO ensure that the needs of our rapidly growing female membership are met,” says Dr. Featheringham. “Joanne Lipman is excellent at helping audiences learn to bridge communication gaps. She offers rich insights into working relationships for both men and women.”

Ms. Lipman will be joining attendees during the networking session and reception following her lecture.


Emerging Technologies Offer Opportunities and Challenges

In keeping with a wider spectrum of technology interests than might have been expected before COVID-19, the 2021 Collaborative Concepts and the Team Program both include heavy emphasis on technology across many lectures.

“We wanted to help attendees keep their practices on the cutting-edge, but also offer information targeted to those just getting their feet wet with new technologies and those who already have some expertise,” says Dr. Featheringham. “In all cases, we are emphasizing pragmatic questions like, ‘Looking at the overwhelming number of tech choices that are available, how do you make decisions about what is realistic and desirable for your practice? What will be the return on your investment?’