While still a relatively new corporate sponsor to the American Association of Women Dentists, Procter & Gamble has already made quite an impact on the organization. Thanks to the efforts of Cindy Sensabaugh and Michael Sudzina, AAWD members and guests were treated to a fabulous program in San Francisco.
Part of what makes P&G so successful, in addition to providing excellent oral health-care products and resources for both dentists and consumers, is its dedication to improving the dental community as well as the public health community, particularly in the areas of diversity and children's oral health.
AAWD: Why did your company become a corporate sponsor?
P&G: Since the AAWD is the organization that represents women dentists and the number of women entering dentistry continues to grow, we felt it appropriate to become a sponsor of the AAWD. Our goals are to facilitate your efforts to address women's issues as dental professionals, to assist in mentoring and developing women as leaders in your profession, and to learn from the members what we as a company might do to better serve women, not only as professionals but as consumers.
AAWD: What is the most important/interesting part of being involved with AAWD?
P&G: With women comprising more than 40 percent of students entering dental school, we look forward to working with the AAWD to gain insight into areas of interest, as well as any unique needs that women dentists may have as they enter the workforce.
AAWD: Looking down the road 10 years, where is your industry heading with regard to women dentists?
P&G: In 10 years, women will constitute a much larger percentage of the practicing professional workforce and, therefore, our industry will be looking for greater understanding of the practice patterns of women, as well as the informational needs they have when communicating with their patients. Thus, I think our industry will be doing significantly more research to understand these needs and opportunities. We look forward to working with AAWD to help accelerate this learning process.
AAWD: What are important trends that have an impact on the AAWD community from your company's perspective?
P&G: With so much research currently taking place around the issue of the connections between oral health and systemic health (i.e., preterm babies, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory infections), more and more patients will be seeking information in these areas. Since women are the purchasers of oral health care for their families, they are likely going to have the most questions in these areas and will look to dentists, particularly women dentists, for advice and insights.
AAWD: What are three things you want AAWD members to know about your company?
P&G: That P&G produces high-quality products that are tested and that the company delivers the benefits it claims to deliver. À That P&G is committed to diversity, both within our own company, as well as in working with our customers and partners. In dentistry, we support minority scholarships with the ADA. We are one of the charter sponsors of the ADA Institute for Diversity and Leadership, as well as the primary sponsor for the American Dental Education Association's Center for Equity and Diversity, led by Dr. Jeanne Sinkford. Ã That P&G strives to be a good corporate citizen by giving something back to dentistry and to the public at large. Sponsorship of comprehensive programs such as the Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 program, which is also the exclusive consumer partner to the ADA's Give Kids a Smile program, are examples of this commitment. Additionally, for more than 40 years Crest has had an elementary school program providing dental education materials to teachers, along with preventive products to ensure that millions of children in America are exposed to the importance of good oral health and ways they can proactively care for their teeth.
AAWD: Thank you, P&G! The AAWD is proud to have you as a Platinum Level Sponsor.
If you would like more information on our Corporate Sponsor program, call the AAWD office at (800) 920-2293.
The American Association of Women Dentists thanks the following Corporate Sponsors:
Platinum Level Sponsor ...
- The Procter & Gamble Company
Silver Level Sponsor ...
- Penn Security Bank & Trust
In Strategic Alliance With ...
- Sullivan Schein Dental
Media Partner ...
- PennWell
Corporate Benefactors ...
- Benco Dental Company
- BonaDent Dental Laboratories
- Church & Dwight
- Cosmedent
- Crosstex International
- DentalWorkers.com
- Dentsply International
- Emery & Webb, Inc.
- Forest Irons & Associates
- GEICO Direct
- John O. Butler Company
- KaVo America Corp.
- National Dentex Corporation
- Patterson Dental Company
- Philips Oral Healthcare, Inc.
- The Redwoods Group Dentists Insurance Program
- Werner Consulting
