The 2021 American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM) Conference did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the 2020 conference was called off due to COVID-19, but 2021 was a major step toward getting back to normalcy within the dental office manager world. Dental office managers from across the United States were in attendance; the conference even sold out!
This yearly event inspires dental office managers to become better socially, stronger mentally, and to be at the top of their game when it comes to running a dental practice. Those who attend learn from some of the best dental lecturers, have access to higher education courses, and are introduced to the latest, state-of-the-art technology available in dentistry today.
Without further ado, here are my top five takeaways from the 2021 AADOM Conference. Each one can benefit you and help you serve your dental practice.
1. Giving back is a priority.
Prior to the AADOM Conference kickoff, President Heather Colicchio, Kim McQueen, and the AADOM tribe prepared 30,000 meals to be shared with the local Orlando community. Everyone's eagerness to help those in need was amazing to see, especially in a time when covid
has created such a disconnect in our society. Giving back is definitely on AADOM's agenda, which explains why they work so hard to make members the best office managers they can be.
2. Everyone is welcome.
If it’s your first conference, don’t be shy! If you're new to dental office management altogether, newbie courses are available for you and others just like you. You'll be amazed at how many new faces attend the conference year after year. First-timers, second-timers, and annual attendees are always welcomed with open arms from the AADOM community. Each time I attend the conference, I meet new people, gain new insight, and guest speakers are always willing to go above and beyond to welcome you to their world.
3. Opportunities for education are abundant.
Do you wear many hats in your dental office? Then you'd definitely benefit from of the many courses available. Each course has been tailored to different skill levels to help each person understand their role and job duties back at the office. The courses cover a wide range of topics, such as human resources, treatment coordination, insurance coding, effective marketing, how to increase case acceptance, productive scheduling, and how to conduct successful team meetings. There's also a business spouse course for husbands or wives of dentists.
4. New tech is on display.
Vendors such as CareCredit, Patterson Dental, Henry Schein/Lighthouse 360, and Kleer are all in attendance with tables set up and ready to display the latest innovations and software available to dental professionals. I had the opportunity to meet with a few of these companies and was blown away by the latest and greatest technological advances available for use in practices today. Many of these technologies could be used to make the lives of everyone in the office a little less stressful.
5. Attendees leave feeling motivated.
I left the conference feeling amazing, refreshed, and motivated, ready to take on new ventures and integrate proven strategies for success in my dental office. The experience from beginning to end is something you won’t find anywhere else. If you missed this year’s conference, don’t worry, just make sure you plan for 2022! The next annual conference takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona. I hope to see you there!
