Dentists to hold forum Thursday in Quechee over recruiting dentists

Dentists and other health care providers will gather at a special Forum in Quechee, VT tomorrow to plan new strategies for recruiting dentists to serve Vermont patients.

Recruiting and retaining an adequate dentist workforce has always been a challenge in Vermont because of its rural character, lack of a dental school and reimbursement challenges. The Forum on Vermont Dentist Workforce Initiatives – at the Quechee Club beginning at 9 a.m. - seeks to address these challenges.

“We are convening this forum to seek solutions to prevent a potential workforce problem in Vermont,’’ said Peter Taylor, executive director of the Vermont State Dental Society. “Our hope is to emerge with a roadmap toward solutions that can help us recruit more dentists to the state.”

The featured speaker will be Dr. James Kennedy, Retired Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine who will discuss the potential for establishing dental residency and extern programs in central and southern Vermont.

Other speakers include representatives from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, the Lutheran Medical Center Dental Residency Program, and University of New England which is considering a new dental school.

Attendees, including dentists and other stakeholders will:

• Receive an overview and understanding of the magnitude of the state dental workforce
• Hear of the Vermont Area Health Education Center’s dental career development activities
• Receive an orientation on the programs and initiatives already underway
• Discuss in detail the current efforts to develop an externship and residency program
• Learn the specific roles that Vermont dentists and dental practices can play in advancing the development of these programs.

There is no charge for the program. But participants are urged to pre-register by emailing ptaylor@aol.com or calling 1-800-640-5099.

For more information, contact Peter Taylor, executive director, Vermont State Dental Society, at the above email or phone.

Friday March 20, 2009

Quechee Club, Quechee, VT

Forum on Vermont Dentist Workforce Initiatives: Developing Dental Residency and Externship Programs

CEU’s

The Vermont State Dental Society is offering 5 CEU’s for this program. The Vermont State Dental Society is an A.D.A CERP Recognized Provider #02395013

REGISTRATION 

There is no charge for participation in this event, however pre-registration is required to assure that adequate accommodations have been made for space and meals. To confirm your attendance please email ptaylor@aol.com or call 1-800-640-5099. Please confirm your participation as soon as possible.

DIRECTIONS

I-89 Exit 1, West Rte.4, right on Waterman Hill Road. At bottom of hill, turn left on to Quechee Main Street. Travel 0.9mi to fork in road. Bear Left at fork. Quechee Club is 0.6mi on left.

Vermont has several major challenges in recruiting and retaining an adequate dentist workforce to serve the needs of its residents. The absence of a dental school located in the state, only one dental residency program which is located in Chittenden County, reimbursement challenges and a rapidly aging dentist workforce will require us to direct our efforts towards developing new programs to address this growing issue. Most recently there have been discussions regarding the role a residency and externship program would have in helping to address some of these workforce challenges.

In an effort to advance this effort and discussion, the Forum on Vermont Dentist Workforce Initiatives is convening dentists and other important stakeholders in this half day event in order to:

• Provide participants with an overview and understanding of the magnitude of the state workforce problem,

• Orient the audience to programs and initiatives currently underway,

• Discuss in detail the current efforts to develop an externship and residency program and

• Describe the specific roles which Vermont dentists and dental practices can play to participate in, and advance, the development of an externship and residency program.

AGENDA

9:00 – 9:10 Welcome

Peter Taylor, Executive Director, Vermont State Dental Society

9:15 – 10:00 Overview of Vermont Dentist Workforce Challenges and Initiatives

Peter Taylor, Executive Director, Vermont State Dental Society

Dr James Lasaponara, Public Health Dentist, Office of Oral Health, Vermont Department of Health: Dr. Lasaponara will present findings from the 2007 Dentist Licensing Survey

Session Objective: At the end of this session participants will have an understanding of the dentist workforce demographics, distribution and trends; challenges to maintaining an adequate dentist workforce and the areas of consideration for developing new initiatives and programs. 

10:00 – 11:00 Overview: Benefits of Dental Externships & Residency Programs

James Kennedy, DDS Retired Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Kennedy is trained as a periodontist and has devoted much of his career to dental education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Session Objective: At the end of this session participants will have an understanding of the function, operations and benefits of a dental externship and residency program.

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 12:00 Opportunities for Vermont Dentists to Be Involved in Dentist Education

Anna D'Emilio, DDS & Dr. Neal Demby, Lutheran Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency's Distance Learning Program, Department of Dental Medicine

Ellen Ridley, University of New England, School of Dental Medicine

Dr. Cynthia Yered, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Dean Mark Gonthier, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Session Objective: At the end of this session participants will have an understanding of 1) the requirements to become a residency or externship site and 2)the requirements to participate in a residency or externship program as an instructor.

12:00 – 1:20 Lunch Plenary: Dentist Workforce Initiatives Underway in Vermont: Pipeline Activities, Loan Repayment and VSAC Programs

Elizabeth Cote, Director, UVM AHEC Program

Robert Perrin, DMD, Dentist Recruitment Coordinator, VSDS Recruitment Program

Session Objective: At the end of this session participants will have a detailed understanding of pipeline programs that are currently underway to develop the future generation of Vermont dentists as well as how to access and best utilize the current dentist recruitment initiative through VSDS. Participants will also have an understanding of the specific resources supporting these efforts and the partners collaborating to administer these initiatives.

1:20 – 1:30 Wrap Up

Peter Taylor, Executive Director, Vermont State Dental Society