BUGSDM Representatives Accepted into MDS Leadership Institute
Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Preclinical Remediation Dr. Debra Pan, Megan Ryan DMD 10, and Michael Visser DMD 10 were recently accepted into the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) Leadership Institute. The MDS Leadership Institute is designed to empower participating dentists with the necessary tools and training to become effective leaders within organized dentistry, their community, or their practice.
The program is limited to 16 dentists and two dental students. This year, both student spots were filled by BUGSDM representatives.
Visser and Ryan were both excited to participate. “Working with the practicing dentists in the program gives us a chance to learn what it’s like to work as a real dentist,” said Ryan. “It give us the opportunity to see more about the field than we can learn in school.”
Visser added, “It also gives us an opportunity to learn leadership skills that will be useful when working with a team in private practice and as a dentist involved in community organizations.”
Participants attend four half-day meetings per year and one evening team building program. At the first meeting in September, participants learned to evaluate their leadership styles and discovered effective ways to lead based on these styles.
“Attending these meeting gives me the skills and tools to become a more effective leader at a state level and a national level,” said Dr. Pan.
“This is quite an accomplishment for all three participants,” said Dean Jeffrey Hutter. “It’s wonderful to see Dr. Pan getting more involved with MDS and it is an honor to have Michael and Megan representing BUGSDM as this year’s only student participants. I hope that other members of the BUGSDM community will be inspired by their dedication to leadership and I encourage them to apply for next year’s program