Jack Dillenberg, DDS, MPH – Inaugural Dean

A.T. Still University

Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health

Leadership for the Dental Team and Beyond

Change is good.

You go first.

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in it success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things – because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions …. but only lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.”

Niccolo Machiavelli

Concepts of Leadership

“ I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don’t think that’s quite it; it’s more like jazz. There is more improvisation.”

Warren Bennis

Why a new Dental School ?− Few graduates going

to work in CHCs and IHS

− Few graduates trained in Public Health

− Need for Oral Health Leadership nationally

A New Dental School – Why? What?

Leadership = Collaboration

Decisions by consensus

Benevolent “Dictatorship” – top down

No Tenure – two year contracts

No traditional Department Chairs− Co-directors

A New Dental School Model Was Needed

An innovative Vision was requiredHad to start with a Dean – what leadership

style/skills needed?− Translate the vision into reality− Clear sense of direction− Ethical− Effective communicator

Needed to nurture students and provide Community service

Condense/Modularize Basic Sciences – save time and money

Initiate Simulation early

Integrate technology – lap tops, etc.

Innovative Curriculum – First Year

Student 4th Year Rotations

“Real World Community Dental Experience”− Partnerships with Community Health Centers− 60 sites throughout United States− Serve underserved in Whole Person Health

Environment − Inter Professional Experience

Inscription House Clinic - Shonto, AZ

“Being someone that has always lived near a city I always wondered if I would feel right at home in a place that is more than 40-50 miles from the nearest town. I found that working in a community like this is an actual

possibility for me.”

Sage Memorial Hospital Ganado, AZ

Hopi Health Care Clinic, Polaca, AZ

“So many things I had learned over the last 3 years finally congealed when I was up there. Never lose that rotation site.

Culturally and professionally it provides a powerful, meaningful place to work. “

Collaboration at its Best!

Student Projects: Planned, Implemented, Evaluation

Policy experience – Organized Dentistry, Legislature

Develops Confidence, Public Speaking skills and real world community issues

Dentistry in The Community

180 dental students50 dental hygiene

students33 volunteer pediatric

and general dentistsOver 50 volunteers

from the community356 children were

treated in 4 hours

Give Kids A Smile

ASDOH Admissions (by class)

Leader of the Future!

Leadership through Public Health/Behavioral Health

Certificate in Public Health

Masters in Public Health

Work with Social Workers on Clinic floor

Good Leadership Requires Courage and Discipline!

Jack’s Suggestions for Good Leadership

1. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.

2. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

3. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

4. Be forgiving of yourself and others.

5. Be generous.

Jack’s Suggestions for Good Leadership

6. Have a grateful heart.

7. Persistence, persistence, persistence.

8. Be loyal.

9. Be honest.

10. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

Hence it is proved.....

Every leader has followers

Success doesn’t bring happiness, happiness brings

success!

- Albert Schweitzer

Each year over 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon− 95% of those visitors arrive in a bus, a train or a car,

go to the rim, are appropriately impressed, buy a souvenir and leave within 2 ½ hours

5% of those visitors actually make a trip below the rim

Only 1% ever make the effort to go to the river and discover that it is a pretty spectacular place to be

We need more 1%ers

Those who are willing to go where 99% of the dentists don’t want to go, and find out that it is a pretty spectacular place to be