Omicron Kappa Upsilon
National Dental Honor Society
Omicron Kappa Upsilon
National Dental Honor Society
Tremendous challenges face dental education. Among these is the need to develop outstanding faculty members. Dental school administrators and experienced faculty need to do more to encourage and assist young faculty and excellent students toward becoming dental educators. How can a dental school attract and retain its best students for a career in dental education? Is it possible to recruit faculty in high demand specialties? More and more companies are finding that they are attractive when offering employees learning and growth opportunities. In 1995, according to a survey by "Human Resource Executive" magazine, seventeen percent of companies had mentoring programs, but thirty-five percent were planning to implement them. American business has found that mentoring is an effective way to retain personnel and improve their performance. At this joint symposium of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Sigma Phi Alpha, a panel of presenters from industry and academia will discuss successful mentoring of students and employees as practiced in the worlds of business, science and education. Research in the field of mentoring, mentoring behaviors and advice on successful mentoring programs are among the areas that are targeted.MENTORING-DOES BUSINESSSunday, April 2, 2000, 4-6 pm
HAVE THE ANSWER?Having spent seventeen years in the private sector as Vice President of Dental Research & Technology at Block Drug Corporation, Dr. Michael Alfano, in 1998, took on the job of Dean of New York University, College of Dentistry. Now facing these same issues of faculty recruitment, development and retention first hand, Dr. Alfano will consider them from his perspective as the chief administrator of a dental school.
As Executive Director of the Policy Division of the National Research Council, Dr. Richard E. Bissell will review a project undertaken in response to a need to assist and guide students in science and engineering to recognize the potential application of their science and engineering education and to the challenges of becoming a scientist or engineer. Produced by a joint committee of members from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), "Advisor, Teacher, Role Model, Friend (On Being A Mentor To Students In Science And Engineering)" is a guide intended for faculty members, teachers, administrators and others who advise and mentor students. While the guide is intended for mentoring students in science and engineering, the majority of this work is applicable to mentoring in any field.
Dr. Catherine Didion is the Executive Director of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). Through the seventy-six local chapters of the AWIS, Dr. Didion has been actively implementing undergraduate and graduate mentoring programs supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the National Sciences Foundation (NSF). Under her direction, the AWIS has produced several major publications including: "A Hand Up: Women Mentoring Women In Science" and "Mentoring Means Future Scientists." Dr. Didion will offer advice on establishing a successful mentoring program.
As a dentist, educator, scientist and businesswoman, Dr. Linda Neissen, Vice President for Clinical Education for DENTSPLY International will provide her unique perspective on how has mentoring helped to shape her multi-faceted career. She will argue such questions as, should dental schools take a cue from companies like Boeing, Ford and General Mills and institute formal mentoring programs? Should our dental schools hire private companies such as Menttium Corporation, which specialize in creating, monitoring and evaluating in-house mentoring programs?
Homer claims the original Mentor was a "wise and trusted counselor" whom Odysseus left in charge of his household during his travels. In a broad sense, a mentor is someone who takes a special interest in helping another person successfully develop a career. Each dental school must look for new, innovative and creative ways to attract, develop and retain educators. Mentoring programs may be the answer.
-James L. Delahanty, DMD, EdM
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