Courses

The goal of the University of Michigan’s Program in Dental Leadership (UM-SPDL) is to empower those involved to envision and promote cultural changes in the realm of dentistry.  Effective leaders require a multitude of skills to successfully lead change in complex and diverse situations in a flexible and accommodating manner.  Participants of the UM-SPDL program will develop an understanding of the interplay between leadership and challenges that are faced by leaders as they develop value-creating opportunities through a set of leadership competencies.  This program will target pre-doctoral dental and dental hygiene students to facilitate the development of leaders in dentistry.  Leadership in dentistry will be defined by the participants themselves, whether it is leading a successful practice, policy changes, dental research, or academic dentistry.   The program is intended to capitalize on human potential by developing a leadership mindset through activities such as coaching and counseling for maximal performance, fostering the power of working together, and managing change.

Course Objectives:

We believe that by bringing together the very best, brightest, and hardest working students with diverse backgrounds, and by centering these talents on a shared goal of developing leadership skills, the program will create an environment that will serve all segments of our profession. 

  • This course is designed to provide predoctoral dental students/dental hygiene students with the information and skill sets to facilitate the development of leaders in dentistry; whether it is leading a successful practice, leading policy changes, leading dental research, or leading in academic dentistry.  
  • It is targeted toward ‘novice’ leaders; those who would like to establish a leadership presence for his or her self. 
  • It is designed specifically to avoid complex leadership theory and concepts, to allow anyone to be ‘up and running’ as leader by end of the sessions. 
  • This course may serve as a pilot for our curriculum
      • To prepare students to effect positive change through service
      • Create a dynamic learning environment through the use of guest speakers, experiential activities, reflective assignments, and fieldwork so students finish the program with practical experience, clarified career goals, and heightened self-awareness
      • Provide opportunities for students to work independently and in teams - to build self-reliance and highlight the power of collaborative efforts.
  • Upon conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
    • Demonstrate skill or potential for leadership, including fostering a culture of teamwork and respect with internal and external constituents that improves results or achieves goals.
    • Demonstrate skill as a continuous learner, such as a desire to participate in developmental opportunities and seeking out projects and/or assignments, and ability to adapt behavior and work methods in response to new information and changing conditions.
    • Demonstrate skill or potential for complex problem solving, such as the integration of a variety of disparate concepts and/or issues.
    • Demonstrate skill or potential for strategic thinking, including the development of strategies for integrating diverse interests of multiple stakeholders
  • Program eligibility
    • Enrollment in the SPDL is limited in order to ensure that students receive personalized assistance and quality work terms. Students are chosen for their leadership achievement and strong aptitude in applicable programmatic areas, interest in their discipline as demonstrated by work experience, and good communication skills.  
    • All students in the SPDL Program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 to remain active in the program.  The SPDL directors will review each student's grades in conjunction with the Dean for Academic Affairs at the end of each academic term (April/May). The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that each student’s progression through the curriculum is satisfactory and remains a priority. Any student below 2.5 will be withdrawn from the program. Students who’s GPA falls below a 3.0 will be placed on programmatic probation to assure that the SPDL program students meet the Dental Schools high standards of academic excellence.
  • Programmatic Benefits
    • Degrees conferred: Certificate in Dental Leadership
    • Recognition made public at Commencement      

IV. Outcome Assessments or Competencies

The University of Michigan’s Scholars Program in Dental Leadership has the following goals in addition to the expected criteria for graduation from the University of Michigan’s Dental School[1]:

  • Prepare students to effect positive change through service
  • Create a dynamic learning environment through the use of guest speakers, experiential activities, reflective assignments, and fieldwork so students finish the program with practical experience, clarified career goals, and heightened self-awareness
  • Provide opportunities for students to work independently and in teams to reach the final objectives of building self-reliance and realizing the power of collaborative efforts.

Competency 1 – Leadership

Demonstrates skill or potential for leading others, such as:

  • Fosters a culture of teamwork and respect with internal and external associates that improves results or achieves goals
  • Resolves conflicts effectively
  • Reflects organizational core values through clear and consistent actions
  • Actively promotes diversity goals and/or outreach efforts
  • Works effectively in organizations
  • Takes a leading role in successfully working with other dental constituents to identify scientific issues to be investigated

 Competency 2 – Continuous Learner

Demonstrates skill as a continuous learner, such as:

  • Pursues advanced or continuing education
  • Participates in training and developmental opportunities
  • Seeks out projects and/or assignments outside current job responsibilities
  • Adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information and changing conditions

 Competency 3 – Problem Solver

Demonstrates skill or potential for complex problem solving, such as:

    • Anticipates, identifies, and diagnoses barriers to a goal
    • Develops innovative alternatives to existing operations
    • Creates contingency plans to ensure a goal is met
    • Integrates disparate concepts and/or issues
    • Solves complex research problems at the national or regional level by leading teams, and/or building scientific coalitions with universities and other partners

    Competency 4– Strategic Thinker

    Demonstrates skill or potential for strategic thinking, such as:

    • Understands the roles and relationships of a variety of organizational functions and missions
    • Develops strategies for integrating diverse interests of multiple stakeholders
    • Identifies and integrates key political, economic, social, scientific, and technological issues affecting the organization
    • Actively involved in complex research or operational problems/activities
    • Develops strategies for approaching or resolving short and long-term problems

     

    Competency 5 – Communicator

    Demonstrates communication skills, such as:

    • Delivers clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals and groups within and outside of professional setting
    • Writes reports and other documents that reflect the position and work of the organization in a clear, convincing, and organized manner
    • Establishes and maintains working relationships with internal organizational units
    • Engages in cross-functional activities
    • Develops and enhances alliances with external groups
    • Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different people in different situations
    • Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals

    [1] Adapted from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Leadership Competencies