AADOM LIVEcast: Supercharge Your Career with AADOM Distinction
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What the Data Shows About Earning an AADOM Distinction
If you’re ready to advance in your career but unsure what your next step should be, you’re not alone. Many dental professionals reach a point where they’re motivated to grow, take on greater responsibility, and build a career with long-term opportunity—but want clarity on how to get there.
AADOM’s professional distinction programs were designed to support exactly that kind of growth.
Earning an AADOM distinction—whether Fellowship, Mastership, or Diplomate status—is a meaningful career milestone. While the journey requires commitment and focus, the professional and personal benefits reported by distinction holders continue to prove the value of the investment.
During this webinar, we reviewed findings from the AADOM Distinction Benefits Survey, conducted in collaboration with DANB and The DALE Foundation. The survey results reinforce what distinction holders consistently share about how earning an AADOM distinction impacts their careers.
Being part of the cap and gown ceremony during AADOM Conference is just the beginning. The professional benefits of AADOM distinction will last for years. If you’ve got your sights set on advancing your career, you’ll want to tune in to hear for yourself what’s possible and how you can achieve your next career milestone.
5 Key Takeaways from the Distinction Benefits Survey
Survey respondents reported a range of long-term benefits after earning AADOM distinction, including:
1) Set Yourself Apart
Distinction holders are experienced, committed professionals. Of those who responded to the survey, 60% have more than 20 years of experience, and nearly 90% are leaders in the practice at the level of manager, director, vice president, or executive. Among this group, 85% report being satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs.
2) Build Confidence & Pride
Practice managers said the number one personal benefit of earning an AADOM distinction was pride, as reported by 95% of those surveyed. Other top personal rewards included greater confidence, enhanced career commitment, and deeper connections in the AADOM community.
“I find myself to be a pretty confident person, but the more respect that I receive after receiving my FAADOM has made me feel amazing,” says Priscilla Hansen, FAADOM.
3) Strengthen Real-World Skills
Practice managers listed several professional benefits of holding an AADOM distinction, such as elevation of the profession, greater credibility at work, and standing out when applying for jobs. Nearly half of distinction holders report earning higher pay, as well as greater credibility at work (72%).
Debbie Evans, DAADOM, says there is a distinct pride in earning distinction. “When AADOM added the three distinctions, it was the best thing for all of our careers. Managers now feel more validated!”
Betsy Cord, DAADOM agrees. “Patients are always impressed at my awards in the reception area,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to get the recognition from them and from my coworkers. We work hard, so it’s nice that others can see that.”
4) Increase Your Career Credibility—and Pay
Since earning an AADOM distinction, nearly half of the practice managers surveyed said they received a pay raise and more leadership opportunities. About one-third of practice managers said they were given increased responsibilities after earning distinction.
Tiffany Dalton, DAADOM, says she felt great pride in achieving the highest AADOM distinction. “I can now help practice administrators learn and grow in dentistry to provide the best for their doctors, teams and patients through the knowledge gained during the designation process and through the AADOM national chapter program.”
Earning distinction can be especially beneficial to enhance on-the-job training.
As Jenny Brown, MAADOM, says, “Receiving my FAADOM allowed me to further educate myself when the only resource I had was experience. I had little training from a previous office manager. I finally found AADOM and it provided me with the support and education I needed. My MAADOM allowed me to find my purpose. It reminded me of the reasons I do what I do and provided a voice to help lead others.”
5) Your Practice Benefits from Your Growth, As Well!
Earning an AADOM distinction has helped practice managers improve their performance. They reported the enhanced ability to lead and support the team, greater understanding of the business, greater ability to improve work processes, increased productivity and efficiency, and stronger financial management skills.
Beverly Wilburn, DAADOM, says she not only has more respect from her team, she also stands out in her role. “Distinction truly sets apart those office managers who are serious about their role for and responsibility of their doctors, teams, and practices,” says Wilburn, who was named the 2022 Practice Administrator of the Year. “Any private practice owner looking for someone that can help pave the way to the ‘practice of their dreams’ should look to an AADOM distinction-level manager. Any DSO looking to fill higher echelon positions in their organizations should look to an AADOM distinction holder. These are your desired administrative partners in practice.”
Are you ready to start your distinction journey?
The rewards of earning an AADOM distinction are wide-ranging and can impact so many areas of your professional life.
As Tamara Whitley, MAADOM, says, “When you pursue the various AADOM distinction levels, you are not only investing in yourself, but you are investing in the success of your dental office. In addition to all of the knowledge you will gain, you will also gain new friendships with those who are working to advance their career in dentistry.”
Click here for the key findings from the AADOM Distinction survey
Get started on your Fellowship journey with the DALE Foundation’s Office Management Bundle.
https://www.dalefoundation.org/course/office
To learn more about the AADOM distinction program, visit AADOM’s website.
https://www.dentalmanagers.com/education/distinctions/
Learn about the presenters:
Hanna Aronovich is the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the DALE Foundation. She has been with DANB and the DALE Foundation for more than 10 years. Previously, she worked at Edelman on public relations and communications campaigns for numerous healthcare clients. She began her career as a writer and editor for business publications and has bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Jen Hawley Price, M.S., MAS, is Chief Learning and Engagement Officer at Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the DALE Foundation. She oversees DALE Foundation educational products and supports DANB and DALE Foundation strategic initiatives. She earned a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from Johns Hopkins University.
Kim McQueen brings more than 30 years of dental industry experience and passion to AADOM. In her role as the Executive Director, Kim’s responsibilities include managing the membership operations team, providing day-to-day member support, as well as developing membership programs and overseeing their execution. She is also the event planner for AADOM’s annual conference and other AADOM member events. Her awards and recognition include 2018 Expo Group Show Manager of the Year, 2016 Top 25 Women in Dentistry, and a Certificate of Distinction from the Shaw Academy. Kim lives in Florida with her husband, Bob. She has two grown daughters and two awesome grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, spending time at the beach and has a passion for cooking and golf.
Nicole Hartshorn, MAADOM, is a seasoned dental practice manager with 19 years’ experience in the dental industry. She began her career as an assistant in high school. Her success is rooted in building quality relationships with team members. She is the President of the Denver area AADOM Chapter. Nicole is currently specializing in managing multi-site teams and fostering leadership training opportunities.
Debbie Evans has been in healthcare for more than 30 years and currently works as the Practice Administrator and Vice President at Wainright & Wassel, DDS in North Carolina. She has earned her Diplomate in the American Association of Dental Office Management (DAADOM) and is co-president of the AADOM Triangle Area Chapter, which has won AADOM’s Chapter of the Year for the past five years. She was one of AADOM’s 2020 Practice Administrators of the Year and was named an AADOM Practice Administrator with Distinction in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
