School of Dentistry celebrates women at annual WISDM event
The 21st annual WISDM (Women in Science, Dentistry & Medicine) Leadership Conference took place on Friday, March 22 and drew a crowd of nearly 100 participants from across the MCV Campus.
Dr. Bhavna Shroff (M.P.A. ’08), postgraduate program director for the Department of Orthodontics, was honored with one of the two WISDM Professional Achievement Awards. Shroff has served as a faculty member at the VCU School of Dentistry since 2002 and previously taught at the University of Maryland Dental School and the Université Paris V Rene Descartes, where she received her D.D.S. Shroff has lectured in the United States and beyond, has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and actively participates in many professional organizations. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a fellow of the American College of Dentists and a fellow of the International College of Dentists. She became the first female secretary of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists in 2011 and continues to pave the way for women in her field.
Closer to home, Shroff has served and continues to serve as a mentor for the women in VCU’s orthodontics residency program. She already has achieved a great deal of success in her field but continues to push herself and pursue professional development opportunities. Shroff earned an M.P.A. from VCU in 2008 and currently is enrolled in VCU’s Leadership Development Program.
A leader in her own right, Kim Isringhausen (B.S. ’95, M.P.H. ’04), assistant professor and chair of the Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach, shared her experiences and expertise in a presentation titled “Defining and Refining your Leadership Style.” Isringhausen discussed the various leadership styles, which can be determined through personality assessments. She encouraged participants to “flex” their leadership style when necessary based on the groups being led. “The first step – and hardest step – is understanding yourself,” she shared.
Following the presentations and awards ceremony, participants viewed the film “Miss Representation,” which delves deeper into media portrayal of women. The conference concluded with an interactive panel discussion featuring several female leaders from VCU.
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