The VDA Dental Showcase was ‘refreshing’
I had the pleasure of spending part of last weekend at the VDA Showcase in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was among the first of returning to in-person meetings and it was encouraging and refreshing to watch audience members’ responses to speakers’ remarks, to see hugs among old friends, to hear about others’ experiences, to feel the buzz in the exhibition hall, to share ideas, to enjoy a meal and entertainment with new and old friends, and to take a quiet moment to reflect on the good fortune of being a part of this phenomenal profession.
The health of any professional organization is vital to the profession and those who were in Williamsburg benefited greatly from the VDA providing much needed person-to-person community experience. The meeting brought to life the VDA strategic plan that includes powerful advocacy, practice success and professional development.
Our dental school is a very important part of the Virginia dental community, and I proudly observed and applauded our faculty’s many contributions to this meeting. Most inspiring, a number of our students were also part of this gathering and, as guests generously invited to this meeting, they saw first hand the importance of being engaged in organized dentistry.
I left Williamsburg on Sunday afternoon following the VDA board meeting knowing that a well-informed, compassionate, and passionate team leads the VDA. I encourage our students and faculty to continue to be more engaged in our professional community and attend the next VDA meeting. You’ll have a great time and learn more than you expected.
Lyndon F. Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., F.A.C.P.
Dean and Professor of Prosthodontics
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Categories Deans blog