YOUNG DENTISTS' CONFERENCE

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5

The annual Young Dentists’ Conference will be back on Saturday November 5 and is set to be the not-to-be-missed event for new practitioners.

ADAWA’s Recent Graduates Committee has worked tirelessly throughout the year to provide recent graduates with a world-class New Practitioners Program – featuring indemand speakers at a series of study clubs, where practitioners who have graduated within the last five years can learn and ask questions in a safe and supportive setting. The study clubs have been very popular, so it is no surprise that to end the year they have planned a free conference that recent grads will not want to miss. Chair of the ADAWA Recent Graduates Committee and co-organiser of the conference, Dr Bec Penco, says attendees can expect a wide variety of topics covered with a risk management theme that they can put into practise straight away. “We have tried to reach out to people who haven’t spoken for us before, so there are some exciting, fresh faces in the line-up,” she adds.

THE EVENT WILL FEATURE SOME OF THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS AND TOPICS:

Dr Simon Parsons: Risky Business Dr Kang Kim: The Art and Science of Staff Communication Dr Jee-Yun Leung: Tips on Effective Communication from a Special Needs Dentist Dr Annalene Weston: Human Error and Bias Dr Mohammed El Hakim: Communicating with Compassion Dr Vivian Mascarenhas: Safety with the Sedated Patient Dr Vincent Goh: Rubber Dam and CAD CAM workflow

Round Table Discussion

Managing Patient Complaints with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen, Dr Parnian Zareie, Dr Leon Smith and Dr Colm Harney. Sponsored by DPLA, the event has a risk-management focus, and will include a round table discussion about formal complaints, which Bec says will be very beneficial to attendees. “Statistics say that legal action against health professionals is on the rise,” she says. “Hearing that other people have gone through it and how they managed these formal complaints is really unifying.” Bec adds the conference is also a fantastic networking and social event for young WA dentists, with the social event after the YDC last year (featuring food trucks, fairy lights and music) incredibly popular. “It is very easy for us to become isolated in our work,” she says. “It is great if we work in group practice, and we have lots of other dentists around us, but we tend to take on the opinions of the other dentists and this can lead to becoming narrow-focussed. It is nice to branch out and have these social events so you can talk to people about what they are doing and what CPD they have been going to and to broaden your horizons that way. “We also find if you see a presenter do a quick 45-minute talk and you see what a fantastic lecturer they are, you are more likely to sign up for their full day hands-on course when you see that advertised in the future. It is a good way of having a taste of our local lecturing talent.” As a new practitioner herself, Recent Graduate Committee member, Dr Parnian Zareie, says attending the YDC is a no-brainer. “The fact that an event like this can be free is really beneficial,” she says. “We will have good food, and the after social part is really fun. With an amazing line-up of speakers, and the opportunity to have a great day with colleagues, everyone should come.” She adds the New Practitioners Program study groups have been very helpful throughout the year. “There are so many helpful tips that you learn through the study clubs – especially about communication and tips and trick. These are things people have picked up from doing dentistry for a long time, as opposed to things you learn from a textbook during university. “It has also been a good opportunity to connect with more experienced dentists and specialists that are happy to help. It is good to have those connections with people and know that you can reach out to them if you need to.” There is also the chance to win some great prizes, including an Apple Watch, provided by DPL. Bec adds the committee is busily creating the NPP program for 2023, and are hoping to get some international speakers as well as local talent. Thank you to Drs Bec Penco, Amanda Phoon Nguyen, Sean Archibald, Greg Crane, Ching Wen Tan and Parnian Zareie for all of their work to make the NPP study clubs and the YDC such a success.

To book your spot for the free Young Dentists’ Conference on November 5, go to adawa.com.au/npp