DENTAL INFLUENCERS PANEL TO FEATURE AUTHENTIC CONVERSATION ABOUT NAVIGATING DENTAL LIFE

New this year, the 2024 ODA Annual Session will feature a Dental Influencers Panel on Friday, Sept. 13 from 4-5:30 p.m. Panelists will discuss their take on current trends and hot topics in dentistry.

“We’re going to have amazing panelists that have taken a variety of career paths from practice owner, associate, to academics, oral pathology to hygiene and creating an authentic and real conversation about what it takes to define ‘your success’ and avoid stress in navigating dental life,” said Dr. Paul “Nacho” Goodman, who will be moderating the panel. “The panelists are going to share their journey, what they recommend people avoid and awesome things they’ve done to get where they are.”

Known as the “Nacho Dentist,” Goodman is a renowned speaker who captivates audiences with his dynamic and engaging presentations. He is a practicing dentist and founder of Dental Nachos, a continuing education and professional development company for practicing dentists, dental students and dentist office team members.

Panelists scheduled include: Dr. Sonia Chopra; Dr. Ashleigh Briody; Kelly Tanner, RDH, PhD; and Dr. Elaine Bylis.

Chopra is a healer and tooth saver. She’s a board-certified endodontist, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, author, endodontic instructor, impact entrepreneur and founder of Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, NC. On top of running her thriving practice, Chopra provides groundbreaking digital education and community support to general dentists and endodontists who want to level up their technical skills, patient experience and practice efficiency.

Briody earned her DDS from LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans and completed her residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at The Ohio State University where she earned a certificate and master’s degree. She currently practices oral pathology in a private practice, Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians, in Westerville, Ohio. The scope of her practice includes seeing patients clinically, diagnosing and managing oral disease, performing biopsies and excisions, CO2 laser ablation, and reading the tissue microscopically. She lectures about oral pathology all over the United States.

Tanner earned her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University. She found a love specializing in management and administration within her Master’s degree, and continued her doctoral education at Regent University in Virginia Beach University in Business & Organizational Leadership. Kelly’s Ph.D. focused on organizational metacognition, in-depth study of group dynamics, and how to elicit permanent organizational change. She has a published chapter in forensic odontology for dental professionals, and multiple publications on topics regarding telehealth for dental hygienists.

Bylis graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, College Park with a major in Neurophysiology. Bylis went on to attend the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and graduated in 2017. She received advanced training in cosmetic dentistry from the Nash Institute and was honored to later return to the Institute as a guest lecturer. She has also received advanced training in Invisalign and has been published twice in “Dentistry Today.”

“Dental influencers should be thought of as dental connectors,” Goodman said. “Every story matters, and everyone on the panel comes at this from different angles. We’ll be sharing the fun part about dentistry but also the frustrations.”

This special event is free and open to all registered attendees, but registration is required using Event Code E94.

“Come with your own questions, the magic happens when you bring what you’re thinking about to a panel like this,” Goodman said. “Is it worth it to buy a practice? How do you manage a team and stay sane? One of my favorite questions is what do you wish you did differently early in your career?”

ODA Annual Session is Sept. 12-14 in Columbus. Click here for more information including a full schedule of events and to register.