Orientation 

Before the ADEA Leadership Institute formally begins, new Fellows participate in an online orientation, during which they meet the  faculty and advisors and prepare for the year ahead. After this and before Phase I, Fellows complete preparatory work (e.g., reading assignments and meetings with their deans) and receive their peer group assignments for their team project. Fellows also select topics for their team projects, which they will work on from their home institutions.

Team Project

One of the most rewarding aspects of the ADEA Leadership Institute is working in a team of six peers. These peer groups collaborate to conduct a series of interviews with academic, dental and legislative leaders (e.g., institution president or provost, vice president for development, vice president for academic affairs, state legislator, and state leaders in organized dentistry).

Fellows select interviewees, develop interview questions, and determine roles for converting information into presentations of their findings, which take place in Phase II. Deans and directors help Fellows schedule these interviews.

The peer groups develop position papers on a critical issue in dental education.

Through this process the Fellows:

• Explore a major issue and acquire a thorough understanding of it from a broad perspective;
• Gain the perspective of the academic dental institution in the broad context of that issue, the parent institution and the external environment; and
• Learn to work in a team to prepare and submit a manuscript for publication.

Phase I: Personal and Interpersonal Competencies for Leadership

Phase I is an intensive five-day program covering:

• Theories of leadership,
• Team building,
• Personality preferences and leadership,
• Peer assessment,
• Mentoring,
• Stress management,
• Strategies for leading change and
• Giving and receiving feedback.

Phase II: Legislative Workshop 

Phase II focuses on public policy in Washington, DC.

Fellows will:

• Get up-to-date information on legislation that impacts oral health and dental education,
• Gain new insight into how Congress and the legislative process work,
• Meet and educate policy makers face-to-face and advocate for their programs,
• Network and share information with colleagues about their institutions’ activities,
• Enhance their legislative leadership skills and
• Present findings from their team projects.

Phase III: Administrative Competencies for Leadership 

Phase III promotes the development of administrative competencies necessary for leadership.

Highlighted topics include:

• Academic dental institutions' standings within parent institutions,
• Negotiation,
• Building a research program,
• Budgeting and financial management and
• Legal issues.

Phase IV: Integration  

Fellows and their deans and program directors celebrate with a commencement dinner the evening before the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition formally begins.

During the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition:

• Fellows participate in a three-hour faculty development workshop that is open to all ADEA members.
• Fellows are formally recognized at a plenary session.
• Fellows interact with alumni through the ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association.