Robert Kiger completes term as ADEA leadership fellow

Robert D. Kiger, SD'70, MS'85, professor and chair, periodontics, pauses on the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the ADEA Legislative Workshop in Washington, D.C.

Robert D. Kiger, SD'70, MS'85, professor and chair, periodontics, has completed a term of service as an American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute fellow. The Leadership Institute is a year-long program designed to develop skills dental and allied dental faculty need to assume leadership roles in dental education.

The first meeting took place during the ADEA annual meeting in Chicago in March, 2001. Participants identified projects they would develop and complete during the year. Dr. Kiger's group chose to put together a website on dental ethics, <dental ethics.net>. The second meeting, the Legislative workshop, was postponed because of the September 11 crisis.

The group next met in Stowe, Vermont, in July, 2001. Fellows identified leadership styles, and learned the elements of good leadership.

The third conference, a three-day session, was held in Ft. Lauderdale in January, 2002. The group discussed leadership styles and management decisions, and began to work in groups.

The final event, the Legislative Workshop, was held in Washington, D.C., held in April, 2002.

Fellows learned about federal policy and the legislative process, and congressional staff talked about current legislation affecting dental care.

Ricardo Martinez, MD, associate director, program development, National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, spoke about the role the Institute plays in determining the future of oral research, as well as the resources it provides to support education and research training in the nation's dental schools.

Donald Weaver, MD, assistant surgeon general and director, National Health Service Corps (NHSC), described the NHSC mission to provide access to primary care to underserved populations. He highlighted the increased efforts NHSC is undertaking to partner with dental schools to increase oral health-care providers in the Corps.

As he looks back on his term of service as an ADEA Fellow, Dr. Kiger recalls a rewarding year strengthening leadership skills while studying reams of information, networking and planning, and developing the dental ethics website, all during a year in which the dental school was undergoing accreditation.

The ADEA Leadership Institute is made possible through the generosity of these Founding sponsors: ADA Health Foundation; GC America, Incorporated, Proctor & Gamble Company; and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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