College of Dental Medicine Lasting Impressions Magazine

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 11 Continuing education (CE) courses for dental profes- sionals—a cornerstone of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine (CDM) since 2000—are vital in the ever-evolving oral health industry. These courses help improve knowledge, refine techniques, ensure the best possible patient care, and keep licensure up to date. The CDM is recognized as an American Dental Associa- tion Continuing Education Recognition Provider (ADA CERP)—the gold standard for continuing dental education. With ADA CERP recognition status, CDM courses are approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry and accepted by the Academy of General Dentistry for fellowship and mastership credits. The courses have become so popular with professionals that they fill up almost as quickly as they are announced. “Traditionally, our CE courses have been ‘sign up, show up, hear a lecture’ or ‘sign up, show up, hear a lecture, then do hands on,’ ” said Joel B. Slingbaum, D.M.D., director of information and instructional technology and director of continuing education at the CDM. The college’s continuing education program will be getting a reboot during 2018 with the addition of digital classes. “We’re striving to take the CE department to the next level, keep the brick-and-mortar programs that have been very successful for us, but, at the same time, add a digital component,” he said. Already underway is cataloging, then digitizing, approx- imately 8,000 videotaped podium lectures and live sur- geries that were donated to the CDM by Brad Engle, D.M.D., a periodontist practicing in Naples, Florida. “It’s a way to start building our library and make it avail- able to everyone,” Slingbaum said. Additional plans for continuing dental education include recording current and upcoming on-site lectures and adding those to the library. There is also ample opportunity to expand upon CE courses beyond general dentistry topics. While in-person instruction has addressed practice management, pedi- atric dentistry, and emerging topics in the fields of implant and cosmetic dentistry, the online offerings can host an even wider platform to expand the subject matter. “We’re analyzing what the needs and wants are for faculty members and practitioners,” Slingbaum said. “We’re open to suggestions on what we can offer.” The robust digital presence will include teledentistry/ telementoring and an extremely active and visible social media component. It has a goal of reaching those in the dental profession who, for one reason or another, whether it be distance or time constraints, are unable to attend an on-site continuing education course, Slingbaum said. “We have alumni all over the world, and we want to provide opportunity. Whether it is by watching a lecture via computer or getting CE credits by participating in an online course, our goal is to provide easy access to professional development,” Slingbaum added. To learn more about the continuing education program at the College of Dental Medicine, email dentalce@nova.edu or call (954) 262-5327. u BY MICHELLE F. SOLOMON A VIRTUAL APPROACH TO CONTINUING EDUCATION Digital B o ost