Empowerment Systems Incorporated is a nonprofit family of health education and wellness programs. Dr. Jack Dillenberg gave the keynote address at their recent Empowerment Systems 2nd Annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon held at the Arizona Biltmore Grand Ballroom.

Dr. Dillenberg offered an energized perspective on prevention and wellness that inspired those in attendance. He addressed national, state, and local issues. Specifically he discussed the importance of reducing risk factors to promote prevention and increasing protective factors to promote wellbeing. A number of ASDOH administrators and staff were in attendance as well.

Dr. Jack is off to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to attend the National Oral Health Conference. Stay tuned for future updates.

All is well in Houston

Dr. Jack Dillenberg met with about 60+ predental students on the campus of the University of Houston. The majority had never been exposed to Dr. Dillenberg’s history, philosophy and story about the genesis of ASDOH. The students were enthusiastic and very engaged in the presentation and the questions that followed for nearly an hour. A recently admitted ASDOH student was in the audience as well.

Take me out to the ball game

ASDOH received one of four Arizona Diamondback Foundation Grand Slam Awards. It will be used to enhance the pediatric dental clinic and add Diamondback related artwork to the space.

Dr. Jack Dillenberg was recognized along with other grantees in a pregame ceremony on the field prior to the game in which the Diamondbacks played against the Atlantic Braves.

In partnership with the Arizona Dental Association Foundation, ASDOH’s students planned and implemented what has become the nation’s largest Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) Day event. This year over 320 school children enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs throughout the county were invited by ASDOH students, faculty, and staff along with community dental volunteers to participate in GKAS and receive free dental care.

Numerous television outlets and community leaders observed the positive and festive environment of the day. Check out Dr. Jack Dillenberg speaking on the event at this Fox link on GKAS.

An ASDOH alumni reunion, celebrating the fifth anniversary of graduation of ASDOH’s inaugural class, was held in conjunction with the GKAS event and the Alumni Board Meeting. It was a celebratory evening for alumni, faculty, and some D4 students. Dr. Dezbaa Damon, inaugural class graduate and now working in Ganado, on the Navajo Reservation, was honored as she “retired” as the chairman of the Alumni Board. The new chair is Dr. Timothy Oh, currently residing in the great state of Maine.

After a brief return to Phoenix, Dr. Jack Dillenberg flew back to Washington D. C. to attend the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) annual meeting as well as the board meeting. APTR is the professional organization for the Academic Public Health Community dedicated to prevention research and interprofessional education.

Dr. Jack Dillenberg also moderated a session on innovative public health educational programs in a nursing school, a medical school, and a dental school. Those of you engaged in public health education should check out the APTR website for valuable resources.

While in Washington, Dr. Jack enjoyed dinner (at an excellent Chinese restaurant) with Dr. Chris Halliday, Chief of Staff to the Surgeon General and soon to be Dean of the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Kirksville, MO –ASDOH’s new “sister” school. Chris’ excitement about his new assignment abounds as well as his enthusiasm for improving the oral health of the under served. He has great ideas and a wealth of experience that will help guide his leadership and development of the Missouri program.

Dr. Dillenberg smiles with the honorable Dr. Johann de Vries, the dean of the dental school at The University of Adelaide School of Dentistry in Adelaide, Australia. He was honored Gies Award for Achievement as Dental Educator. The William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement are in recognition of exceptional contributions to and in support of oral health and dental education. The Gies Awards celebration was held March 19, 2012, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the 2012 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in Orlando, FL.

The first week of April Dr. Jack Dillenberg headed off to Las Cruces, New Mexico to give a keynote speech at the 2012 Healthcare Workforce Summit to health care professionals, policy makers, and academicians focusing on the health needs of rural New Mexico.

The focus of his keynote speech was on the integration of oral health and total health, and the development of ASDOH, as an innovative community service based dental school, to help meet the oral health needs of the underserved citizens in the neighboring state of New Mexico.