There are numerous ways to pursue both student and patient satisfaction—important goals for the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UKCD). One such method being employed is offering a solid staff development program to all UKCD staff. 

Staff help form the backbone of UKCD by providing technical, professional, and clerical support. Investing in employee development has numerous benefits, including staff retention, recruitment, loyalty, innovation, satisfaction, and engagement—all of which not only benefit staff but also UKCD students, dental patients, faculty, and beyond. 

Each year up to 12 UKCD staff members are selected to take part in the College’s Staff Leadership Program, committing to a two-year offering to assist them in improving work relationships, networking, and excelling in their current position. 

“In January, our most recent group completed the first half of their commitment to our Staff Leadership Program. I am extremely proud of their extraordinary effort and accomplishments together,” said Stephanos Kyrkanides, dean of the College of Dentistry.  

The program encourages staff to grow leadership confidence and skills, as well as increase their College and University knowledgebase. Components of the program include: team building exercises, group book review focusing on materials covering both leadership and social issues, guest speakers, mentoring, a group service project, and an individual project focused on enhancing some element of the College or University. 

“Everyone at the College of Dentistry plays a part in helping work toward the College’s strategic aims. By offering this opportunity to staff regardless of their position at the College, UKCD is demonstrating an important commitment to professional growth and workplace satisfaction,” shares Ginni Haynes, director of the UKCD Staff Leadership Program. 

After completing their first year in the program, one participant said, “Leadership is not about making yourself better, it involves making those around you better, whether that’s sharing knowledge, working together interdepartmentally, or building up those around you. We’re all striving for the same goals…we all have our specific jobs to perform but being a part of this group has shown me that we need to expand our view outside of our department and understand what we do and how we do it can affect others within the College.”

Another participant shares, “One of our first group activities was a personality profile…we learned about our own personalities and the personalities of others in our group…I wondered how my personality was affecting the way I led. I paid closer attention to personalities in my office and how they interacted.” Such reflection brought the staff member to encourage group activities within their area to help pave the way to improved morale and teamwork within the office.  

“It was exciting to learn what participants who completed their first year of the program took away from it. They grew as leaders and the College grows stronger with each staff member who takes part in this opportunity,” said Haynes. “As one of the first graduates of this offering, I can share that their leadership skills will only continue to grow over the next year as they serve as mentors to our next group of staff joining the program in February.”

Pictured above: Dean Kyrkanides and Ginni Haynes with 2016-17 UKCD Staff Leadership Program participants. 

2017-18 Program Information

UKCD staff who have worked at the College for at least one year can contact Ginni Haynes for details on how to apply for the Staff Leadership Program. The deadline to apply is Jan. 27.