Janet Faraci Lee Leadership Development Fund

• Haley Buchanan and Brad Skelton from the class of 2016 to attend the 2015 ADA meeting in Washington, D.C.
• Two members of the class of 2015, William Hawks and Kelsey Johnson, will attend the 2015 KDA meeting. 

Upon returning from the ADA meeting, Haley Buchanan and Brad Skelton had this to share:

On ASDA Day 2015, I can recall sitting in the audience as Dr. William Lee came to the podium to make a few distinguished announcements.  He said that he had a few awards to give away. As Dr. Bill Lee began to describe his wife, you could immediately tell the astonishing love and devotion that he had for this women.  The words elegantly flowing from Dr. Bill Lee couldn’t help but bring a smile to the face of everyone in the auditorium.  I had remembered the awards being distributed at past ASDA days, always to third and fourth year dental students who I admired - dental students who were well known around the school and were students that had acted as mentors to me throughout the beginnings of my dental school education.  Thus, on this day in February 2015, when I heard my name called, I was nothing short of astonished and thrilled.  Although I never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Janet Lee, every time I have asked a faculty about her, they immediately light up in discussing her joy, enthusiasm, and passion for her life, family and career.  So, for me to receive this award was an amazing honor and something I will always cherish.  

With receiving this award, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the New Dentist Conference sponsored by the ADA in Washington D.C. during the days of November 4th-8th, 2015.  Having never been to Washington before, I was extremely excited about this amazing opportunity to not only see our nation’s capital, but to also interact and collaborate with new dentists from all over the country within our profession.  Upon arrival in D.C., I was unable to contain my joy and enthusiasm with a constant smile being worn on my face.  When first walking into the New Dentist meeting, you immediately got a since of belonging and togetherness.  Everyone there was sharing stories and swapping tales of their encounters within the profession, while at the same time many could be seen catching up with old classmates or old acquaintances from ASDA trips during their time as students.  

Right from the meeting’s opening statements, you could feel the excitement and energy around the building and I knew I was in for an amazing experience.  Throughout the weekend, there were various speakers, nationally known speakers, discussing important topics within the field of dentistry.  A vast knowledge and education was obtained from these lectures.  A particular lecture that stands out in my mind, was one given in regards to the topic of primary pulpal therapy.  In this lecture, new concepts were introduced and materials discussed that I had never fully heard the research and theories behind – thus, gaining a great deal of knowledge from the lecture.  As you looked around the room at all the attendees during the lectures, you could see excitement and joy in the eyes of thousands of young professionals eager to explore the career and world of dentistry further.

The “keynote” speaker for the weekend was Shark Tank “Shark”, FUBU CEO, and entrepreneur Daymond John.  Mr. John discussed his life as a child – the good and bad times and how they shaped him into the man he is today.  He discussed “keys” to success, and the perseverance and diligence it takes to fully “dive” into your profession, love your profession, and be successful at your profession.  His speech was as motivational of a talk as I have heard.

The weekend, a weekend of attendees full of future leaders within the profession, ended with an enthusiastic trip to talk with vendors amongst the largest vendor fair I have ever laid eyes upon.  After visiting with various vendors, Haley Buchanan, some classmates, and I still had the amazing opportunity to explore Washington D.C.  We were able to visit the Holocaust museum, Natural history museum, White house, and various monuments throughout the city during the evening time – an experience I will never forget.  

In summary, this award provided for a once in a lifetime experience for myself and an amazing classmate and friend.  Having the opportunity to attend this prestigious meeting, in our nation’s capital, is one that a simple “thank you” will never suffice.    But, with that being said, I must thank Dr. William Lee, the Lee family, and the entire committee for my selection as a recipient for this award and for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing experience.  - Brad Skelton

During this past ASDA Day, I remember sitting next to my classmate Katie Miller, listening to the acclamations about our classmates receiving scholarships and awards.  As Dr. Bill Lee was walking up to the podium to announce the Janet Faraci Lee Award, I turned to Katie and asked, “I wonder if the recipients know they are going to win?” She shrugged. Dr. Bill Lee shared a story of Dr. Janet Lee: her devotion to her students, her love for organized dentistry, and her infectious smile. His description took me back to my junior year of high school when my interest in dentistry was blooming. I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Janet Lee in her private practice for a day. I cannot recall the dental procedures I saw that day, but Dr. Lee’s energy, generosity, and compassion were the hallmarks of my experience. I regret having only this one memory. My name being announced recalled me back to reality.  I turned to Katie and promptly said, “They do not!” Walking up to accept such an award and knowing the honor to represent such a highly revered professional and woman was incredibly meaningful. I am unbelievably grateful. 

With receiving the leadership development scholarship, I had the honor to attend the New Dentist Conference in our nation’s capital from November 4th-8th. The New Dentist Conference was held simultaneously with the ADA annual session in downtown D.C. The energy around the conference center was electric. There were all ages, all stages, and all oral health professionals present. Brad Skelton, Kelsey Barbato and I had the opportunity to meet and get to know many other professionals from all over the nation. These interactions with professionals in such different stages of their lives and careers were incredibly insightful and enjoyable. Additionally, we got to socialize and connect with several University of Kentucky alumni and professors, sharing stories and experiences with recent graduates to those grads further removed. Making these acquaintances and connections was my favorite part of the week. It was such a special experience for a soon-to-be graduate. 

The New Dentist Conference leaders did an exceptional job of organizing the events for the new dentists. There were two days filled with outstanding educational lectures, including “Pain Control” with Dr. Stanley Malamed, “Endodontic Success” with Dr. Cliff Ruddle and” Office Relations” with Dr. Kirk Behrendt. The lectures were incredibly informative, entertaining, and interactive. I shared the content of many lectures with several classmates when I returned home! Additionally, the New Dentist Conference presented the FUBU CEO, Daymond John, to tell his story of perseverance and success. And how funny he was! These presentations gave me a glimpse into what I have to look forward to in continuing education and the resources organized dentistry can provide. 

Along with the enjoyable business of the week, our UK crew had an incredible experience visiting the sites of D.C. We went everywhere—a nighttime monuments tour; a day full of the Holocaust, Air and Space, Natural History and American History museums; and the White House. And of course, the food. D.C. has a lot to offer when it comes to dining. Eclectic, chic, or greasy. Whatever your preference, DC can provide. 

My sincerest thanks to the Lee family and the scholarship committee for such an amazing experience. To win such an award and have such exceptional experience, I am forever thankful and consider this achievement one my proudest. Thank you.  - Haley Buchanan

• Thad Schroeder and KaSandra Barnes from the class of 2014, attended the New Dentist Conference in Kansas City in July 2014.
• Two members of the class of 2015, Leah Ditsch and Madison Myers Galloway, attended the Kentucky Dental Association Meeting held in Louisville in March 2014.

Upon returning from the KDA meeting, Leah Ditsch and Madison Myers Galloway had this to say:

As I listened to Dr. Bill Lee describe some of his wife’s most recognizable and positive characteristics, I found myself actively smiling. It was an unconscious, natural response as I listened to him describe someone so inspiring and strong-willed. When he announced my name as a recipient of the Janet Faraci Lee Leadership Development Award, I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of pride. I was incredibly honored to be chosen for this award, and as I was handed the certificate in front of our entire dental school student body, I knew it would be one of the most memorable moments of my educational career.

This award allowed me the opportunity to attend the annual Kentucky Dental Association meeting in Louisville, Kentucky as a third year dental student. Having never attended any sort of organized dentistry event outside the walls of our school, I was especially excited to participate in this meeting that is so important in my profession. While at the conference, I was able to participate in an extremely interesting and informational session about the use of Invisalign® in private practice, as well as ways to promote your practice using social media. This session was very interactive and left me wanting to investigate Invisalign® even further. I also attended an enlightening session regarding geriatric dental health, and some of the obstacles that dentists often face when treating this underserved population. This session was also extremely informative, and provided some really useful solutions to the barriers that I may encounter in my future practice. In addition to these two CE courses, I also participated in a seminar specifically for dental students who were attending the KDA meeting. The seminar was led by a new dentist in Kentucky, and provided a laid-back, yet instructive opportunity to learn about strategies to prepare for job and/or residency application processes, as well as very useful tips for interviewing and staying connected with other new dentists. Incorporated into this experience was also an alumni reception one evening, hosted by the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. This reception was a great way to not only socialize with fellow dental students, but also network with practicing dentists – with our very own UKCD being the common denominator for everyone.

I can’t fully express my gratitude to the Janet Faraci Lee Leadership committee for receiving this honorable award. I was not only given the opportunity to learn from experts in our field and get a glimpse of organized dentistry in the “real world,” but also gained an invaluable sense of pride as I represented Dr. Lee’s legacy. - Leah Ditsch

I am so honored and thankful to have been selected to receive the Dr. Janet Faraci Lee, Leadership Development Award at ASDA Day this year. While I did not have the privilege of having Dr. Lee as a teacher during my time at the college, I was fortunate enough to have met her on a few occasions. From those few short encounters, I could instantly tell what a wonderful person she was. The room just lit up a little more when she walked in and she always took time to say “Hi” to me and ask how I was doing, even though I was just a first year. I know that these memories do not even scratch the surface of what a wonderful person she was, but I am very thankful for them.

This award allowed me to travel to Louisville, KY for the annual Kentucky Dental Association meeting, along with another of my classmates. It was such a wonderful experience and we had an incredible weekend. We attended some very educational C.E. courses. One of my favorites was a course explaining Invisalign procedures and I was even allowed to work with the software to learn how the program and the dentist interact. Another favorite was that it allowed me to attend a class that my dental school mentor, Dr. Pamela Stein, was teaching.  It was such a unique opportunity to attend these classes with dentists who have been practicing for many years. They have wonderful questions and very real world perspectives that are very interesting to hear as a student.

The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Alumni Reception, on Friday night, was such an enjoyable evening as well. It was so encouraging speaking with alumni who had conquered the same obstacles that I currently face in dental school. Being in the company of alumni, teachers and friends at this event really put into perspective what organized dentistry can do for each and every one of us. I also had the privilege of speaking with the President of the KDA and was able to talk about many of the hot topics in dentistry today. It was also wonderful to be able to talk to him about how our very own ASDA chapter can get more involved on both state and national levels through lobby days.

Overall this event was such an incredible opportunity for me to be able to attend as a dental student. I have gained so much information and wonderful memories that I know will help shape and mold my career in dentistry. I am so thankful to have been afforded this wonderful opportunity by the Lee family. - Madison Myers