ATTENDANCE

Should my doctor attend?

Many members bring their doctors because the courses can benefit all leaders of the practice. However many members feel strongly that AADOM time is their time. They consider the conference and the networking opportunities to be valuable time spent out of the practice. There is no wrong answer! If your doctor decides to come, he or she won’t be alone – we have many dentists that attend with their teams. In particular we have seen an increase in younger doctors who want to learn management basics before they open their own practices. AADOM encourages attendance of any team member involved in the management of the practice, including the doctor. The more team members who attend, the easier it is to implement new strategies upon returning to the practice.

My husband/wife is the doctor – are there courses for them?

The Dental Spouse Business Network (DSBN) was created for you! The courses are appropriate for both the dental spouse and their partner. This year’s speaker is Virginia Moore, who has worked with and coached many doctor/spouse teams. The other conference sessions are appropriate and recommended to anyone in a dental leadership position.
Boca is also a great place for a family vacation! We hear from many spouses that this is a good strategic getaway for a doctor and spouse. If your doctor or spouse chooses to not attend the conference then we understand. But we think they’ll be missing out!

How can I find a roommate?

You can always post an inquiry on our member forum and for years this has been a resource for members looking to reduce conference costs. We do not recommend soliciting roommates on our AADOM Facebook page. However, if you are a member of the Virtual Study Club, Local AADOM Chapter or an Ambassador you can also post your request in their private forums.. We urge you to exercise caution when reaching out to any stranger – even if they’re part of AADOM. We have a specific Conference category in general AADOM Forum where attendees can connect to discuss rooming and carpooling options.

I work for a specialty office. Does it make sense for me to attend?

All of our courses are geared for any practice administrator, office manager or dental team member. The information can be applied in most any dental setting. This year we will feature Specialty topics during one of the Forum LIVE! sessions that will provide an opportunity to discuss your office setting. You will also enjoy the Specialty Roundtable networking event that will take place during Thursday’s lunch and Friday’s breakfast. This is one of our most popular conference features and we’re excited to help you meet other specialty colleagues!

REGISTRATION

What meals are included in my registration fee?

Your conference tuition includes a lavish buffet lunch on Thursday 9/15/16, Friday 9/16/16 and Saturday 9/17/16. ***However, if you register prior to April 1, 2016 you will not only take advantage of the lowest conference registration rate of the season, you will receive a $25 Hilton gift card! This card is valid at all retail outlets, restaurants and the Spa at the Boca Resort or the Boca Beach Club***

The ballroom will be open early each morning to allow for networking time with your peers and time with our awesome exhibitors! Grab a quick breakfast, (feel free to bring your morning fare with you), and spend time with friends, new or old, before the busy day begins. An added bonus…Each morning AADOM will hold a prize drawing just for networking during this morning timeslot!

The Boca Resort and the Boca Beach Club have many options for purchasing meals during times when AADOM is not providing them. In addition each attendee will be provided with a detailed list of local restaurants close to the hotel.

What is the Ultimate Education package?

The Ultimate Education (UE) package is the best value for attending the conference. In addition to conference tuition you will also receive access to two of the most popular AADOM educational offerings. You have a choice between the Virtual Study Club (VSC - for experienced office managers) or the Foundations of Dental Practice Management series (FDPM - a training series for new team members). Purchasers of the UE package are able to obtain conference CE plus 6 CE for the VSC or FDPM classes. CE units count toward Fellowship achievement or maintenance. VSC and FDPM sessions are all recorded for easy access.

I’m having trouble with my registration or I want to change my course selection.

Please contact info@aadomconference.com, or via phone at (888) 570-0899 with your concerns. 

What if I arrive at the conference and decide to switch classes?

You can alert the registration team and if there is room in the class you will be added. Many of our courses were sold out or near capacity last year – if we can accommodate your request, we certainly will!

On-Site

Is the conference in the hotel or in a separate location?

The Conference is being held inside the Mizner Center of the Boca Resort. If you are making a hotel reservation at the Boca Beach Club, (the sister property to the Boca Resort), you will simply need to take the shuttle that runs every 15 minutes from the Beach Club to the Boca Resort. For your convenience, an AADOM room block is available at both properties. The Boca Resort is of course home to the conference, but the Boca Beach Resort overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. You can’t go wrong with either of these magnificent properties, however reserve your room early as last year we sold out our room block!

Will there be Wi-Fi access in the conference rooms?

Wi-Fi access will be available in all guest rooms, however not in the conference area or educational session rooms. Please plan accordingly.

What is appropriate attire for the conference?

We recommend business casual. Keep in mind that many of the breakout rooms get chilly, so we suggest bringing a light jacket or sweater with you. While the Boca Resort is not an extremely large property, we do suggest you wear comfortable shoes. We also suggest bringing along casual attire, for social events, dinner, etc. If you plan to attend our Friday night Social Event, we are hosting an AADOM Blue & White Party, at the Beach Club pool, so you might want to pack appropriate attire.

COURSES

What is the difference between the Educational Sessions and the Sponsored Educational Breakouts?

The Educational Session speakers are chosen by AADOM’s Speaker Selection Committee. We work hard to bring you the best of the industry and have received rave reviews every year. Some speakers may be sponsored by a company but they must disclose this at the beginning of the course. Sponsor endorsements are not permitted during Educational Sessions. 
The Sponsored Exhibitor Showcase sessions are a part of a sponsorship package purchased by supporting companies of AADOM. These sessions will be hosted and run by the sponsoring company. They may bring in a non-company speaker or may choose to have a company representative lead the session. You may be exposed to the company product but most companies choose to focus on education, not sales. 

How are educational speakers chosen?

Speakers can be chosen by either:

• Being scouted at another dental meeting
• Submitting their course for consideration
• Member recommendation

The Speaker Selection Committee reviews the candidates and touches base with them to topics best suited for dental practice management. The selection process takes 2-3 months and begins over a year in advance of the next year.

The conference dates are September 15-17 but you have a class scheduled for the night of the 14th. Why should I come in early for that course?

Over the years we recognized that members often came to the conference early and looked for activities the night before the fun starts. We’ve also heard repeatedly that an advanced, high-level manager course is needed. We saw a way to meet both requests by offering a deep dive into one of our most requested topics: Dealing with Difficult Employees. Judy Kay Mausolf from Practice Solutions and an AADOM member favorite, will delve into how to deal with difficult and different personalities, resolve conflict, eliminate gossip and elevate trust and respect within your team. The class will be interactive and educational. Past attendees of Judy Kay’s classes rave about her approachable and effective methods. 

What are the “AADOM Forum Live!” sessions about?

We are excited to not only bring back Forum Live, but to offer a total of four separate sessions! Members know that our forum is a place to share your knowledge and to find the answers to your common (and uncommon) managerial issues. We will have different areas set up for discussion of topics such as:

• Gossip and conflict in the office
• Insurance changes
• Compliance
• Leading team meetings
• Doctor/Manager relations

…and more!

Special sections for new managers, specialty practices and AADOM Ambassadors will be available. Meet other practice administrators that are facing the same issues as you!