Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi, dean of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and chair-elect of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) board of directors, has been selected to lead a comprehensive new initiative to identify the top opportunities and obstacles in dental education across North America.

The ADEA “New Thinking for the New Century” initiative seeks to identify solutions to the chronic challenges that have plagued dental education for decades—and emerging problems in the past few years. The initiative also will support the development of the next generation of leaders in dental education to take on these issues.

Dr. Nadershahi is serving as chair of the initiative’s steering committee, which includes dental education leaders from across the United States and Canada.

Through a national survey of the dental community, the committee is crowdsourcing a list of the top challenges facing oral health education that it believes ADEA can impact over the next decade. Broad community input will also be generated from affinity group meetings and other ADEA activities through the end of the year. Future work will include writing problem statements, forming subcommittees to develop alternative solutions and developing implementation plans.

“As ADEA approaches its centennial anniversary it is a good time to engage all of oral health education to identify the challenges and opportunities of the future so we may lay the foundation of success over the next 100 years,” said Dean Nadershahi. “It is also an opportunity to lift the voices of our diverse and talented members.”

In addition to his role as steering committee chair, Dr. Nadershahi has served in other leadership roles with ADEA and many other organizations in the dental profession.

ADEA members include all 78 U.S. and Canadian dental schools, more than 800 allied and advanced dental education programs, more than 50 corporations and approximately 18,000 individuals. Its activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings and communications for the oral health education community. Learn more at ADEA’s website.