Sharpen your leadership skills at Elevate
Entrepreneurship experts to equip dentists with practical tools to succeed
Dentists can take their leadership skills to the next level at Elevate, a leadership conference hosted by the American Dental Association in collaboration with Entrepreneur magazine.
During the conference — taking place March 28-30 in Washington, D.C. — participants will gain practical leadership tools and strategies, connect with like-minded dentists and earn 7.5 continuing education credits from leading experts in business, communication and entrepreneurship.
"This new leadership conference is designed to help younger dentists take the first — or next — step in their career by providing hands-on leadership training and operational tools for clinical success,” said Adam Saltz, D.M.D., a member of the ADA New Dentist Committee and chair of the Elevate task force.
Speakers include Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur; Tessa West, Ph.D., author, New York University professor of psychology and leading expert on the science of interpersonal communication; David Kline, adviser, writer and co-founder of the MGMT Accelerator, a leadership development program; and Richelle DeVoe, marketing strategist and founder of The Growth Guides, which helps companies strategically grow.
“Attendees will participate in several interactive workshops, led by experts, to help them lead diverse teams, communicate effectively in high-pressure situations and make strategic decisions for their personal and professional growth,” Dr. Saltz said.
In her presentation, “Straight Talk: Mastering Direct Communication in the Workplace,” Dr. West will show dentists how to communicate directly with colleagues and others in their lives.
“Direct communication is a challenge most of us face, no matter how expert we are at doing our jobs. This session is equal parts social science and practical advice, focusing not only on why direct communication is so difficult but also the small steps we can take to make it happen,” she said. “You will learn about the most common patterns of disruptive communication and how to stop them in the moment. The techniques you will learn are generalizable across situations, from interactions with coworkers to those with relationship partners. We will be doing a lot of active learning, so get ready to try these techniques out on each other.”
Elevate will also feature evening receptions for community building, morning wellness activities, immersive experiences around D.C. and an exclusive celebration to commemorate the 2025 10 Under 10 Award winners.
“At its core, Elevate aims to form a meaningful network of rising and established leaders in organized dentistry,” Dr. Saltz said. “There will be exclusive events and offerings to those who attend. With access to these resources, industry trends and emerging technology, dentists will leave Elevate with newfound skills, knowledge and community, positioned to advance both their professional and leadership roles.”
Learn more and register at ADA.org/elevate.
