Thursday, May 21

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children CE Course
"The World of Technology -- it's Everywhere, Including in Your Practice"

Many recent technological innovations have improved the quality of our lives in ways that were once only imaginable. Our lives are surrounded with ever growing numbers of examples of devices, techniques and methods that are technology based. In the dental profession, modern advances in automation and information technology have enabled practitioners to better serve their patients, and, in the future, will increasingly help to prevent dental disease before it starts. While new advancements and devices have rapidly found their way into treatment rooms, the average practitioner oftentimes finds him or herself without a basic understanding of the advantages and/or disadvantages of the technology in question, and particularly where their youngest patients are concerned.

Whether you are a technophile or a technophobe, this course will expose you to important issues and considerations related to technology in our community and how it affects the lives of all consumers. You will also hear about how the dental profession is changing with changes in technology, as well as how we in Pediatric Dentistry will benefit from continual technological advances.

Panel of Experts:

Tim Fagan, D.D.S., M.S. -- Private Practice in Pediatric Dentistry, in Enid, Okla.
Rajinder (Raj) Manhas, M.S. -- Former Superintendent of Seattle School District
Stephen Thorne, B.A., M.H.A. -- President and CEO of Pacific Dental Services
Mike Davidson -- CEO of Newsvine and head of social media strategy for http://www.msnbc.com

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Hear from the panel of above experts what is coming to the big world of technology and how it will change our lives
  • Make informed decisions about the use of technology with a high-level of confidence
  • Discuss opportunities for the development of management systems utilizing technology
  • List some of the core technologies and technology based systems in practice
  • Learn what is coming soon and how it will affect your ability to succeed in practice
  • Identify how technology can inform patients better and make them more engaged

Tim Fagan D.D.S., M.S.

Tim Fagan D.D.S., M.S. has been a solo practitioner specializing in Pediatric Dentistry in Enid, Okla., for 25 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American College of Dentists. He has served as President of the Oklahoma Pediatric Dental Association and the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry, and as a Trustee for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Fagan enjoys writing and lecturing about practice management and integrating new technology.

Rajinder S. Manhas

Raj Manhas, who grew up in India, came to Seattle in 1973 to study at the University of Washington. After finishing his master's degree in industrial engineering, he began a 17-year career in banking working in various leadership roles. In 1993, he left the private sector to join the City of Seattle where he held executive level positions in parks and public utilities departments. His passion for public education, which first helped him succeed in rural India and then in the United States, drew him to Seattle Public Schools where he served as chief operating officer and then as a superintendent. In his role as chief executive officer of the largest school district in Washington State, Manhas led the district's financial recovery from a $35 million deficit to a $26 million reserve while improving the academic achievement of a very diverse student population. This was accomplished during one of the most turbulent times in the history of the school system with intense public and media scrutiny.

In his varied leadership roles, Manhas creates a trusting, collaborative, optimistic, and creative work environment where excellence in performance becomes a shared goal of all involved. His life and work experiences affirm his belief that an authentic connection with our deeper self and staying in constant touch with our "inner voice" plays a crucial role in one's ability to excel in your personal and professional life.

Manhas, Former Superintendent Seattle School District has served as the Chief Executive Officer of a school district with 47,000 students, 8,000 employees and $437 million operating budget. He served as the district's leading spokesperson to a wide variety of constituencies, including the media, the business community, and the state legislature. Manhas is regarded as a caring leader who is a great motivator and mentor in the business sector and within his community.

Stephen Thorne, President and Founder

Stephen E. Thorne, IV is the Founder, CEO, and President of Pacific Dental Services, a $300 million dollar dental services company located in Irvine, California. Started in June 1994, the company has experienced exceptional growth, growing an estimated 337 percent since 2003. By year end 2009, PDS will provide services to over 200 practices throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Texas.

Thorne began his work in the dental field in 1989 when his father, a dentist, offered him a job to manage a struggling dental office. That first office became a big success and Thorne continued to work with his father for several years before venturing out on his own and creating Pacific Dental Services. Thorne graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 1989 with a major in Economics-Business. In 1994, he earned his Master's Degree in Health Administration from Chapman University.

Pacific Dental Services was borne on the fundamental belief that the company would be the best choice for practicing dentists through the development of efficient dental practices, dedication to effective management services, and a commitment to maximizing individual potential. Thorne is President of the Dental Group Practice Association which is the largest association of dental group practices in America. He established the PDS leadership agenda, which fosters the development of great leadership skills in the dental profession. Thorne has been married for 18 years and has six children.

Mike Davidson, Founder and CEO

Mike Davidson is founder and CEO of Seattle-based Newsvine, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of http://www.msnbc.com. Davidson is responsible for both the day-to-day operations of Newsvine.com as well as community integration efforts between Newsvine and MSNBC. Before co-founding Newsvine, Davidson worked as Art Director and Manager of Media Product Development at both ESPN and the Walt Disney Internet Group and studied business at the University of Washington and Oxford University in England.