Fellowship/Mastership in the ADAA.

Since 1997, ADAA has offered the challenging and rewarding opportunity of Fellowship and Mastership to its membership. Long a standard of achievement, Fellowship or Mastership in one of America's health care organizations has been a coveted level of recognition, and a recognized and accepted accomplishment amongst one's peers.

Fellowship within the ADAA is only available to current members and only to those with documented educational achievements.

Fellowship offers two challenging pathways: business and clinical. You do not have to be an administrative assistant to challenge the clinical pathway and vice versa. The program consists of continuing education from approved sponsors in specific categories totaling 300 credit hours in lecture, participation, home study, and ADAA-sponsored coursework. Those who have already achieved the status of DANB Certified Dental Assistant (or COA or COMSA), are halfway to achieving Fellowship, and will automatically receive 150 hours of credit with proof of current certification after enrolling. Members who are DANB Certified Dental Practice Management Administrators will receive 100 hours of credit with proof of current certification upon enrollment. Members who are non-CDAs but are registered dental assistants in California, Minnesota, or Michigan are also eligible to receive 150 hours of credit with proof of current state registration after enrolling. The maximum number of credit hours awarded for an existing credential will be 150 hours. A record of all CE hours submitted will be held in ADAA's Fellowship files and as an extra benefit, each enrollee will receive an annual printout of CE submitted through the year. You have a maximum of ten years from the date of enrollment to complete the program and you do have to enroll in order to begin this exciting program.

Upon completion of the Fellowship program, successful participants will be recognized at ADAA Annual Conferences through a convocation ceremony. National recognition will be provided through the ADAA's professional Journal and press releases.

ADAA Fellows may also earn Mastership in the ADAA. Once you have achieved the level of Fellowship in the ADAA, we encourage you to consider the merits and benefits of ADAA Mastership.

The Mastership program also offers two challenging pathways: business and clinical. You may choose either program based on your area of interests. The Mastership program is an extension of the Fellowship program with an emphasis on new technology used in dentistry today. A total of 400 credit hours are needed in specific subject categories through lecture, participation, home study and ADAA-sponsored coursework. Credit is also offered for dental-related college coursework, publications and dental community service. Again, you will have a maximum of ten years from the date of Mastership enrollment to complete this unique program. Recognition of Masters is the same for Fellows through a joint convocation ceremony, recognition in the Journal and through press releases.

For more information on either exciting program, please contact Santos Robles at central office: [phone] ext 211 or [e-mail] or visit our website: dentalassistant.org.

If you are ready to challenge yourself with these exclusive opportunities, please submit the enclosed application and begin your journey to increased insight into the dental profession.

As the profession of dental assisting moves forward, we encourage you to do the same. To date there are 41 Fellows and three Masters. We look forward to YOU joining the ranks of this accomplished group!

Natalie Kaweckyj, RDA, CDA, CDPMA, COA, COMSA, MADAA, is ADAA's Seventh District Trustee, Chairman of the Council on Legislation and Vice Chairman of the Council on Education. She is active in local, state, and national dental assisting associations and is past president of the Minnesota Dental Assistants Association. Nationally, she was elected secretary in 2002 and is a past director of the ADAA Foundation. She has served on the ADAA Finance and Education Councils, and has authored the ADAA courses on Geriatric Dentistry, Oral Cancer Genetics, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.