Survey data from the 2023 American Dental Association Council on Communications Trend Report found that more than 40% of dentists felt defeated, wanted to quit dentistry or did not want to go to work at least monthly in the six months leading up to the survey. Similar challenges have been documented across all health professions, indicating a broader trend in the recognition of health professional wellness.  

The implementation of wellness programs by academic institutions is crucial. One study concluded that such programs in academic health care departments are instrumental in combating burnout exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A healthy workforce is critical to the overall mission of academic institutions, enhancing faculty quality of life and well-being.
While implementing wellness programs has significant benefits, faculty awareness and participation are essential components of their success. Despite nearly 90% of U.S. organizations offering wellness initiatives, research indicates that participation rates are alarmingly low, with less than 20% of employees engaging in these programs. 

In the context of dental education, this webinar seeks to investigate the availability, use and effectiveness of wellness resources at U.S. dental schools. By understanding how faculty members engage with these resources, we can better assess the impact of wellness programs on faculty satisfaction, retention and overall mental health. Furthermore, while literature supports the implementation of wellness initiatives, there is a lack of data addressing the barriers to faculty participation in these programs, which will be discussed during the webinar. 

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the availability rate of Employee Wellness Programs (EWPs) within individual institutions among a selected cohort of dental school faculty. 
• Evaluate the level of awareness of EWPs reported by a selected cohort of dental school faculty at various institutions. 
• Analyze the levels of use of EWPs reported by a chosen group of dental school faculty across different institutions.  
• Explore the perceptions of dental school faculty regarding EWPs at their respective institutions, if any exist.

Original Release Date: Jan. 27, 2025 

Expiration Date: Jan. 27, 2028 

Questions? Contact learn@adea.org  

Disclaimer

The purpose of this presentation is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional care and is not intended for use for the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this presentation express their own experience, opinions and conclusions. Guest statements do not express the viewpoint of ADEA. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an ADEA endorsement.

CE Information

The American Dental Education Association is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. 

An evaluation form is available to participants after the conclusion of the live webinar. To earn continuing education (CE) credit for participation in the webinar, the online evaluation must be completed in full by Jan. 27, 2028. After completing the evaluation, webinar participants can print and save the CE Verification Form.

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

The American Dental Education Association designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credit.

All speakers agree that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.