Education Connection: Spear Study Clubs: An Ideal Networking Environment

Study clubs provide an ideal opportunity to network with like-minded dentists, communicate on a more intimate level and develop genuine relationships with clients. Often, there is only one technician in the group so you have the added benefit of having a captive audience.

This is the case for Laboratory President Barbara Wojdan, CDT, AAACD, Knight Dental Group in Oldsmar, FL, who has been a member of a Spear Education study club for the past two years. Along with Wojdan, the group includes three general practitioners, two periodontists, two orthodontists and one oral surgeon, and meets every six weeks for dinner at a local country club.

For each meeting, Spear Education provides a module that includes a DVD showing the treatment plan of a real-life case and actual models for the patient. The attendees mount the case on a large, adjustable articulator, watch the DVD and then talk about the case, discussing how they would handle the case and what they think is best for...