Glidewell Leads by Empowering Dentists
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February 1, 2019
Volume 15, Issue 2, February 2019
Page(s): p. 16
After Stephenie Goddard, executive vice president of Glidewell Dental, brought her idea for a women's leadership program to the company's own leadership, including CEO Jim Glidewell, CDT, not one person hesitated to fully support it. No one questioned the financial commitment or suggested waiting, and the wheels were set in motion to make "Guiding Leaders" a reality this year.
The Guiding Leaders program is just one example of the many efforts that Glidewell Dental has undertaken over the years to support dental professionals and advance the profession. The company's 50th anniversary is approaching in 2020. "It is such a joy for me to work with people who embrace taking a leadership position in the industry," says Goddard.
Through mentorship and educational programs, Guiding Leaders will elevate female dentists to the point where they can become key opinion leaders in the industry.
"The lack of female speakers among dentistry's key opinion leaders is noticeable," Goddard says. "Graduating classes from dental schools consist of more than 50% women, but on both the practicing side and manufacturing side, we do not see, meet, or interact with many women in senior positions."
Participants in the Guiding Leaders program will be expected to commit to be a mentor to a future participant. Goddard envisions that the program will continue to produce new groups of female leaders each year, creating a strong community of women.
"I really saw this as an opportunity for Mr. Glidewell to give back to the dental community in a profound way," Goddard says.
Of course, Glidewell Dental continues to serve the dental profession through its portfolio of cutting-edge products and services as well. Some of the most significant developments in 2019 will involve the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, which includes the iTero® Element™ 2 intraoral scanner, the fastmill.io™ In-Office Unit, the fastdesign.io™ Software, and the finalstage.io™ Ceramic Oven.
"Mr. Glidewell invests heavily into research and development," Goddard says. "This year, we will launch some new platforms and also expand on our existing technology. We are constantly increasing our efforts to develop new materials and new ways to manufacture products that will help increase quality and reliability and reduce turnaround time."
When combined with Glidewell Dental's well-established laboratory services, glidewell.io offers dentists the flexibility to incorporate different levels of CAD/CAM technology into their practices, depending on their preferences and their business models.
"The factor that holds many dentists back is the change to the workflow," Goddard says. "Adding a scanner is simple, but implementing chairside milling means really changing your office workflow and how you appoint your patients. We built our system as a full ecosystem. You can start with a scanner and then eventually add a mill when it is convenient and you feel confident bringing that new technology into your office."
In its next 50 years, Glidewell Dental plans to continue to lead the profession, whether through educational programs or cutting-edge product suites.
"We have always pushed the boundaries of dentistry," Goddard says. "And you will continue to see Glidewell Dental innovating straightforward solutions to increase patient access to quality care while helping dentists ensure the health of their practices."
For more information, contact:
Glidewell Laboratories
glidewelldental.com
800-854-7256
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