The Department of Communications and Marketing (DCM) spearheaded the launch of the new ADEA website, working with the ADEA Office of Information Technology (IT) and the website vendor. DCM is actively supporting the process of identifying issues with the new website, ensuring that any areas of concern are brought to light. The goal is to support a resolution process that improves the website’s functionality, usability and overall performance, delivering exceptional user experience. To aid this effort, a feedback form allows users to share their input and help refine the website further. A cross-functional team of staff and ADEA’s legal counsel is reviewing and updating ADEA’s website privacy policy, ensuring compliance with the latest regulatory requirements, user accessibility, and search engine optimization best practice.

ADEA’s Office of Information Technology (IT) collaborated on various initiatives regarding Association Anywhere (AA), ADEA’s internal customer database. These initiatives included the following:  

• Student Chapters—IT is working with the Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion (ADI) to implement a system to manage and grow ADEA’s Student Chapters by leveraging AA. To ensure this solution meets ADEA’s needs, IT organized demos with three organizations already using AA’s Chapters Module. IT is currently evaluating the required processes and configurations before setting up the system.  

• AA–ADEA Research Data Platform Integration—IT is working with the Office of Educational Services (OES) and the vendor, Envision IT, to integrate AA with the ADEA research data platform. The goal of the integration is to authenticate the credentials of members accessing the dashboards part of the ADEA research data platform and ensure proper access to the system. 

In collaboration with the ADEA Office of Educational Services (OES), the Office of Information Technology (IT) implemented enhancements to streamline the application submission process, aiming to improve accessibility and convenience for prospective applicants. One of the key improvements is the introduction of Knowledgebase, a knowledge base online service. This service enabled applicants to search the Fee Assistance Program (FAP) website and receive prompt answers, significantly reducing their reliance on email communication. Between May 13 and June 6, 2024, this solution facilitated over 1,500 article views from approximately 169 searches

ADEA’s Office of Information Technology (IT) is actively exploring new technology platforms that offer enhanced engagement options and potential cost savings for ADEA Connect, its online member community. To facilitate this process, IT has established two internal teams to identify the next platform: 

• ADEA Connect Search Task Force—This team will assist in evaluating vendors, participating in demos and making the final decision on the platform that will replace our current vendor.   

• ADEA Connect Strategy Team—This team will develop the strategy for introducing the new platform to ADEA members and create a roadmap to improve adoption and member engagement. 

Moving forward, IT will also continue to maintain close collaboration with the ADEA Connect ambassadors by facilitating meetings, training sessions and giving incentive awards. ADEA Connect ambassadors are volunteers and champions within the ADEA Connect online communities. One incentive IT offered was complimentary registration to the 2025 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in National Harbor, MD, for six outstanding contributors, with two winners selected from each category: regular members, allied members and student members. 

The ADEA Department of Communications and Marketing is collaborating with the Office of Educational Services to look at updating the platform for the online ADEA Dental School Explorer, which contains a searchable database of profiles of all the dental schools in ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service). The team plans to solicit feedback from students and explore other similar directories to determine the path forward. 

ADEA issued a statement opposing the U.S. House of Representatives’ Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee recommendation of June 27, 2024, to restructure the National Institute of Health and, in doing so, eliminate the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and consolidate its operations into a new, unrelated institute. The NIDCR is the federal government’s leading agency for scientific research on dental, oral and craniofacial health and disease. Given that ADEA supports academic and scientific research that advances oral health care and education, ADEA urged the full Committee on Appropriations and the House of Representatives to reject the Subcommittee’s recommendation. 

In June 2024, Karen West, D.M.D., M.P.H., ADEA President and CEO, participated in three high-profile sessions during the American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry’s (AADMD) One Voice Conference in Chicago, IL. The event is dedicated to exploring how oral health professionals can transform health care for people living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).  

Dr. West’s critical role as an industry thought leader included her participation as a panelist in the Curriculum Innovation Panel, Transformational Leadership Panel and President’s Fireside Chat, which also featured Linda Edgar, D.D.S., President, American Dental Association; Scott Ferguson, M.D., Board of Trustee member, American Medical Association; Karyl Rattay, M.D., M.S., FAAP, Director of Division of Human Development and Disability, Centers for Disease and Prevention; Lisa Howley, Ph.D., M.Ed., Senior Director of Transforming Medical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges; and former Massachusetts State Representative Jim Brett.