RDH UNder One Roof 2023
Anyone out there dive into a career in clinical practice and fight the good fight daily without taking time to invest in themselves to advance their education and career? Hello! Nice to meet you. Me too. I think I can speak for a lot of us that put our heads down and grind throughout the workday to provide the highest level of care, meet the demands of patients, and then go home and try to show up for our personal lives. It is a LOT. Up until I made the decision to attend RDH Evolution and RDH Under One Roof (we’ll get there in a second), all I had known was clinical practice. Sure, I had attended a few in person CE courses in addition to online webinars, but outside of my little “bubble” that I worked in, I didn’t have connections with any other hygienists. I kept to my little group of coworkers and never branched out, however I always felt that my level of passion for this profession and drive to elevate the standard of care, never matched up with those around me. I also knew that deep down, I wanted out of the operatory just as so many do. I’m not talking in the sense that I wanted out of the operatory just so I could work from home. I wanted out of the operatory so I could make a bigger impact elsewhere and have a better work/life balance, while also maybe working from home. I wanted to collaborate with others that were like me and had similar visions for this profession. I wanted to feel inspired again. This is when I made the decision to attend my first conference and what better conference to attend than RDH Under One Roof.
Let it be known that I am an extremely introverted individual. I like my little nest that I live in. I can stay inside my comfort zone while also wearing stretchy pants and never have to branch out. Anyone else? I also knew that if there was any chance for me to pave a path out of the operatory, then I was going to have to take my career by the horns, otherwise I would continue with the current mundane situation. The opportunity to attend this conference was going to require that I travel halfway across the country for a week by myself, to a place where I did not know a single soul (not a one), wear business professional attire daily, and network- the word that still makes my skin crawl, but we’re slowly getting more comfortable with each other. This sounded like an introvert’s absolute worst nightmare. On the flip side, I wanted to make a change with my career so bad it hurt and I felt that this conference was the answer. So, I gave myself a giant kick in the pants and signed up for BOTH RDH Evolution and RDH Under One Roof. What is the difference you may ask?
RDH Evolution: “Provides a unique opportunity for dental hygienists to learn how to get the most from their career. Attendees will spent two and a half days focusing on professional development, goal setting, clinical expansion, speaking skills, and how to be published”. (1) RDH Evolution occurs two and a half days prior to RDH Under One Roof.
RDH Under One Roof: “A three-day action packed event offering quality dental hygiene education. Dental hygienist learn from leading speakers in the industry during the educational courses. All attendees are also invited to visit the exhibit floor to view the newest dental hygiene products and dental equipment from the exhibitors.” (2)
This sounded like a chance to connect with hygienists like me while also exploring other career opportunities. Before I could change my mind, I boarded the flight and opened my mind to what was to come in the following week. I showed up as my honest self and gave it my all. Did I have imposter syndrome? Absolutely. Did I feel inadequate and cry multiple times that week? Most definitely. BUT, did I meet a handful of incredible individuals, learn to network, connect with many influential dental companies, and leave with invaluable skills that helped me get my literature published while also inspiring me to start my own website? 100%. RDH Evolution and Under One Roof are always set in a different location with 2023 being in Nashville. Did I also attend several mind-blowing lectures during the day and then party it up in boots and cowboy hats in the evenings? Heck yeah! This conference brings thought leaders together to deliver high quality evidence-based content while also creating a space for fun evening parties. As cheesy as this sounds, I can confidently say that without attending both Evolution and Under One Roof, I would not be where I am right now, on my way out of the op.
I am not an influencer or a promoter. I just believe that investing in your career will be the trajectory to get you going where you want to go. It’s not going to fall in your lap. You must take the leap or else you’ll never know what may come back to you. I cannot stand living with “what ifs” and the thought of “what if I don’t go to this conference” was unbearable for me. Whether it is this conference or some other networking opportunity, take the chance. Invest in yourself. It could mean the difference between staying stuck in the op or living out your true potential.
References
1. https://www.rdhevolution.com/rdh-evolution24
2. https://www.rdhunderoneroof.com/rdhuor2024