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J Mich Dent Assoc September 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The September issue marks the return to a hybrid publishing schedule, with print issues published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November, and online-only digital issues in February, April, June, August, October, and December. This return to print follows a suspension in May due to association-wide financial issues, with the MDA Board of Trustees approving changes in the 2025 budget to …

Dean’S Report: Detroit Mercy Dental - Dental Schools — Safeguarding The Future Of Oral Health, Mert N. Aksu Dds, Jd, Mhsa, Cert. Dph

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This report from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry highlights its mission to prepare students as clinicians, leaders, and advocates for public health and equitable access to care, emphasizing evidence-based practices and community service. It addresses critical public health measures like community water fluoridation and HPV vaccination, advocating for policies that protect oral health. The report notes concerns over proposed Michigan Medicaid dental program changes that could burden dental schools with increased uncompensated and emergency care. Initiatives to meet workforce needs include the new Detroit Mercy Dental Vermont Track and community-based education programs, which provided care to over …

Dean’S Report: U-M School Of Dentistry - Celebrating A 150-Year Tradition Of Excellence — And Planning For The Future

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This report commemorates the 150th anniversary of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, founded in 1875 largely due to the lobbying efforts of the Michigan Dental Association (MDA). It details the leadership of its first dean, Dr. Jonathan Taft, who established high professional standards that shaped the institution's commitment to excellence. The school boasts over 12,000 DDS graduates and 3,460 dental hygiene graduates, emphasizing its continuous role in advancing dentistry through innovation, research, and patient care, from early textbook development to modern digital tools like CBCTs and CAD-CAM technology. The incoming DDS Class of 2029 marks a milestone with …

An Association At The Crossroads: The 1970s Crisis Within Chrie, Bob Bosselman

ICHRIE Research Reports

The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education (ICHRIE), founded in 1946, has a long history, although in the 1970s the future of the association was in doubt. This manuscript documents the crisis that nearly derailed the association, and details how this dilemma was resolved. Associations face many challenges throughout their history, and how they deal with each crisis often dictates their future.

Literature Review Of Coaching Within The Project Management Discipline, Matthew Gier

Organizational Leadership and Management Department Graduate Course Papers

No abstract provided.

Coaching Literature Review Assignment, Nikole Maculan

Organizational Leadership and Management Department Graduate Course Papers

No abstract provided.

Poundmaker – A Legacy Of Leadership, Love And Conciliation, Andrew J. Karesa

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Chief Poundmaker was a foundational figure in early Canadian history. He was responsible for unifying warring nations into cohesive alliances that advocated for fundamental and inherent Indigenous rights. Throughout his life, his dedication was to his people and their overall well-being, even when it stood against his own personal well-being. This research expands on leadership theory through a case study of the life of Chief Poundmaker. His life exemplifies relational and servant leadership, which an individual can extrapolate into profound leadership lessons. By learning about Chief Poundmaker’s life and leadership journey, contemporary leaders can effectively learn how to lead through …

Digital Transformation In Jamaica's Education Sector, Grace Willis

Capstone Collection

Digital transformation in Jamaica’s education sector, significantly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, represented a seismic shift on this small Caribbean island I call home. This transformation was central to national education reform and involved multiple projects aimed at modernizing educational delivery, infrastructure, and the supporting ecosystem. This study explored the multifaceted implications of these initiatives through qualitative research conducted with ten key stakeholders, complemented by a review of publicly available materials. Interviewees included school administrators, Information Technology (IT) teachers, funding sponsors, representatives from national education bodies, and international development agencies engaged in domestic strategic efforts. Participants were recruited through cold …

Illuminating Leadership Excellence: An Evidence-Based Qi Intervention Reigniting Nurse Leaders From Burnout To Brilliance Using Caring Science And Reflective Practice, Matthew S. Elliott

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: A 2024 assessment at a 250‑bed Northern California medical center revealed that 76% of 16 inpatient nurse leaders met "high‑burnout" criteria on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and leader turnover had climbed to 25%, more than triple national benchmarks, threatening patient care quality, financial stability, and alignment with Magnet® and employee engagement goals.

Context: Root causes included pandemic‑era promotions without development support, a task‑oriented leadership culture, and eroding psychological safety (Press Ganey engagement ≈ 30%). An integrative logic model positioned Watson's Caring Science as the theoretical base, Schön's Reflective Model for adaptive learning, and the Prosci ADKAR change framework …

The Influence Of Emotional Intelligence On Project Leadership Effectiveness, Puteri Sara Lily Mohd Fauzi

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Effective leadership was necessary to enable the completion of modern projects due to their increasing complexity. An important component of leadership success was emotional intelligence (EI), which was defined by self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. This study examined how emotional intelligence affected project leadership effectiveness and how it might have improved project delivery results. The study adopted a qualitative approach and concentrated on detailed information obtained from project managers across a range of industries. Stakeholder communication, team motivation, conflict resolution, and project success rates were examples of leadership performance indicators that were examined in this study in connection …

Toward A Theoretical Model Of Shared Leadership And Innovation In Family Business, Pamala J. Dillon, Leslie Blake-Davis, Eugene See, Mengjie Xu, Craig L. Pearce, Charles C. Manz

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

We advocate shared leadership as a key mechanism for unlocking innovation in family businesses. Family businesses, however, typically emphasize hierarchical leadership, reflecting the family power structure, which can pose challenges for successful innovation by limiting resources and knowledge sharing between family and non-family members. Shared leadership, enabled by both empowering from formal hierarchical leaders, as well as self-leadership practices across the organization, can help to overcome this challenge by leveraging the familiness, and related social capital, present in family businesses. Exploring the impact of shared leadership on innovation, familiness and social capital are proposed to improve innovation in the family …

Parliamentary Procedure Interactive Notebook: Newly Revised, P. Troy White, Amie Carter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

An interactive notebook for teaching fundamentals of parliamentary procedure. Over 120 pages of content to help teach correct principles of this critical organizational management skill. P. Troy White is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and a Certified Parliamentarian, ensuring that the content included follows the 12th Edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Engaging In Movement At Work: Exploring Engagement And Physical Activity., Spencer A. Cavan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High levels of employee engagement provide organizations competitive advantages such as increased customer satisfaction, profits, and employee productivity. Despite potential benefits, the number of engaged employees is declining and organizations need to find innovative ways to enhance engagement. Emerging evidence suggests workplace physical activity may generate organizational benefits extending beyond health improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of engagement among employees participating in a physical activity intervention at work. A qualitative design, guided by phenomenology, examined perceptions of workplace physical activity and perceived levels of engagement, as well as constraints related to involvement among university …

The Cost Of Strength: Navigating Systemic Racism And The Strong Black Woman Stereotype In The Workplace, Krystle M. Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research defined and explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership and the role of systemic racism on the performance of the strong Black woman stereotype in the workplace. Grounded in Black feminist thought, epistemology, and phenomenology, this qualitative study seeks to deepen understanding the lived experiences of Black women. This manuscript-style dissertation comprises two studies: Study 1 consisted of nine participants who contributed through Sista Circle focus groups and Study 2 consisted of fourteen participants who engaged in semi-structured interviews to defined and examined their workplace experiences. Situated at the intersection of race and gender, this research …

Between Two Worlds: A Case Study Of Third Culture Identity And Reentry For Unl International Students, John S. Tessalee

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and international students share many commonalities, such as their globalized nature, adaptability, and the adoption of cultural components from their host country versus their home country. However, they contain enough differences to be considered separate groups. Traditionally, people need to be immersed in a culture different from their parents’ culture between the ages of 0 and 18 to be considered a TCK, whereas international students are typically between 18 and 24 years old by the time they attend universities overseas. The cultural absorption of TCKs in their formative years is usually greater than that of international …

The Impact Of Culture And Language On Internal Communication And Patient Care In Small To Medium-Sized Black Immigrant-Owned Healthcare Practices In Texas., Chisom Nwosu

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how cultural competency in small to medium-sized Black immigrant-owned healthcare practices in Texas affects internal communication and patient care. Through semi-structured interviews with nine clinical and administrative leaders in Dallas and Houston, five themes emerged: culturally competent leadership, intentional communication structures, language and interpretation practices, patient-centered cultural sensitivity, and the use of technology for adaptation. Findings suggest that culturally aware leadership and inclusive communication strategies foster team cohesion and improve patient trust and care. Participants reported adapting workflows to meet religious, language, and communication needs through human and technological tools. The study underscores embedding cultural …

From Pencil To Pixel: How Leadership Shapes Organizational Responses To Competence-Destroying Technological Change, Jennifer Underwood

All Dissertations

This dissertation examines how managerial leadership enables organizations to overcome inertia during competence-destroying technological change through a historical comparative case analysis of the animation industry's transition from hand-drawn to computer-generated imagery (CGI) between 1980-2000. Drawing on archival data from Disney, Pixar, and Don Bluth Studios, I identify three distinct leadership approaches—pioneering, bridging, and preserving—that differently influenced how workforces adjusted their views of identity, process, and change. These adjustments led to three different outcomes: transformative integration, constrained adoption, and entrenched resistance. This research makes three theoretical contributions and develops a novel framework that explains how leadership can constrain or enable transformation, …

Transforming Childhood Adversity Into Executive Excellence: Impact On Firm Performance, Kimberly Byars

All Dissertations

Many successful business leaders have overcome difficult childhoods, yet little research has examined how early hardships might actually contribute to leadership effectiveness. This study investigated whether CEOs who experienced childhood adversity can transform these difficult experiences into strengths that improve their companies' performance.

The research surveyed 165 business owners across two groups: general business owners and automotive dealership owners. Participants answered questions about their childhood experiences, their ability to grow from trauma, and various psychological traits like grit, mental toughness, resilience, and growth mindset. Company performance data was also collected.

The findings challenge conventional wisdom that difficult childhoods necessarily harm …

Organizational Metamorphosis: When Artificial Intelligence Transforms Companies Into New Economic Life Forms, Allan M. Glass

All Dissertations

Traditional theories of organizational change fall short in explaining how artificial intelligence (AI) transforms organizations. This grounded theory study, based on interviews with 34 organizational leaders, identifies a novel phenomenon: organizational metamorphosis - the irreversible transformation of organizations into fundamentally new entities through deep integration with AI as a cognitive partner.

The metamorphosis process unfolds in three phases. Individual Awakening occurs when leaders experience powerful interactions with AI, prompting a rapid shift from skepticism to advocacy. Once a critical mass of leaders undergo this shift, it initiates Organizational Restructuring, characterized by reimagined work design, boundary dissolution, and altered temporal rhythms. …

Mda Services: Endorsed Programs News

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Throughh MDA Services, the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) has announced several endorsed programs aimed at supporting dental practices across Michigan: Compass Dental Gas Service is now endorsed by the MDA for its expertise in installing, maintaining, and repairing dental gas systems. Members benefit from exclusive discounts and safety compliance support. MEDVA Virtual Staffing offers HIPAA-compliant, human virtual assistants to handle administrative tasks remotely. This service helps reduce labor costs and allows in-office staff to focus on patient care. MDA Health Plan sponsors are reminded to submit overdue eligibility verification documents, which are essential for compliance and 2026 renewal preparations. DBS …