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Leadership Development Program

Applications Open June 15, 2026

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Thank you for your interest in the AAE Leadership Development Program! We’re excited to invite you to apply and take this opportunity to grow as a leader in our field. The program is designed to cultivate the next generation of endodontic leaders, and we encourage you to submit your application. Ten participants will be selected to attend an all-expenses-paid program in Chicago from February 18-20, 2027, where you’ll connect with peers, develop essential leadership skills, and engage deeply with the AAE community. 

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Eligibility

To be considered, applicants must: 

  • Be a current AAE member in the U.S. 
  • Have graduated from endodontic residency within the last 10 years (preferably) 
  • Have limited to no experience serving on an AAE committee (preferably) 
  • Complete the application and supply all supporting documents by August 10, 2026. 

The AAE is seeking a group of participants for this program with a focus on cultivating leadership with a broad range of skills, professional experiences, practice backgrounds and perspectives that will support the effective governance and strategic needs of the Association. You are invited to elaborate on these topics that you believe are relevant throughout your essay. 

All applicants will be notified in November 2026. 

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Program Goals

  • Provide a group of emerging leaders with encouragement to engage with the AAE at various levels.
  • Provide participants with skills to serve as volunteers, and eventually as leaders.
  • Provide insight into the journey to leadership.
  • Provide participants with opportunities for involvement in the AAE following the conference.

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Program Curriculum

  • Theme I: Learning to Lead
    • Topics: understanding personal leadership styles, strengths, and vulnerabilities
  • Theme II: Leading Self
    • Topics: emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability
  • Theme III: Leading Others with Impact
    • Topics: managing conflict, negotiation, and team building
  • Theme IV: Catalyzing Your Growth as a Leader
    • Topics: creative problem-solving, while building competencies in influencing, decisiveness, and resilience

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Application Guidelines

Please refrain from submitting photos with your application, including those photos attached to biographical sketches and CVs. 

By continuing this application, you are taking responsibility for all “reference letters.” If you have asked for a letter of reference and the author has chosen to submit it directly to the AAE, please ask to be informed directly when the request has been fulfilled. 

Recommendation: Gather all supporting documents before beginning the process to complete the application and upload the attachments in one session. Once you have gathered all of your supporting documents, begin the application.

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Application Instructions

Each application must contain the following:

  1. Completed application form.
  2. Overview document of your endodontic employment experience. This should reflect all positions held since finishing endodontic residency and include the following information for each:
    1. Place of employment (name and complete address)
    2. Practice type (e.g., solo practice, freelance, single specialty group, multi-specialty group, large multi-site group, DSO)
    3. Size (number of dentists)
    4. Position held
    5. Dates employed
    6. A listing of your prior/current involvement with other organizations to include professional or community organizations; volunteer or leadership positions you have held; any AAE involvement such as committee service, meetings attended, articles written, OPT participant, etc.
  3. One short essay (limit 750 words) answering the following questions:
    1. What does leadership mean to you?
    2. What personal, professional, or community experiences have shaped your approach to leadership?
    3. Why are you interested in participating in the AAE’s Leadership Development Program, and what do you hope to learn?
    4. Describe how you would like to be involved in the AAE in the coming year following the program? This could include specific committees you are passionate about or other assignments of interest.
    5. Highlight any additional information that you would like to have considered by the selection committee.
  4. Please collect two letters of reference and submit them along with your application no later than August 10, 2026. It is recommended that at least one of your references be an endodontist.

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