Empowering Future Leaders: A Recap of the 2025 Leadership Development Program

Posted in Leadership | March 3, 2025

The 2025 Leadership Development Program (LDP) brought together a group of promising endodontists for an inspiring two-day experience focused on professional growth, leadership development, and collaboration. Hosted at Sable at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL, the event was designed to equip participants with the tools and insights needed to excel as future leaders in endodontics and within the American Association of Endodontists.

A Transformative Learning Experience

Led by expert facilitators from the Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL), the program featured interactive sessions that encouraged self-reflection, leadership skill-building, and strategic communication techniques. Some of the key sessions included:

Actualizing Leadership Potential – Helping participants identify their natural leadership styles and areas for growth.
The Power of Introspection and Refinement – Encouraging self-reflection as a tool for leadership development.
Leading with Emotional Intelligence – Exploring how leaders can foster strong communication and trust.
Overcoming Challenges & Building Mentorship Relationships – Preparing participants to navigate obstacles and contribute meaningfully to the profession.

Each session incorporated thought-provoking discussions, case studies, and real-world applications, allowing attendees to refine their leadership approach and develop a personalized action plan for future success.

Celebrating Our 2025 LDP Participants

Congratulations to the eleven outstanding emerging leaders who took part in this year’s program:
Hacer Aksel, Cyrous Ardalan, Priscilla Carpenter, Morgan Celistan, Callee Clark, Anh Do, Caley Mintz, Shreyas Oza, Abby Shannon, Dara Siegel, and William Walker.

Their enthusiasm, engagement, and commitment to leadership excellence were truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing their continued contributions to the specialty.

Gratitude to Our Mentors and Contributors

A huge thank you to our mentors, who generously shared their time and expertise:
Katherine Divine, Robert Heydrich, Marcus Johnson, W. Craig Noblett, and Avina Paranjpe.
Their guidance and mentorship were invaluable to our participants.

Additionally, we extend our appreciation to AAE and Foundation for Endodontics Presidents, Natasha Flake and Patricia Tordik, for providing key insights into the AAE and the Foundation for Endodontics, helping participants better understand the impact and opportunities within our professional community.

Looking Ahead

The AAE remains committed to developing strong leaders in endodontics, and the Leadership Development Program is a cornerstone of that mission. We eagerly look forward to watching this exceptional group evolve and make a lasting impact on the future of endodontics.