Warren Brandli Leadership Internship

Dr. Santos Cortez
Leadership Development Chair

The California Society of Pediatric Dentistry is accepting applications for the Warren Brandli Leadership Intern Program. Current pediatric dental residents and individuals in their first five years of post-residency residing in California are eligible to apply. This opportunity was created for individuals who are in training programs or in the early stages of their career to participate in the CSPD governance and advocacy activities, attend internal organizational and inter-professional meetings, and complete a project designated by the CSPD Board President by the end of the program.

Through these activities, CSPD hopes to:

• Familiarize candidates about the specialty, its governance and social and political issues facing pediatric dentistry in the 21st century.
• Expose new members to the administrative and membership functions of the Society.
• Inform members of organizational strategies, advocacy and inter-professional relationships not commonly available to pediatric dentists in practice or academics.
• Prepare members to assume leadership roles in dental specialty governance, particularly within the CSPD and the AAPD governance structures.

Applicants must be willing to attend all regular meetings of the CSPD Board of Directors as well as the Society's Leadership Orientation Session at the annual meeting and Strategic Planning Session, which is held every third year. Other opportunities may include attendance at the meetings of the Dental Board of California, California legislative hearings, California Dental Association-sponsored advocacy events and community leadership and/or Public Policy Advocate.

The CSPD will arrange transportation and lodging and will cover all program-related administrative costs and supply needs. Selection will be based on the applicant's 1) completion of an application, 2) submission of a short essay about the candidate's interest and specific personal goals for the program, 3) relevant activities or roles within their professional sphere and 4) two required letters of reference (one of which should be from the program director if the applicant is a current pediatric dental resident).

Applications are due November 10th and selections will be made and announced prior to the next annual session. The internship period will begin with the final meeting of the Board of Directors held in conjunction with the annual session and will finish 12 months later at the final meeting of the next Board of Directors at which time each intern will give a final report about their project.