Academic Leadership: Succession Planning for the Future

Dental education is facing an administrative leadership crisis. Rapid turnover and limited development opportunities impede robust recruitment and preparation for academic leaders. Succession planning is a deliberate and systematic effort to ensure leadership continuity as well as developing talent for the future. This is mutually beneficial for individuals and organizations by emphasizing culture, sustainability, trust, and mitigating fractured transitions. This form of talent identification and intentional mentoring prepares organizations and teams to experience continuity and decrease setbacks. Participants will explore best practices for succession planning and discuss possible methods to incorporate these practices into their academic institutions.