ADA News

Dr. Sameroff

The ADA announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey B. Sameroff of Pottstown, Pa., as editor-in-chief of ADA CE Online April 19.

"The ADA's CE Online's peer review process sets this program apart from its competition in the dental community," Dr. Cyril Meyerowitz, chair of the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure, wrote in an appointment letter to Dr. Sameroff. "Your leadership will provide stability for the volunteer editorial board as it reviews courses for CE Online and identifies new content for the program."

A general dentist in private practice for 38 years, Dr. Sameroff has experience in organized dentistry and continuing education activities. From 2005-09 he was a member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice, and in that capacity served as a content reviewer for ADA CE Online and later became a member of its advisory board. As chair of the Pennsylvania Dental Association's Council on Dental Practice (1996-2000), Dr. Sameroff worked with state regulators to determine CE requirements for dental professionals.

ADA CE Online's user base grew 50 percent last year, and one of Dr. Sameroff's goals as editor-in-chief is to spread the word throughout the dental community about the benefits of online learning.

"I'd like to see more people take advantage of the program," he said. "This is a great opportunity for dentists and dental team members to take quality, convenient continuing education. I encourage everyone to go to the site and become familiar with it, maybe even take a free course. This is an outstanding member benefit."

A 2010 survey of practicing dentists shows that 94 percent would consider taking an online CE course through the ADA. There are usually limits on the number of units that can be taken online, said Dr. Sameroff, but online learning provides many opportunities that live CE cannot.

"For instance, in my practice we have office meetings in our practice once a month. Sometimes we offer a CE online program during these meetings."

Additionally, requirements for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can be completed online, and dental assistants and hygienists can take a number of courses online during the day—which is a convenient option for unexpected openings in the daily schedule. (Courses for dental team members are marked "DT" on the website.)

Live CE, like courses offered at annual session and dental society conferences, is still Dr. Sameroff's personal preference, but online and live CE "both have their place," he said.

"I grew up on live CE; there was no CE online," he said. "As I became more computer literate, and worked with the council to review CE Online courses for the advisory board, I found online CE much easier to do.

"You can take courses at your own convenience, there is no travel required, and you can stop and start as you like. It has a lot of advantages in today's world."

Dr. Sameroff has close interaction with new dentists through PDA's mentor program, and sees the distinct advantages of online CE delivery for new generations of dentists.

"New graduates have a lot of educational debt and are usually working part time or looking for a job. They have a need for CE requirements to keep their licenses up to date," he said. "A portion of that CE could be online, so I recommend that option to them. They can learn specific procedures, or take courses in practice management. Some courses are even free."

"Young dentists and dental students are so used to getting information online that this is an automatic option for them," added Dr. Tariq Javed, chair of the Council on Dental Education and Licensure's Committee on Continuing Education. "By offering quality CE courses online, the ADA is meeting the demands of our members."

As editor-in-chief, Dr. Sameroff's long-term vision for ADA CE Online would be to provide users with course offerings that match topics they've already taken, and develop a master's educational program through collaboration with dental schools.

A past delegate and alternate to the ADA House of Delegates, Dr. Sameroff served on a number of ADA committees as part of his CDP appointment, including the JADA Editorial Review Committee, the Evidence-Based Dentistry Advisory Committee and the Dental Practice Model 2020 Committee.

He received his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1971 and became the editor of the Bulletin of the Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society in 1977—a post he held for 19 years. Dr. Sameroff has served terms as president of the MBDS (1997-98) and Pennsylvania's Second District Dental Association (2004-05), and is the current secretary of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. He served as general chairperson of the Valley Forge Dental Conference in 1989 and 2008.

Dr. Sameroff is a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the International College of Dentists and American College of Dentists.