Why RDH Under One Roof could be your next ‘inspiration vacation’

It’s January, and maybe you’re thinking about some of the things you’re excited for this year. I know the staff at RDH is, especially when it comes to this year’s RDH Under One Roof (UOR) conference in Grapevine, Texas. The conference has grown and grown since its introduction in 2001, when we welcomed 100 attendees and 8 exhibitors in Denver, Colorado. Last year, more than 1,800 hygienists descended upon National Harbor, Maryland, to learn, network, laugh, and rediscover what had brought them to dental hygiene.

We’ve had a huge response to this year’s show location in Grapevine, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan resort. We have more registrations than we ever have before at this time of year, with the event still seven months away. But guess what? We still have room for more of you! Our goal for UOR is to connect dental hygiene professionals with the best continuing education—and with each other—to elevate the profession.

Many people feel intimidated by the thought of going to a conference where they know no one. This year, we’re trying something new to help make it easier to meet people before the show or to ask other members of your profession your burning questions—a closed Facebook group! Log into your Facebook account, search “RDH Under One Roof Official,” and request to join. In our group, you can ask conference veterans questions, find people to attend receptions with, and hear buzz about show events. You don’t have to be registered to join the group, just interested in the show.

In this issue, we have a great article from former dental convention skeptic Amber Metro-Sanchez, BA, RDH (page 12). She writes, “The first time I went to a dental convention I thought, ‘Why should I spend my free time immersing myself in dentistry?’ That is what I did during all my workdays. I thought that getting an escape from dentistry on the weekends was a needed break. Little did I know how inspiring a dental convention could be. Like all dental professionals, I have felt potential burnout creep up on me from time to time. Going to a dental convention is the number one trick to get myself back on track again.” If you find yourself facing burnout this winter, a dental show can be a wonderful way to meet that head-on. Some of our attendees have taken to calling UOR their “inspiration vacation”—a chance to get away from the obligations of daily life to earn in-person CE credits for their licenses, connect with other professionals, get the most advanced information they need to care for their patients, and just remember why they joined dental hygiene in the first place. To learn more about the event, open up the cover, visit rdhunderoneroof.com, and stay tuned for sneak peaks of conference content in future issues of the magazine.