AADOM’s Green Leader Initiative empowers office managers to reduce their practices’ environmental footprint and lead their teams into a greener future for dentistry
Imagine the scene of a sports tailgate—a stadium parking lot packed with fans exuding the same infectious energy and passion for the game. While most rallying spectators haven’t met, everyone is bound together by their shared spirit and desire for their team to emerge victorious.
Now, transpose this excitement and camaraderie to a different arena—the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM) annual conference. “It’s great to have a group that you can relate to and align with, which is what has kept me coming back for more AADOM meetings,” said Erika Pusillo, DAADOM, CDA, who is practice optimizer at Spodak Dental Group in Delray Beach, FL. “Everybody lifts one another up as we look to become better leaders and office managers, and ultimately, we are all rooting for the same goal of making dentistry better.”
Small Change, Large Impact
This sentiment aligns with the organization’s Green Leader Initiative, which encourages AADOM members to adopt greener practices that reduce dentistry’s environmental impact. As AADOM’s 2023 Green Leader, Pusillo said, “I love that AADOM supports dentistry going green, and being around like-minded people that advocate for the environment makes staying green that much easier.”
Pusillo describes “Green” leadership as choosing eco-friendly alternatives to supplies, equipment, and technology that not only improve the patient experience but also help save our planet. Made possible by a generous grant from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, the Green Leader Initiative also helps office managers authentically reach a growing population of environmentally conscious patients.
“A lot of clinicians think that going green will be difficult and expensive,” Pusillo said. “It isn’t like that anymore; it has become easier and cheaper than people realize. In fact, some of the environmentally friendly products and supplies I select are actually more cost-effective than traditional options.”
Pusillo added that even small changes in the practice can add up, such as going paperless and using more digital tools, or placing recycling bins next to trash cans to encourage greener decision-making.
“Every hygiene patient receives a goodie bag with a toothbrush and toothpaste, but we use a greener alternative to the typical plastic bag that’s more biodegradable,” she said. “In addition to patient education resources displayed around the office, we also showcase our green initiatives so patients are aware of all the ways we are making a difference for the environment.”
Inspiring Team Members to Go Green
“If you’re planning a team-building exercise, why not do something more constructive?” suggested Pusillo, who is an avid volunteer. “My team opts for more practical events, such as planting trees before a happy hour or doing an annual beach cleanup on Earth Day. There are lots of ways to make it fun while incorporating sustainable practices that keep our environment clean and nice.”
