Richard – Why You Should Go to NLC?
Richard – Why You Should Go to NLC?

Richard – Why You Should Go to NLC?

By Richard Shen

Want to meet dental students from across the country and attend session focusing on personal and professional develop? Attend NLC! National Leadership Conference is an annual three-day meeting hosted by ASDA in Chicago, IL. 

ASDA offers a wide range of sessions that cover career planning, personal development and wellness, advocacy, leadership fundamentals, and cutting-edge technology. One of my most favorite sessions was “New Techniques in Dental Photography,” a topic that I was very interested in but had not yet learned in school. 

Beyond the halls of the conference center and after the sessions have concluded for the day, various dental companies host great social events. There is always a great boat cruise on the lake filled with food and dancing. Companies will rent out various bars and clubs throughout downtown Chicago as well. 

The best part of the conference for me was the opportunity to meet other dental students and make connections with them. I went as a predental student in 2016 and connected with a number of predentals that I would later meet in 2019 with all of us as dental students. It’s great to meet people during the day then hang out with them later that night at the various social events. I even became closer with other Boston-area dental students. 

Regardless of class year, I highly recommend that you attend NLC. It was definitely one of my highlights of 2019.