Dr. Stokes started her practice in the Eugene area 20 years ago. Her first experience of leadership was joining the LCDS council as a director at large. She continued to volunteer on the council holding all leadership positions until she applied to be an ODA Trustee. Being involved at the state level gave Dr. Stokes the opportunity to interact with dentists all over the country and learn a lot from other ADA leaders. After taking a break from leadership roles, she was asked to join ODA’s new Leadership Development Committee which would help create leaders to fill needed leadership roles throughout Oregon. She served as the chair for a couple years.
After six years, Dr. Stokes is still a member of the ODA’s Leadership Development Committee. This committee continues to build leaders through the Oregon Dental Association Leadership Academy. Those who participate will get an inside look into the workings of the ODA, as well as develop leadership and interpersonal skills. Dr. Stokes said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed the leadership development committee, more than I ever thought I would. I couldn’t say enough words to encourage people to get involved.” After completing the academy, participants often find something they are interested in and start volunteering. In addition to volunteering for ODA, Dr. Stokes also started volunteering as a board member for Food for Lane County, utilizing her leadership skills to help her community.
Dr. Stokes said, “Volunteering with ODA is easier than people think!” Today the time commitment of participating as a leader in the ODA has become more streamlined with Zoom meetings and shorter in-person meetings, making the time commitment more manageable than it has been in the past.
If you want to apply for the 2023 leadership academy, applications need to be completed by December 2, 2022. More information and the application can be found here:
https://www.oregondental.org/about-us/leadership-governance/leadership-academy
