For office manager Joshuah Moreno, AADOM membership has brought a community, a classroom, and a fast track to the leader he always hoped to be
Before joining A Family Dental Practice in Corona, CA, as a treatment coordinator, Joshuah Moreno worked at a much smaller single-doctor practice. So when he was promoted to office manager—now overseeing 18 employees at the large multispecialty practice—he knew he had to immerse himself in office management culture to become the leader he strove to be.
After doing some research, it became clear that joining the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM) was the perfect way to do that. Practice owner Dr. Suhail Beguwala agreed. He was already familiar with AADOM, and was thrilled when Moreno asked if he could join.
“We thought, it’s a great opportunity. This is perfect,” Dr. Beguwala recalled. “We have someone who actually wants to be part of AADOM and learn and grow with the practice.”
Jumping Right In
Moreno joined AADOM last December, and didn’t waste any time getting started. He’s been active on the membership forum and is already working toward becoming an AADOM Fellow (FAADOM), a decision that has helped him evolve “in many different areas as a leader.”
He’s learning how to navigate the different personalities he encounters every day —one of the biggest challenges an office manager faces—while sharpening the many skill sets needed for the role.
Moreno recently attended his first AADOM conference alongside Dr. Beguwala, who described the conference as a “fantastic experience” with great classes and phenomenal speakers. Dr. Beguwala enjoyed the camaraderie among AADOM members and, as one of the few dentists in attendance, was never made to feel like an outsider.
After the conference, Moreno came back “fired up” and ready to start implementing what he had learned right away, Dr. Beguwala said. It takes “a certain type of leader” to do that, which was exactly what the doctor hoped to see.
In a short time, Dr. Beguwala has seen the value AADOM has brought to his practice and how much Moreno has grown as a leader. He will continue to be involved, and suggests other dentists do the same.
“Every little aspect of AADOM has the opportunity to change how we do something in our practice,” he said. “It's not just another accolade to add to our initials. There really is a community here, and I think more dentists should be part of it.”
A Rewarding Experience
Moreno gladly recommends AADOM membership to his colleagues, and said the experience has been incredibly rewarding.
“One thing I truly appreciate about AADOM is there is always room to grow,” he said. “The videos that I watch, the webinars I participate in, I feel like it’s been nothing but growth.”
