Following on from my previous blog posts about peer review and visiting other peoples practices I wanted to write a little bit about the ITI Study Clubs.
The International Team for Implantology has been in existence since 1980 and was founded by André Schroeder. His view and vision for the ITI was a community of clinicians and associated professionals who could improve implant dentistry for the benefit of patients.
2 years ago the ITI introduced the concept of the ITI Study Club worldwide. The aim is to have a network of clubs, at a size of no more than 30 and no less than 20, where individuals can meet and informally discuss issues surrounding implant dentistry. It should be sociable and friendly, not intimidating and welcoming to all. At the present time the ITI Study Clubs are based upon lectures but hopefully all of the lectures will be encouraging the clubs to have an informal peer review aspect to them.
Earlier this year I travelled to Belfast to Cranmore Dental Practice to speak at David Nelson’s ITI Study Club.
This was a real privilege for me as Cranmore has recently been awarded ‘Dental Practice of the year’ in the private dentistry awards and is held up as being one of the best practice in the UK.
Not only did I have the opportunity to meet David and his wife Brenda and to discuss all the woes and ups and downs of running a specialist dental practice but I also had the opportunity to see the practice and speak to his study club.
This was a fantastic opportunity given to me by the ITI and I hope it benefitted the people I spoke to at the study club.
Go on the ITI website now – www.iti.org and find out where your nearest study club is and sign up. Even if you’re not a member you are able to attend 1 or 2 meetings to check it out and I am sure you will like it.
The study club concept is absolutely fantastic .
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