Sharing is my privilege: dental clinician and educator Michael J. Melkers

When Dr. Michael J. Melkers graduated from dental school, offers for postgraduate education were exploding. It was 1994, the beginning of the “Aesthetic Revolution”. Institutes, large for-profit meetings and continuums were popping up left and right and one could find plenty of continuing education. The thing was, one would not know much about it apart from print ads and word-of-mouth. No one was using the internet yet for this and social media was still five years away.

Today the landscape of postgraduate dental education is different. “Many of those courses are still around but they are peer-vetted in social media. Feedback and reviews actually happen during the courses. You can still find all of the continuing education that you want, but know you can find out everything about it – the good, the bad, the ugly – even what they are serving the attendees for lunch,” says Dr. Melkers, a clinician and a passionate educator. 

He was reporting on developments in dentistry education this June at the IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists and plans to come back to Riga next spring during Riga Stradiņš University Science Week to inspire dentistry students and clinical professionals not only from Latvia but also from Estonia and Lithuania. In a way he can be called the ambassador of non-traditional continuing education in dentistry. We caught up with Dr. Melkers to get a grasp of the latest trends and developments in this area.

These days one does not even need to leave one’s home or office to get quality continuing education in dentistry – both traditional and non-traditional, for example, on social media. What is the impact of these new ways of knowledge dissemination for clinical professionals?

Speaking of non-traditional continuing education, the dissemination in and on social media is rapid. It can also be overwhelming – there are so many new groups, podcasts and dental sites being introduced every day. I think that this holds great promise for dentists and patients alike. It is not, however, without its downsides. There are good sources and there are bad sources. I think the best sites that I participate in are well-intentioned, focused and moderated. The latter is critical. I have seen good sites turn into disasters by poor or absent moderation of members and discussions. It is sad to see on some sites how low people will stoop to troll and attack other professionals. You just do not see that in face-to-face interchange. On the flip side, a well moderated group is like the rising tide – it raises all ships. It inspires and is a great resource for all.

Nowadays when there are overwhelmingly many information channels, what is your own favourite continuing education source? 

My favourite professional social media site is Restorative Implant Practice Excellence: Full Protocol. It is a long name but everyone knows it as “RIPE.” RIPE was founded by Dr. Lincoln Harris in May, 2015. It started with a simple goal of sharing cases and techniques with no commercial influence. Without impressive “before and after” pictures but full protocol postings with descriptions.

From that humble beginning, aided by a growing group of volunteer moderators, RIPE has grown to over 65 000 members worldwide. Free continuing education, case support and constructive criticism – 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. It really shows no signs of slowing down either. You will find everyone there from dental students to international lecturers. They all must pass the same bar of commitment and protocol. From a young female dentist in Pakistan to an isolated dentist in rural USA, from Curitiba to Cairo, everyone has something to offer and learn.

As I gather, RIPE is a non-profit project. How is it “fuelled”? 

Dr. Lincoln Harris started up RIPE. He presented his vision and found people who shared that passion and commitment. He found strong and vocal advocates in his friends and colleagues. From there, RIPE has been supported by hand-picked, volunteer administrators and RIPE members – no dues, no fees. There is no advertising on the site. There is no commercial aspect. It is grass roots, word-of-mouth growth. For example, someone somewhere told someone in Tallinn and it took off. Dr. Alina Rusinova, a young prosthodontist there has quite a following – she is a RIPE administrator and has spread the word through the Baltics. RIPE has impressive growth in Lithuania, too, with Dr. Mindaugas Kudelis as a strong and vocal ambassador. RIPE growth has already reached into Latvia. It will continue to grow and flourish.

I really do not think that there is anything else like it in the world. The growth potential of this platform is limitless. It is a crowdsourcing of knowledge and expertise. We share successes, we share failures and we all benefit.

What other continuing education sources do you use?

Largely, hands-on courses and focused societies. I travel around the world not only teaching but taking courses. Last year, I travelled to Brazil and Sweden for surgical training. I plan to do so again this year. My go-to meeting for nearly 20 years has been the American Equilibration Society’s annual session in Chicago. I just finished my term as their editor. It is a great gathering of friends spanning back 60 years.

Like you just said – you travel the world teaching. How and when did you realise you had this urge to teach, to share your knowledge and what is in it for you? 

It is a long story but the first time I was asked to present, I was cold-called onto the stage at a meeting with no warning to share a case with my dental technician at the time, Matt Roberts. I was terrified. I was also exhilarated. That was the beginning.

Sharing is addictive. When I share, I help others learn and I learn. There is an energy and excitement in small group learning that does not come with reading books or attending large room lectures. Knowledge and professional interaction is rewarding and addictive. I am the clinician and educator that I am today because of impactful instructors who took the time to listen as well as share. It is that influence that moulded my own teaching and facilitation. The privilege that I have is sharing that influence and bringing those lessons forward.

Michael J. Melkers

Graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry, US, in 1994 
Serves as an Ad Hoc reviewer for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
Master of the Academy of General Dentistry 
Maintains a private clinical practice in Hanover, New Hampshire