Anne: Hello everyone. It's Anne Duffy and welcome to Dental Entrepreneur, the Future of Dentistry podcast. I'm so happy you're with me today. I'm honored to have this guest with me and let me tell you a little bit about him before we get started. As an incoming president of the Chicago Dental Society, Dr.
Philip. Schefke Clinical assistant is a professor at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Downers Grove in Illinois in the United States, and is leading preparations for a refreshed, Chicago Dental Society. Midwinter meeting the 2026 event to be held from February 19th.
Through the 21st at McCormick Place in Chicago and I will be there. Dr. Schefke. Welcome.
Philip: Thank you and it's great to be here and we really appreciate the opportunity to talk. We are very, very proud of our midwinter meeting. And the progress that we're making year after year. So we'd love to chat about that.
Anne: I love that you pivot. and I just, shout out to whoever is doing your website ' 'cause I, I looked at it before we got on and boy, that is a sharp website. It's very enticing and, it's very modern and I could see that you're really putting a lot of effort and money into that, which is huge for the, the conference.
Philip: Every year when the meeting is over, we do a survey and we ask many hundreds of people, and that was one of our concerns, was that it was not navigable before. And so we have put money and time into this to make it better for the attendees, for the speakers, and for the organization itself. And so if you go on that, it's, cds.org/mwm.
And you'll see for yourself, it's really just a fine product and again, we're very proud of it.
Anne: I'm, excited. I think Chicago mid winner in my mind now. I've, been in dentistry for only, you know, 50 years, I guess. But it is like the crown jewel of the conferences. You know, I've worked with a lot of speakers and, influencers, and that is the, uh, cherry on the cake, if you will.
Right to get that, opportunity to speak at Chicago mid winner. And from that, you have spawned so many careers in speaking because you look for the best.
everybody knows that you can find a good speaker scouting at Chicago mid winner.
Philip: I'll add other meetings. You know, Obviously there's, several other large meetings, if you gauge it by the number of scouts who show up to your meeting on a regular basis, we'll have 140 scouts coming to our meeting.
everybody knows that we put the effort in to find the finest people from across the country and across the globe to come and chat with our attendees.
Anne: Yes, I believe that. I really feel like that's the starting point and you do your homework and if you've spoken at Chicago mid winner that's pretty much good enough for any other meeting out there to, be able to scout that person and, which is very generous There's no scarcity mentality there. You know, like, it's not like they have to have all the best here. You can't have them. You were, so generous. Oh
Philip: yes.
Anne: With opening your doors to the scouts and to people that are putting on their own meetings
Philip: And you'll see this year Dr.
Bill Simon was my helper. He's also on the, lecture circuit as well, but he helped me, for years putting together this program and he has hit a grand slam. there are over 140 lectures. there are 250 combination of lectures, workshops, and panels. And if you can't find something that interests you, you're just not looking.
'cause we have taken care of not just the doctor and the specialist, but we're also looking for hygienists to have a fantastic meeting. And also for the assistants office managers, we have tried to make the meeting special for everyone.
Anne: that rings true for me because know, we were talking earlier, like I started Dental Entrepreneur Woman, and it's for every career path because every career path in dentistry makes the profession so much greater and everyone's important in that, wheel, right?
Correct.
Philip: right. So I'll just give you, I know as a hygienist you might like this. I'll give you a quick list of, we have Karen Davis will be there, Marissa Gora, Katrina Sanders, Amanda Hill, Laura Hooper. And that's just a sampling of some of the hygienists that we'll be having lecture. And we're looking forward to a great show for the hygienists.
And if I could plug Saturday lunchtime, we have a, luncheon set aside just for the hygienist on the exhibit floor, and it's a time for them to get together, collaborate and just relax in the company of other hygienists.
Anne: That's a great idea. I actually will be there and I'm gonna definitely attend that opportunity because, you know, I think sometimes we don't realize it has been growing the importance of your team, and I see that when I was looking at what you've got going on as far as content.
It is very focused on team building and giving a little bit to everybody because again you're shining a light on the importance of those opportunities. Right? So thank you for doing that. That is fantastic and
Philip: very pleased.
Anne: And as we were talking earlier, you know, women are typically.
In the dental hygiene role, but more and more women are graduating dentists, which is great to be able to work with a team and see that, that opportunity is growing for everyone. I love that you're, putting the content where it really is important.
So thank you for doing that.
Philip: Yes, my full-time job as an educator and yes, we do have over 60% of our classes now are women, so yeah.
Anne: That's incredible. Tell me a little bit about your background, because I think it's very cool that you're full-time in, academia we need people like you in academia.
And I, I'm very impressed with that. know you had a great career clinically, but tell me about how that came about for you. Becoming the president of the CDS and, this appointment.
Philip: Um, I graduated about 38 years ago, in the late eighties, and I did start my practice from scratch and I realized that I needed to get out and to be with the community of dentists.
So in Chicago, we're very blessed to have nine different branches and you, go to the one that meets your requirements for close to where you live or close to where your practice was. I became a member of what's called the South Suburban Branch, and
Anne: okay,
Philip: every month we get together, we have CE and we have camaraderie, and I learned more from the hour before the meeting and the time spent afterwards when we would s.
Chitchat for maybe an hour or two after the meeting. I learned about what it's like to be a dentist, what needs to be done, how it can be managed, and there were some fantastic leaders in that group and I wanted to be like them. And so I kept showing up. And as I kept showing up, they said, well, you need to be a dinner chairman.
And then years later you become the president. And then after that there's always a, stepping stone. And people had trust in me. I said, if you have trust in me, I will do it. And every turn I went. Another blessing came. It was just opportunity after opportunity to do better and to be better in the society and in the nation.
You know, I was on a DA councils the ISDS, the state. I was a, a trustee with them, and you learn. You expand your collegial footprint and I can't tell you how rewarding it is to walk through the midwinter and every 10 feet, someone stops you to say hello and you can hug each other and you can reminisce, and it's like you just catch up like you saw them yesterday.
You can't replace that feeling. No. And I try to tell my students that if you don't do this, you are gonna miss a big part of your career that could certainly do that. And I know now everyone thinks they can get everything online.
Anne: Mm-hmm.
Philip: And you can accomplish that. But I'm telling you, there's nothing like a person face-to-face working towards a common goal.
It's so satisfying.
Anne: I totally agree with you. I love that so much. If you want a great career in dentistry, you've gotta show up A couple things you said, you said yes, you showed up, you dipped in. And it reminds me a lot of the hym, and I love the hymn 'cause it's in my neck of the woods. I'm in Charlotte, North Carolina, I've seen the careers be so that they love dentistry because you're right, it's the belly to belly.
They say that in the chair, you gotta be belly to belly, right. But the same thing is true. Just communication and the networking. That's where the magic happens, right? Right. And you have to be present. Right? to, you can't just do it on a screen. Some of that is good. But there's nothing like this that you're actually, you're giving this opportunity to them without a silver platter come and join us.
Right,
Philip: right. I'm gonna try to go over a couple of the things that, CDS has done. So, we talked about the hygienist opportunity. I believe it's on Friday. We have a Wisconsin breakfast because Wisconsin no longer has a meeting. They're right across the border.
We're like, yeah, let's have a breakfast for just you. And then that's it. For years we've been providing a Wisconsin breakfast. We have a happy hour on Friday afternoon on the exhibit floor, which has been very popular. We have a student dentist, gathering on Friday afternoon.
Historically, we get between five and 600 students from across the country at our reception. we have the hygienist luncheon. mm-hmm. We have this year an international lounge. You may not know this, but we have often about 65 to 70 countries represented at the midwinter.
And so this year we're gonna give them their own lounge where they can recharge and refresh and charge their phones. And also the early career dentist we used to have a reception for them, but we've decided to give them their own lounge. On the exhibit floor.
Anne: Wow.
Philip: They'll be able to connect with their peers and have a, refresh and recharge opportunity.
And, we want this to be a destination. We want them to say, I can't wait till next year. And a lot of people say that but we're putting things in place that people want people request. if you've ever been there, if you're a Starbucks, you know, there's always a line for the coffee.
GMT20260108-180914_Recording_gallery_1280x720: Yeah.
Philip: Well, we addressed that. We now are gonna have kiosks on the exhibit floor for refreshments, coffee grab and go, so we don't have to be away from the floor as much as we in the past had to have. So,
Anne: yeah,
Philip: we've listened and we're, doing things that are very, very positive.
Anne: you just named so many things that like, I'm excited about to come because I've been in that line before, and that's really cool that you're pivoting and you've listened and you've put an answer in there because that's what you want.
That's what a host does. Yes. Honestly, Dr. Sheey. it's that you are being gracious host. And one of the things I like to tell people when they come be a host yourself. Yeah. You know, host your friends. Invite your friends in. If somebody's thinking about this, I can't think of a better opportunity for a young dentist or even somebody that, you know, burnout is a big word now.
Philip: Oh sure.
Anne: But get there and feel the buzz because there's so much. Buzz on the exhibitor floor. So much buzz after you just learn something new and dentistry changing so much and your, speaker lineup is bringing all that information yes in one spot
Philip: and it'll shake off the doldrums of perhaps your career.
And you'll see that there can be excitement on a daily basis. We've tried to make everything so easy for people in fact. You know, I know parking is always a problem at McCormick Place. Yeah. And if you don't get there early, it's a fiasco. But if you'd rather take a train, we have free bus shuttles from Union Station or the Ogilvy Station, and they'll bring you right to McCormick Place.
And that bus will take you right back to the train station at no charge. And that's good for your staff as well. And make it an event,
you know,
Anne: The other thing that I love about Chicago mid winter is and if you're a dentist and listening to this, bring your team.
I think that is so valuable. Sure. To have that team time around dentistry and around the excitement of dentistry. 'cause when you get back on Monday morning, that's when you're gonna have the implementation, right. Is if you bring your team and everybody's on board versus just having the dentist come back and say, this is what we're gonna do.
Philip: So the dentist may come back energized for change, but then the staff has no investment but if everybody goes, they will help carry. That office further than they would ever imagine. And so without the staff being with you, it's a huge detriment for sure.
Anne: Oh, yes. And especially some of the speakers that you just named, and then when I was looking at the list, I mean, they're gonna get you fired up for dentistry and people are still recovering from the pandemic. Let's just be frank about that.
Sure. And, This is a great opportunity to get excited about dentistry. It's such a great profession, and we certainly want all the people that are in dentistry right now to be energized about it because the future's so bright. What else of technology is that a big deal this year for you? I'm sure?
Philip: Oh, obviously everything is churning on the floor. We have, 40 or 45 new exhibitors because obviously old things are disappearing and the new technology is ramping up. And it really is amazing. We have a more expansive floor this year. Like I said, we've got different stations and kiosks throughout resting stations.
we're gonna have Illinois Masonic Hospital. They're gonna have their, mobile van on the exhibit floor, so you can see what they do from our communities throughout Chicago. we have a new reimagined CDS store where we will do the, customary headshots for everybody, but we also will have some swag available.
We have a CDS foundation that will be represented. And by the way, the CDS Foundation manages a free clinic in one of the suburbs of Chicago, and I might say that's the only dental society in the country, which manages a free clinic. For the community.
Anne: Wow. And
Philip: we're, again, we're very proud of the uh, Chicago Dental Society Foundation.
They do wonderful work throughout the community.
Anne: That's so beautiful.
Philip: We have a mascot. Have you ever seen the mascot Wander Brown?
Anne: Yeah, I have seen the mascot, but tell us about it.
Philip: His name is Hadley. Hadley was the name of our very first president in 1865. Mine, oh
Anne: my gosh.
Philip: We've been doing this for a long time.
But Hadley our mascot. We are gonna have a puppy pound petting station on the exhibit floor. So when you get a little tired and you need a pick me up, you can go play with these puppies. I've seen it at other meetings and I'm telling you, they draw a crowd. Who doesn't love puppies.
Right?
Anne: Who doesn't love puppies. I know.
GMT20260108-180914_Recording_gallery_1280x720: So
Philip: that's, that's gonna be something that we have also on the floor.
Anne: How fun. I think you've addressed just about anything. Anything else
Philip: that
Anne: where you're excited? Oh, no,
Philip: no. And we're not done.
Anne: Keep going,
Philip: in Chicago, we have a great meeting.
We're very serious about continuing education, but we also like to have fun. And so on Thursday afternoon, we have a keynote speaker. His name is Chris Chelios. Unfortunately a lot of the students don't know who that is, but he played for the Chicago Blackhawks and for the Detroit Red Wings. Uh, he's a Chicago native.
He's gonna talk to us about his career in hockey and he's gonna stick around for an autograph session afterwards. We're looking forward to that. We have a DJ event on Friday night after the lecturers are completed right there attached to McCormick Place. We have a ballroom. We're gonna have beats and bites where food, beverage, and a dj.
And last year it was phenomenally successful. And of course we ended with a very formal dinner dance on Saturday. Open to everyone and it's a great time on Saturday evening. So. Combining all of those opportunities it is a cannot miss. And I might mention that if you are a Chicago, dental Society member, registration is free.
unlike some meetings as a member, it's a free registration. And, on top of that, someone who might be in, say, North Carolina, if you wanna be a member, there's an associate member category, which, I believe $125. Will create a category for you as an associate member, and you get all the benefits of CDS membership.
So, it is an unbelievable value for anyone who is outside the Chicago boundary. Become an associate member. It couldn't be simpler.
Anne: Oh my gosh. That's, I'm so glad that we're having this discussion today because I've learned a lot about Chicago Midwinter and what you're doing and how fabulous that somebody from North Carolina where I live can come and, be an associate and then have all the benefits.
that's very gracious. Very hospitable. so tell me how do you register? the easiest part? Go, go to the website. We're gonna have all that in the show notes.
Philip: CC
Anne: dr s.org.
Philip: There is a link on that, but you can go, cds.org/mwm takes you right to the website.
Anne: Okay. and let me ask you this as a final question.
Where do you see the future of dentistry going?
Philip: I, I would hope that it maintains the path of. On the professional side, the collegiality. Mm-hmm. I'd like to see that. That's very important to me. It always has been a, a cornerstone of my career to be in a collegial, society. But also I'd like to see the powers that be, the governmental intrusions, the insurance intrusions kind of wash away because when it comes down to it, as you know.
A doctor patient or a hygienist patient relationship is a very intimate relationship. Mm-hmm. And it cannot be governed by rules, regulations, and, restrictions. And so we have to preserve that, right. For our dentists to do the work that they want to do and how they want to do it. Oh, unfortunately, you know, in the world today, everything is been broken down into, you know, work, 12 minutes to do this, four minutes to do that, we need to slow down because we're healthcare professionals and we are taking care of a human being, and we should never, ever lose sight of that.
Anne: That is the goal.
And I think that the people that show up in Chicago and winter will, Buy into that, and we have bought into that, but we need each other to, continue that journey.
Philip: Absolutely. A hundred percent. Yeah. And, and, and I can't thank you enough for the opportunity that you've given to me and it's been a pleasure and I'll be looking forward to seeing you there at the meeting.
Anne: I'm looking forward to seeing you as well. And congratulations. I think this is gonna be the best Chicago mid winner ever and I'll look forward to seeing you. if you're listening to this, everybody get your ticket. I'll see you. If you see me on the floor, give me a hug and no matter what.
Keep doing you. Thanks everybody for joining us today, and I'll see you in Chicago.
