American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists www.aadej.org 10 FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dateline February 4, 2025 — Breaking news in the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida — “For the first time, the prestigious Michelin Guide, the most well-known and respected authority on restaurants in the world, will recognize dining establishments in the St. PeteClearwater region.”1 All major news outlets shared this tidbit of juicy news that is setting area gourmets’ hearts aflutter with anticipation of displaying those coveted stars. This seems like a small crumb of notoriety in this region’s massive amount of eateries. But, the recognition can lead to much more. “This inclusion now gives us the chance to show off our award-winning beaches and award-worthy culinary experiences as we set out to change the perception of what beach cuisine can be,” said Visit St. PeteClearwater CEO and President Brian Lowack.2 What does this tasty tidbit of information have to do with dental editors and writers? It made me think of the Certified Dental Editor (CDE) designation sponsored by the AADEJ. Like the Michelin status motivates restaurants to stand out and innovate among their peers, the process of attaining CDE encourages dental editors and journalists to maintain high standards of excellence and ethics and continue to discover new writing, editing, and design skills. By developing our dental editing and writing expertise through CE, we can provide even more award-worthy publications and articles and expand the boundaries of traditional dental publishing. How to Get CDE Designation? Our individual capabilities are increased by the innovative ideas learned during the required 30 hours of continuing education in writing, editing, layout and design, editorial leadership, and communications. These hours must be completed within four years of notifying the AADEJ of your intent to apply for CDE, but by attending three AADEJ Annual Conferences in a row, you can receive the 30 CE hours needed for the coursework.3 For those who cannot attend all of the conferences, there are other ways to gather CE credits in the specified subject areas, such as ADA CEs, AADEJ webinars, or other educational opportunities from certified courses in approved subjects. The CDE credential after your name in your masthead or on your business card shows that you are open to new ideas, fresh outlooks, and continuous professional improvement. It distinguishes you from among your peers and from the competition who are vying for assignments or jobs in the dental editing or writing field. It shows publications that you value education and are willing to expend the energy to explore and achieve more throughout your professional journey. Obtaining my CDE in 2020 gave me more credibility among colleagues, developed my skills as an efficient editor, writer, and team leader, and gave me the confidence to feel a meaningful connection with the most creative, motivated, respected, experienced people in dental editing and writing. I am not a dentist, but for more than two decades, I have been obsessed with all things dental. (If you count marrying my dentist-husband 39 years ago, that would even be longer!) Those years have been filled with poring over dental manuscripts, deciphering X-rays, negotiating with peer reviewers and authors, and constantly being amazed by the latest breakthroughs in dentistry. But for me, until 2020, there was an ingredient missing. After 25 years in the business, achieving the CDE designation and knowing that I am a part of AADEJ’s 90-year legacy of dental publication excellence is the icing on my cake — and like those restaurants in Florida, I feel confident that with the additional credibility brought by CDE, I too, have the potential to reach for the stars. Certified Dental Editor — The Icing on the Cake Mali Schantz-Feld, MA, CDE
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