About the Award
Dana Leach was President of SOMSA from 2017 to 2018. In February 2019, Dana passed away suddenly, while he was serving as Past President. During his six years on the SOMSA Board, his passion for the Society and his support of OMS administrators in all the roles they serve inspired much meaningful growth for our organization. In his own organization, Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery, Dana helped grow the practice from 7 offices to 20 throughout the Atlanta area under his 21 years of management.
In response to the passing of one of our great leaders, the Board created the Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award (DLAYA) to honor the way that Dana represented leadership in OMS practices.
Previous Honorees
2024
2023: Deon Johnston, MOSAIC – Maxillofacial Surgical Arts & Implant Ctr, New Port Richey, FL
2022: David Nye, Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Aiken, SC
2020: Julie Simpson, Southwest Florida Oral & Facial Surgery, Fort Myers, FL
Nomination Process
OMS practice administrators who are members of Society of OMS Administrators may be nominated by someone else or may self-nominate. Once nominated and eligibility is verified, the administrator will complete the application for consideration for the DLAYA.
The 2023 award recipient will be recognized at the Annual Conference with the honeycomb-shaped crystal award first posthumously presented to Dana in 2019 to recognize his leadership.
Click below to access the nomination form. Nominations are due Tuesday, March 5, 2024.<?p>
2024 Award Timeline
- February 26, 2024: Accepting nominations
- March 5: Nomination period ends
- Annual Conference: Award presented during conference
Selection Process
The DLAYA Committee (currently the Board; if you’re interested in serving on this committee, email Linden) will review applications once the application period is closed. The winner will be announced at the 2024 Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Sample Nomination
To nominate a SOMSA member for the Dana Leach Administrator of the Year Award, submit this survey. You will be asked to tell the award committee about the ways your nominee embodies THREE of the SIX SOMSA Core Values. The questions are below. These six values—leadership, education, authenticity, innovation, compliance, networking—are SOMSA’s core values and the values Dana represented as a leader.
We will ask the award winner to submit a head shot, a brief bio, and a career history.
The brief biography should be about 250 words and should highlight your work experience, but also give readers insight into who you are.
The career history could be a resume, but your it might also include certifications, volunteer experience, and other philanthropic work.
Leadership
OMS practice administrators serve special roles in leadership. They must lead all staff teams towards practice goals while also navigating their unique seat at the table with their doctors as they convey practice health and issues from staff to owners and partners. Share a story of how the nominee led their team to success in 2023 or 2024 in these ways.
Education
OMS practice administrators provide on-going education for their team and for themselves. They often facilitate meaningful continuing education for referrals as well. How has the nominee brought a unique educational opportunity to their team, themself, or their referrals in 2023 or 2024?
Authenticity
Maya Angelou said that “People will forget what you said, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Every great leader is authentic when they interact with even the most difficult of people. From interactions with doctors to staff to clients, being authentic can mean being vulnerable, but the result of this risk is often reward, whether that means clearer communication, better programs, stronger relationships, or loyal staff and customers. Share a story of how the nominee’s authenticity made a meaningful impact in 2023 or 2024.
Innovation
Practice administrators have to think outside the box to make intentional improvements in their practices for growth and profitability. Share a story about an innovation the nominee implemented in 2023 or 2024 and how it affected their practice.
Compliance
Exemplary practice administrators know that staying in compliance with laws and regulations means staff and patient safety, as well as protecting the practice from risk, even if this is a less exciting part of the job. Share a process or procedure the nominee implemented in 2023 or 2024 that demonstrates the emphasis they personally place on compliance.
Networking
Dana never met a stranger, and he and his friends were stronger because of it. SOMSA continues to thrive because of the exuberant way our members network at conferences and throughout the year, sharing ideas and strategies, and building relationships. Share a story from 2023 or 2024 of how the nominee helped someone or built a meaningful relationship that helped you, your practice, or their practice.