Dr. Gale Kloeffler Award

Shalyn Robers has dedicated her career to supporting the dental profession. She began working for the Orange County Dental Society (OCDS) in 2007 and was promoted to Executive Director in October 2023. Her passion for dentistry started long before that. At just 16 years old, Shalyn began working in a dental office while taking front and back office courses and completing an internship in the Implant Department at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Those early experiences gave her a deep appreciation for every member of the dental team and the unique challenges faced by dental professionals.

When Shalyn stepped into the role of Executive Director, she knew one of her highest priorities would be member wellness. Dentistry is an incredibly rewarding profession, but it also comes with significant stress, burnout, financial pressures, and personal challenges. She believed that supporting the well-being of dental professionals was just as important as supporting their clinical excellence.

With the enthusiastic support of the OCDS Board of Directors and then-President Dr. Christina Do, Shalyn helped create the Society's first Wellness Retreat a program designed to provide meaningful education, connection, and support for dental professionals.

The inaugural retreat featured nationally respected speakers Dr. Brett Kessler, Dr. Matt Korn, and Dr. Eric Johnson, who highlighted the importance of wellness throughout organized dentistry and demonstrated how dentists can access support through their local, state, and national associations. Their message reinforced that no one in the profession has to face personal or professional challenges alone.

What truly set the Wellness Retreat apart was its interactive format. In addition to keynote presentations, attendees participated in small-group roundtable discussions where they could choose topics most relevant to their lives. Conversations included financial wellness, leadership and mindset, burnout prevention, alcohol and substance use recovery, and other personal and professional challenges. As the retreat has grown each year, so have the number of discussion topics and resources available to participants.

Recognizing that wellness involves both the mind and body, Shalyn also expanded the retreat to include experiential activities. Participants have enjoyed yoga, self-defense classes, energy healing, sound baths, and chair massages, creating opportunities to relax, recharge, and reconnect with themselves and their colleagues.

One of the most rewarding moments each year is watching attendees at the conclusion of the retreat. Many stay long after the program officially ends, continuing conversations and building new friendships. The atmosphere is filled with hope, encouragement, and renewed purpose. It is clear that participants leave feeling revitalized, equipped with practical tools, and inspired to bring healthier habits and new ideas back to their practices and teams.

Holding the Wellness Retreat each January was a deliberate decision. Beginning the year with a focus on personal well-being allows attendees to start with renewed energy, fresh perspectives, and actionable goals that positively impact both their professional and personal lives throughout the year.

Over time, the retreat has produced meaningful results. Members have shared stories of breakthrough moments, healthier workplace cultures, stronger leadership, and improved communication with their teams. Perhaps most importantly, conversations surrounding wellness, mental health, burnout, and recovery have become more open and accepted within the profession. Topics that were once considered taboo are now being discussed with compassion and understanding.

The impact of the program has extended far beyond Orange County. The Wellness Retreat welcomes both members and non-members, and attendees regularly travel from dental societies across California to participate. Last year, representatives from six different dental societies attended, with one participant even flying in for the day because they believed so strongly in the program's value.

For Shalyn, the retreat represents more than an annual event it represents a commitment to changing the culture of dentistry. By fostering connection, reducing stigma, and providing practical resources, she has helped create a community where dental professionals know they are supported not only as clinicians, but as people. Through her leadership, the Orange County Dental Society continues to demonstrate that when we invest in the wellness of our colleagues, we strengthen the entire profession.