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For the Dental Industry

    
 

Lisa Newburger, aka Diana Directive, is a TMJ queen with a “big mouth.” As a speaker, she tackles topics that other speakers do not want to address. Her long history in the dental chair has given her a bird’s eye view of what goes on in a dental practice. Her humor illustrates and addresses problems that might make you cringe. But that's ok. This style has been very successful with her published articles that have led to an international following. With a Master’s degree in clinical social work, she has an understanding of human behavior. She will drive home motivation for dental professionals to take action to resolve problems in an entertaining fashion.

Workshop Topics

  • Mean Girls in the Workplace- How to Deal with Them
  • 10 Things You Can Never Say to Your Patients
  • What Do Your Patients Really Think of You?
  • Balance This! Family and Work...The Ultimate Juggle
  • Difficult Dental Patients -.How to Get THEM to Change Their Behavior
  • But…It Was a Joke! Tolerance in the Workplace
  • Cocky, Arrogant, and Confident- Why This is Important on the Job

Articles About Lisa Newburger

December 1, 2020
Top 10 Modern Hygienist Articles of 2020
Modern Hygienist

February 13, 2015
A smile about patient satisfaction
RDH Magazine

Articles by Lisa Newburger

Published in Dental Products Report

August 25, 2023 A Response to Tragic News Story of Murder by Dentist
August 11, 2023 Domestic Abuse: How to Be an Ally
July 14, 2023 What Not to Say in a Dental Job Interview
June 12, 2023 Getting Real in a Dental Office
June 6, 2023 How to Navigate Difficult Caregiving Systems
May 19, 2023 How Toxic Are You?
May 9, 2023 Your Inner Beauty...Do You See It?
April 24, 2023 What Goes on in the Back Office of a Dental Practice?
April 6, 2023 Thank You Dental Assistants for Sharing Your Stories
March 21, 2023 Managing Stress While Working in a Dental Practice
March 20, 2023 Money and a Dental Practice: Staff Salaries from a Recruiters Perspective
February 21, 2023 What is your brand?
February 1, 2023 Being Respectful of Patient's Pain in the Dental Practice
January 16, 2023 The Myth of Work/Life Balance in Dentistry
January 3, 2023 What I Love About Working in the Dental Field
December 8, 2022 It's Time to Make Peace Both Personally and Professionally
December 6, 2022 Don't Let Holiday Spending Put You In a Deep Hole
November 16, 2022 10 Most Important Things You Are Thankful For
November 15, 2022 What is Your Superpower in the Dental Practice?
November 10, 2022 Flexibility May Just Solve Your Dental Staffing Problem
October 24, 2022 Dealing with Negativity in the Dental Practice
October 5, 2022 Surprise: You Are Out of a Job
September 14, 2022 4 Perspectives on The Hiring Nightmare in Dentistry
September 8, 2022 Has the #ME Too movement helped shift culture in the dental practice?
July 13, 2022 What are you doing to help someone?
August 16, 2022 Building Your Confidence as a Dental Professional
July 12, 2022 Incarceration could be in your dental family
June 21, 2022 Addressing Global Events and Stress in the Dental Practice
May 25, 2022 The Sounds of Dentistry
May 12, 2022 Do No Harm as a Mantra for the Dental Practice
May 11, 2022 Keeping a Healthy Work Environment in a Dental Practice
April 21, 2022 What Not to do When Looking for a job in the Dental Industry
March 31, 2022 Using Job Websites to Efficiently Staff the Dental Practice
March 23, 2022 Connecting Ethics in a Dental Practice and in Life
March 8, 2022 How the Outside World Affects Us Inside the Dental Practice
March 7, 2022 Drawing the Line: Flirting in the Dental Office

January 24, 2022

 Understanding Fear in a Dental Practice
January 13, 2022 Managing Anxiety when Navigating the COVID-19 Omicron Variant
December 10, 2021 Finding Ways to Show Gratitude
November 17, 2021 The Right Company Culture for Your Practice
November 8, 2021 Understanding Your Personal Biases
October 26, 2021 Trust can be the Elephant in the Room (or Practice)
September 20, 2021 Newbie in the dental office
September 2, 2021 Dear Dental Hygienists: Isn’t it Time to Value Ourselves Properly?
August 18, 2021 Experiencing Post Traumatic Stress disorder in a Dental Office
August 4, 2021 Patients Answer the Question Why I Hate My Dentist
July 19, 2021 31 Reasons Why I Love my Dentist
June 30, 2021 What is Anxiety-Free Dentistry?
June 15, 2021 4 Ways to Solve Employee Problems in Your Dental Office
May 27, 2021 For Chronic Jaw Pain, Acupuncture May Provide Relief
May 21, 2021 What is the Story with Your Stress Level?
April 28, 2021 Discussing Addiction Responsibly in the Dental Field
April 12, 2021 3 Different Shades of Rudeness You May encounter in a Dental Practice
April 5, 2021 Should  my dental practice have a mobile app?
March 24, 2021 Why I Stayed On as a Dental Hygienist
March 9, 2021 Dear Periodontist, Thank You
February 22, 2021 Money and Upselling in the Dental Practice
February 5, 2021 The Divided States: Politics in the Practice
February 4, 2021 The Stigma of Asking For Help
January 6, 2021 Enough about COVID-19, let’s talk about your future instead
December 22, 2020 Stay Positive and Test Negative
December 17, 2020 What are you grateful for?
December 8, 2020 Making smart choices during the pandemic
November 16, 2020 Gaining weight during a pandemic
October 29, 2020 What will happen next?
October 5, 2020 It’s Critical to be responsible about COVID-19 outside the dental practice
September 21, 2020 Compassion Needed for the Dental Patient
September 8, 2020 Human Interaction in a dental office
September 3, 2020 Let’s not forget the dental patient
August 5, 2020 Mental health concerns during a pandemic
August 4, 2020 Balancing a career and parenting will be a challenge this fall
June 30, 2020 Podcast Episode 21: Reopening Anxiety
March 27, 2020 Fostering the Dreams of Dentistry’s Future
March 17, 2020 Living in a COVID-19 Pandemic
March 6, 2020 Are you a good boss?
February 18, 2020 Marketing advice for the small dental practice
February 4, 2020 What you need to know when working with mental health issues
January 9, 2020 Reasons I love my dentist
January 9, 2020 15 self-assessment questions to ask yourself
December 10, 2019 Cancer in a Dental Practice: How to handle a diagnosis on your team
August 29, 2019 Are you satisfied with the status quo?
November 5, 2018 10 Behaviors that need to change in your dental office
April 16, 2018 7 reasons to respect a hygienist
March 13, 2018 How much drama is in your dental practice?
January 24, 2018 #MeToo in the dental practice
November 9, 2017 5 ways to ensure your dental staff has a great holiday season
October 30, 2017 The best way to ensure you hear "you're hired!"
October 16, 2017 The top 5 things you never want to hear a patient say
October 4, 2017 The top 5 things patients NEVER want to hear a dentist say
September 18, 2017 The Best Ways to Help Dental-Phobic Patients
August 24, 2017 8 Ways to Make Your Waiting Room "The Place to Be"
July 20, 2017 Do you really want THAT dental job?
June 21, 2017 Do your patients trust you?
May 8, 2017 How to manage the employee you hate
March 24, 2017 The top five types of things patients hate but don't want to tell you
February 21, 2017 How much DRAMA is in your dental practice?
January 23, 2017 Are you bored to death in the dental practice?
January 12, 2017 Secrets of a dental mystery patient
June 27, 2016 The top 8 most embarrassing dentist/patient situations
January 26, 2016 What team members need to know when concerned about the financial health of the practice
December 22, 2015 The top 30 pet peeves you told us about your coworkers
November 18, 2015 5 ways to handle a challenging boss in the dental practice
November 13, 2015 What is the first impression your new dental patient has of you?
June 4, 2015 The nasty truth about sexual harassment in the dental practice

Published in Modern Hygienist

June 18, 2020 Mindreading in a dental practice
May 27, 2020 Control in the time of a pandemic
May 12, 2020 Coping with reopening anxiety
April 14, 2020 Helping others through COVID-19
April 1, 2020 COVID-19 and self-care
November 20, 2019 Are you being bullied in the dental practice?
September 18, 2019 The job search: A roller coaster of a ride
August 7, 2019 Always the bridesmaid, never the bride
July 12, 2019 Eating disorders and dental care
May 23, 2019 11 ways to deal with a bad boss
May 7, 2019 How starting a conversation can save a life
April 17, 2019 What is Moral Injury?
April 1, 2019 5 reasons to love your job
March 19, 2019 10 things every dental professional needs to know
February 11, 2019 Are you a victim of ageism?
January 29, 2019 Is there a bully at your dental office?
December 10, 2018 How to build confidence to stand up for yourself
December 4, 2018 Are you on overdrive this holiday season?
November 21, 2018 Are your grooming habits causing a stink at the office?
October 15, 2018 Do you love your job?
September 19, 2018 How to handle sexual harassment in the dental practice
August 27, 2018 Do You know how to communicate effectively?
August 16, 2018 The secret to networking
June 16, 2018 Should you go to work if you’re sick?
June 19, 2018 Why you need to support your co-workers
May 10, 2018 How to handle emotions in the dental practice
February 12, 2018 What are you doing with your life?
November 21, 2017 25 ways to handle money worries during the holiday season
August 28, 2017 5 Worst Ways to Ask for a Raise
June 13, 2017 The importance of ergonomics for hygienists—and what dentists can do to help
May 23, 2017 How to deal with a boss you hate
May 27, 2016 How Valuable Are You To Your Practice?

Published in Dental Practice Management

January 9, 2020 How to hire the best employees
October 24, 2019 Food and Stress: 10 tips for managing eating in the workplace
October 22, 2019 5 ways to bring you dental team together
October 14, 2019 Are dental consultants clueless or beneficial?
August 6, 2019 What is your superpower?
June 17, 2019 16 ways to get new patients
May 2, 2019 Moral Injury Responses in the Dental Industry
January 16, 2019 How to set boundaries in your dental practice
September 27, 2018 How to handle rebellious employees
July 25, 2018 Is new employee onboarding really necessary?
May 29, 2018 How to deal with lazy employees
March 29, 2018 How to Handle Mental Health Issues in the Dental Practice
March 14, 2018 Why Confidence is important in a dental practice
January 11, 2018 5 ways to advance your career in 2018
December 21, 2017 6 New Year’s resolutions your dental staff wishes you’d make
December 13, 2017 7 rules to remember when giving your employees gifts
June 1, 2017 The top 8 worst types of patients in the waiting room
August 26, 2016 What kind of boss are you?
April 17, 2016 More on the 4 reasons this dental patient left your practice
April 3, 2016 The 4 reasons this dental patient left your practice
October 15, 2015 Why your boss is lucky to have you as a part of the dental practice
September 8, 2015 How you often react (and how you should react) when you're fired from the dental practice
July 23, 2015 8 important etiquette rules for the chronic cell phone user
July 16, 2015 3 non-financial ways to prepare for retirement
April 15, 2015 Why women don't get along in dental practices
February 19, 2015 The 7 most annoying things about your dental practice's waiting room
October 28, 2014 The myth of work-life balance? It's nonsense, says one dental hygienist
September 30, 2014 3 ways to manage your personal problems while at work in the dental practice
August 29, 2014 The 5 worst things overheard at a dental practice
August 8, 2014 3 ways to prevent the destruction of your dental practice
July 11, 2014 The 5 worst things that can happen when a patient walks into your dental practice
June 24, 2014 The top 10 things patients think when they are sitting in your dental chair
June 6, 2014 Top 10 things you can think but never say to a dental patient
(Read congratulations letter from the editor when this article went viral!)
May 21, 2014 Viewpoint from a dental patient: Why you must talk to your patients about pain
April 21, 2014 How to clear the negativity out of your dental practice

Published in DentistryIQ

May 18, 2017 My big fat lie … Can there really be work/life balance in the dental world?
January 18, 2017 'I hate this dental patient.' You aren't alone
December 14, 2016 That casual conversation outside the practice can’t drive away dental patients. Can it?
September 21, 2016 This is a tough one: Do you lie while you're at work at your dental practice?
August 17, 2016 Mouth problems lead to "authentic" interaction with dentist: Are you authentic?
July 20, 2016 This might surprise you about HIPAA and your dental practice
March 23, 2016 Some dental consultants don’t have a clue: Are you one of them?
January 14, 2016 How much money do you make in your position in the dental practice?
November 11, 2015 Is interviewing for jobs in the dental field like dating?
September 28, 2015 An open letter to Dr. Palmer from a 'patient'
September 24, 2015 Thursday Troubleshooter: Dental team not entirely on board with unique scheduling solutions
August 27, 2015 Thursday Troubleshooter: Dental assistant's entitlement issues have gotten way out of hand
August 18, 2015 What NOT to do as boss of a dental practice
July 9, 2015 Lines patients use when they 'break up' with the dental practice
June 25, 2015 Thursday Troubleshooter: Handling two-faced coworkers in the dental practice
June 10, 2015 A plea to fire that awful dental office employee!
June 4, 2015 Thursday Troubleshooter: Dealing with very difficult patients
May 7, 2015 Thursday Troubleshooter: This dental office manager really needs help managing her stress
April 21, 2015 4 ways to manage a happy dental practice (that you may not want to hear)
March 17, 2015 10 things patients want from a dental practice
December 10, 2014 We all make mistakes! Own up to yours and fix them for the benefit of your dental practice
November/December, 2014 Quoted in APEX Inspiration placement in APEX360
October 20, 2014 The newbie in the dental practice
September 15, 2014 Are your prejudices interfering with patient care?
August 11, 2014 Heather read an article on DIQ, reached out to Lisa, and lives changed forever for the better
July 22, 2014 Are you terrified to look for a dental job?
June 16, 2014 How to get rid of the "slacker" in your dental practice
May 14, 2014 Treat dental patients as you want to be treated
March 19, 2014 Manage UP – 3 ways to manage your difficult boss in the dental office
February 19, 2014 Do you have a drinking problem?
December 13, 2013 A "party girl" reputation isn't good for a dental professional
November 20, 2013 Are you bored in the dental office? Do you want a more rewarding job?
October 25, 2013 Make your dental office atmosphere fun
September 24, 2013 5 Tips to Getting that Dream Job in the Dental Practice
July 10, 2013 What all dental personnel must know, Part II
February 26, 2013 What all dental personnel must know to insure good patient care
December 3, 2012 Money talks: Tips to help dental assistants plan for the future
September 21, 2012 5 ways to deal with a bad boss
July 23, 2012 The homework behind asking for a raise
June 21, 2012 The politics of dentistry ... from a patient's perspective
May 23, 2012 A guaranteed way to lower your stress level
April 6, 2012 Diana talks about directives, part 13
March 16, 2012 Building confidence: 5 tips your mother should have told you
February 14, 2012 Mean girls in the workplace: how to deal with them
January 18, 2012 Was it flirting or harassment?
January 11, 2012 Diana talks about directives, part 12
November 17, 2011 6 tips to help you deal with hostile and obnoxious patients
October 27, 2011 5 steps for dental assistants with money issues
September 26, 2011 Diana talks about directives, part 11
May 18, 2011 Diana talks about directives, part 10
April 11, 2011 Diana talks about directives, part 9
February 21, 2011 Suicidal signs in your staff
January 19, 2011 Diana talks about directives, part 8
December 27, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 7
November 22, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 6
November 8, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 5
September 8, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 4
August 23, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 3
June 17, 2010 Diana talks about directives, part 2
June 15, 2010 Diana talks about directives

Presentations and Workshops by Lisa Newburger

Presentation to California Association of Dental Assisting Teachers

 

 

  

To schedule keynotes and workshops, contact:

Lisa Newburger
440.591.8091
lisa@discussdirectives.com

"I read probably 15 of yours back to back...and it truly inspired me!"

Elicia Lupoli RDH, BSDH

"I find myself laughing at her articles each and every time, lol. It's a great article... very controversial."

Kyle Summerford
Editorial Director
PennWell Dental Division

"As an author for several of our newsletters and website, her writing is always well read and well received. Lisa's ability to connect with readers on a variety of topics with her conversational style of writing has been a big hit. I'm glad to have her as part of my editorial team."

Kevin Henry
Group Editorial Director
Advanstar Dental Media

"Lisa speaks to the heart of our daily conflicts without being too confrontational about it. She helps us understand our relationships within our professional lives, blending in humor and plenty of light-bulb moments."

Mark Hartley
Editor
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Magazine

"Lisa grabs readers and keeps hold of them with her insights and humor regarding the world of dental. With an intact sense of humor and her wisdom of office relationships, she guides our readers through some of life's tough situations."

Meg Kaiser
Associate Editor
PennWell Dental Division

"... offers a wealth of information and knowledge. .. adds her special sense of humor and wit."

Rick Adelstein
Dentist
Drs. Obermeier, Adelstein & Associates

"Lisa's dedication to help me… changed my life. Her uncanny ability to connect with audiences has created a large following on a national scale."

Heather May
Bartender/student
Mark' Cotton Club

"I really enjoy your articles. They are really straightforward, informative, and apply to a lot of situations I have encountered in the dental office. Looking forward to the next one."

Chelsea Metzger
Receptionist
Advance Smile Dentistry

 

 

 

 

  
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