About Dental Seminars and Symposia


David and Vicky Crane are the founders and chief officers of Dental Seminars & Symposia. David D. Crane, DDS, a former member of the Wisconsin Board of Dental Examiners, maintains a private practice in Chippewa Falls, WI and does some consulting on digital dentistry. Vicky L. Crane, MA, a Past-President of the Wisconsin Council on Family Relations, is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Click here to read Vicky's story about the beginnings of DSS.
Linda Schmick (second from left) has worked for Travel Leaders (formally Chippewa Valley Travel Service) for over 26 years. Although she asserts she has no other life, she bowls, sings in her church choir, and enjoys family time with her husband Bob, now retired from teaching, but continuing to coach for the developmentally disabled. The family-oriented Schmicks enjoy spending time with their four adult children and their families. Linda now is showing off pictures of her first grandchild.
Robin Earsom joined our staff in 2007. Robin comes with a background in administrative support and seminar planning. Robin enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Cathy Feuling joined us in August 2007 to work with Robin in our administrative department. She and her husband Randy have two daughters. Cathy enjoys the YMCA, antiquing, and in her spare time helping her husband with their grape vineyard outside of Chippewa Falls.

Dental Seminars & Symposia , LLC, has provided continuing education and travel-related programs since 1979. The organization was created to review the educational needs of practicing dentists and to provide the most current, technically accurate information available. Practicing dentists are regularly surveyed to assess their needs. Dental universities in North America, professional dental organizations, and other knowledgeable parties are routinely queried to obtain the highly-credentialed speakers that are most appropriate for addressing requested and timely topics. Seminars have been conducted throughout the United States as well as twenty-eight annual seminars in Hawaii.

International continuing education and humanitarian endeavors are also an integral component of DS&S philosophy and activities. The board and staff acknowledge and appreciate the many benefits of pursuing respected and satisfying professions in a democratic nation with a multitude of educational, entrepreneurial, and service opportunities along with a relatively high standard of living. DS&S strives to serve the global international community while providing North American dentists the opportunity to learn about other cultures and develop relationships with colleagues in other countries. DS&S has organized and facilitated continuing education and humanitarian tours to the People's Republic of China, Bolivia, Brazil, Equator, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

DS&S has a reputation for providing highly-credentialed speakers, thorough coverage of the most current research, techniques, products, and issues in dentistry, and service to its participants and to society at large. Relevance and practicality are overriding goals. Topics are presented at locations that facilitate maximum learning in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. In addition to academic and technical expertise, speakers are generally selected for their ability to foster interest and enthusiasm in their topics.

The board of DS&S includes nationally respected advisors to assist the meeting of its high goals. Chief among these advisors are Dr. Robert Averbach, University of Colorado School of Dentistry and Dr. William Gregory, University of Michigan School of Dentistry.