American Board of Orthodontics
401 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63141-7839
800-853-6130
www.americanboardortho.com
NEWS RELEASE
May 5, 2020
Dr. P. Emile Rossouw Elected to Serve on the Board of Directors of The American Board of Orthodontics
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) House of Delegates in a virtual meeting on May 1 elected P. Emile Rossouw, BChD (Dent), BChD-Hons (Child Dent); MChD (Ortho), PhD, FRCD(C), of Rochester, N.Y., to serve as a director of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO).
The ABO is the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association and in affiliation with the AAO. Board certification is a process by which an individual orthodontist is voluntarily examined by his/her peers regarding orthodontic knowledge and clinical skills. The successful completion of the ABO examination process is a demonstration to the dental profession and the general public of the orthodontist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence in orthodontics.
Each ABO director represents one of the eight constituent organizations of the AAO and serves an eight-year term, which culminates in the position of the president. The ABO directors are responsible for establishing policy with regard to the board certification of specialists in orthodontics. Dr. Rossouw, who represents the Northeastern Society of Orthodontists (NESO), will become president of the ABO in the 2027-2028 year.
Dr. Rossouw is chair of the Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, which is part of the University of Rochester Medical Center. He brings a 40-year career of accomplished teaching, research and clinical care.
Prior to joining the Eastman Institute in 2015, Dr. Rossouw was professor and chair of the orthodontics department at the University of North Carolina for five years. He previously chaired the orthodontic department at the Baylor College of Dentistry of Texas A&M University from 2002 to 2010. Prior to that, he was orthodontic department chair at the University of Toronto from 1993 to 2000 and director of the university’s Burlington Growth Centre from 2000 to 2002.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Rossouw obtained his undergraduate and dental degrees from the University of Stellenbosch. He then earned advanced degrees in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics before receiving his Ph.D. in dental science, also from the University of Stellenbosch.
He remained at the university as a faculty member and clinical orthodontist before being appointed associate professor and head of the Department of Orthodontics at Stellenbosch in 1989 (promoted to full professor in 1992), where he remained before moving to the University of Toronto.
Dr. Rossouw has held ABO certification since 2007. He obtained an orthodontic specialty certificate from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2006.
Besides the AAO and NESO, he is a member of the College of Diplomates of the ABO, the American Dental Association, the Charles H. Tweed Foundation for Orthodontic Research, the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists Southwest and the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Dr. Rossouw has served the AAO as a member of the Council on Orthodontic Education (COE), Planning and Awards Review Committee (PARC) and presently is a council member of the Council on Scientific Affairs (COSA).
His published works range through the areas of clinical orthodontics, biomaterials, jaw growth and long-term stability. Dr. Rossouw, who has lectured nationally and internationally, has contributed more than 150 publications to the dental literature, which include scientific articles, book chapters and abstracts.
He also serves on the reviewing panels for various leading orthodontic and general dentistry journals.
“Being selected as a director of The American Board of Orthodontics is a tremendous honor and one of the most significant responsibilities to serve orthodontics I have been given during my career in orthodontics,” Dr. Rossouw said. “I look forward to working with the other directors and the ABO staff to promote ABO certification and to strive for the highest level of professionalism, dedication and compassion for our patients.”
About the ABO
The ABO is the global leader in orthodontic board certification and sets the standards of care for excellence in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The ABO’s mission is to elevate the quality of orthodontic care for the public by promoting excellence through certification, education and professional collaboration.
Founded in 1929, the ABO was the first specialty board in dentistry. It is the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association and in affiliation with the American Association of Orthodontists.
The certificate issued by the ABO signifies a certification of attainment. It does not confer any legal qualification, privilege or license to practice orthodontics. It is not a professional or academic degree. In essence, board certification is a process by which an individual orthodontist is voluntarily examined by his/her peers as to orthodontic knowledge and clinical skills. The passage of the examination process is a demonstration to the dental profession and the general public of the orthodontist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence in orthodontics.
To learn more about the ABO, visit the website www.AmericanBoardOrtho.com. The ABO’s office and exam center are located in St. Louis, Mo.
Contact: Jim Braibish, Braibish Communications, 314-570-3532, jbraibish@sbcglobal.net
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