Fellow NESO Colleagues,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday season in 2021.
I was inducted as NESO’s President at the annual meeting in Boston and I am indeed humbled to be your President in this first year of NESO’s second century. How wonderful it was to see so many colleagues in person in Boston!
The many challenges that we have all endured over most of the last two years have proven that we are, if anything, resilient. Change has become a constant – not only in our personal and professional lives but also in the way that NESO and the AAO are serving you, our members.
In-person meetings thoughtfully planned over an extended period of time have vanished. Innovative, quality “virtual” options have appeared to take their place. Our own “NESO Experience” remains available to members and staff through March 2022, with over 20 hours of continuing education. The AAO has pivoted the 2022 annual session to Miami Beach in May, and planning for this year’s NESO annual meeting, held jointly with our friends from MASO, is well underway for September 22-24 in Philadelphia.
The AAO has also launched two new ground breaking programs during the last year that you should know about:
Tech Select: Technology to treat our patients more effectively, efficiently and safely is surging and I encourage you to visit the Tech Select section of the AAO Member website: an unbiased, comprehensive resource to help members incorporate 3D printing, in-house aligner fabrication and 3D digital workflows into their offices. Accompanying Tech Select is the new “AAO Tech Talk” private member Facebook group where ideas, questions and suggestions can be shared by members while being moderated by the experts from the AAO’s Committee on Technology.
Wharton-AAO MBO Program: In partnership with Wharton School of Business the AAO has developed Mastering the Business of Orthodontics to help you build your business and leadership skills. The program covers 8 essential and up to date topic areas taught by Wharton’s world-class professors and AAO instructors and guest speakers who are all orthodontic industry experts. The program is delivered entirely online over eight weeks, with new content released each Wednesday, which you can complete at your convenience.
Advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels and the award-winning Consumer Awareness Program (CAP) are other examples of how the AAO is hard at work for you, its members.
Lastly, I would like to ask for your help. NESO needs your involvement. Please reach out with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Better yet, consider volunteering at a NESO event, as a NESO committee member or as a NESO leader. You are the future of our specialty and with your help, our future is strong!
With hope for peace, health, happiness and a return to “the good old days” in 2022.
Ken Webb
NESO President