Dr. Cami Tussie
This past May, I had the privilege of beginning my term as an AAO Foundation Resident Director, a role I will serve through the 2027 AAO Annual Session. Representing orthodontic residents from across the country has been one of the most rewarding leadership experiences of my residency, providing the opportunity to advocate for my peers while helping advance the Foundation’s mission of supporting orthodontic education, research, and access to care.
I like to think of the AAO Foundation as the heart of the orthodontic community. Through its initiatives, orthodontists donate life-changing treatment to children in need through Gifted Smiles, groundbreaking research is funded to advance our specialty, and residents are equipped with educational opportunities that extend beyond the clinic through the Foundation’s CORE curriculum.
One of the initiatives I am most passionate about is Gifted Smiles, the AAO Foundation’s charitable program that provides orthodontic treatment to children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford care. Gifted Smiles relies on AAO members volunteering their care, and residency programs vowing to help those in need. One of my goals as a Resident Director is to increase awareness and engagement so that even more patients can benefit from life-changing orthodontic treatment, and even more orthodontists can see the value in being able to so generously impact a life.
Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of this position is serving as an advocate for residents. I have the opportunity to share resident perspectives, identify opportunities to better support trainees, and help shape initiatives that benefit both current and future orthodontic residents. The Foundation’s CORE educational modules, for example, provide residents with valuable resources on topics that extend beyond clinical orthodontics. These modules help prepare us for the realities of professional practice, covering areas such as leadership, practice management, communication, and career development that are essential for success after graduation. If you are a resident interested in the CORE modules, register at https://www.aaofoundation.net/core for access to the courses.
The Foundation also plays a critical role in advancing our profession through research. To date, the AAO Foundation has contributed more than $17 million to orthodontic education and research, including more than $900,000 in grants awarded last year alone, helping to ensure that our specialty continues to provide the highest standard of evidence-based care.
The AAO Foundation exists because of the generosity and engagement of our profession, and serving as a Resident Director has shown me how much impact residents can have in strengthening that mission. I hope to encourage more residents to become involved, whether by supporting Gifted Smiles, taking advantage of the CORE curriculum, or simply lending their voice to help ensure the Foundation continues to meet the needs of the next generation of orthodontists. If you are a resident interested in becoming an AAO Foundation Resident Director, reach out to bschott@aaortho.org for more information, and be on the lookout for the AAO Foundation booth at GORP (look for me – I will be there!). Together, we can help build a stronger future for our specialty and the patients we serve.
Cami Tussie, DMD
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, MMSc Candidate C/O 2028