Orthodontists are leaders. We didn’t get to be part of this great profession without leading from the front. Most of us have been involved in some leadership capacity at some level since we were young. It’s in our blood.
In my instance, as with many of us, building a practice and having a family took all of my time and prevented me from giving back to my profession until I was 45. Then the question was, “How do I get started with the AAO?” I reached out to a mentor, Richard Meyers, and he made the connections. Historically that has been “the way.” This is still effective, but as your new Trustee, I see this as an area that could change. Every interested member should know what leadership opportunities exist and have the opportunity to be “a player.”
One of the responsibilities of a Trustee is to fill the very important positions of NESO representative to AAO Councils. I am interested in finding the very best candidates. NESO has over 1,100 active members, and though I know several, there are a large number of you that probably have the skills and the interest to want to be considered a candidate for a Council position or get involved in another capacity.
Over the next month, I will be looking to find the right person to be the NESO representative on the Council on Orthodontic Practice (COOP) effective May 2018. This is an extremely important Council as it provides leadership, creative research, and oversight of all AAO programs that directly affect our practices. Click here to learn about the expectations of a Council Representative and a little more about COOP. If you want to be considered, or have further questions, please connect with me or with Kristin Dunn, NESO Executive Director. We will follow up with everyone who has an interest.
There are many ways to give back and be involved. If you are ready, then here is an opportunity to really make a difference.
I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to seeing you at a future NESO/AAO event.
Dr. John Callahan