Greetings Colleagues,
I hope 2025 has been off to a good start and is a productive one. I would like to start by saying Happy Birthday! To the AAO for 125 years and counting! For over a century, the AAO has been shaping the future of orthodontics while supporting a community committed to delivering exceptional patient care. Plan to be a part of the celebration by attending the Biggest Birthday Party Ever at annual session, April 25 – 27th, right down the road for NESO members in Philadelphia! For more information on the celebration of our 125th anniversary please visit: https://www2.aaoinfo.org/about/aao-125th-anniversary/
Looking back for a moment on 2024, it was great seeing so many of you at NESO’s annual meeting in Hartford late last year. The annual meeting planning committee, led by Mariana Haughey (NESO immediate Past President) provided attendees with a fantastic slate of presenters for both Doctors and Staff, as well as an energetic exhibit hall filled with food, fun and camaraderie. A special thanks to our exhibitors and sponsors for sharing their products and innovations as well as for their support of our organization. I hope your calendars are marked for this coming November 2025 to attend a long-awaited NESO 2025 destination meeting at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida! NESO President, Katie Klein and her team are planning an unforgettable event during one of the most enjoyable times of the year in Southwest Florida. Do not miss out!
On the AAO front, hopefully you are aware of the launch this past fall of the Simon Sinek + AAO Inspiring Leadership Program! Many of you are aware that Simon Sinek is a highly regarded leadership expert and bestselling author, and you may be asking: why was Leadership chosen to be the next big AAO program? Nearly 70% of U.S. orthodontists are business owners and 100% of orthodontists lead teams who deliver patient care as a team. Most have never had any formal business or leadership training. In 2021, AAO launched the successful Wharton-AAO Mastering the Business of Orthodontics program. More than 1500 members have participated in this mini-MBA type program that covers every aspect of running an orthodontic practice. More recent member research has identified challenges in building and retaining high performing teams as being among the top concerns for AAO Members. Our partnership with Simon Sinek has developed a program designed to equip orthodontists with skills to inspire their team, prevent burnout, minimize workplace conflict, and communicate with confidence – all while fostering a thriving practice culture. The next cohort of this amazing program begins on February 6th – visit https://www2.aaoinfo.org/simonsinek/ for all the details!
Looking ahead, the future of our specialty depends on our commitment to invest in the best educators. I would like to take a moment to tell you about a new program designed to strengthen our future. The AAO has funded, on a yearly basis out of reserves, a program called the Full-time Faculty Teaching Fellowship. This fellowship is a two-year, $30,000 award designed to supplement the salaries of those dedicated to orthodontic academics. It has been highly successful: 87.5% of individuals who have received these awards remain in academics. In order to establish permanent ongoing funding for this program, the AAO Foundation has launched For the Future – a campaign to invest in these fellowships that will advance our specialty. In concert with the AAO and following the House of Delegates’ (HOD) unanimous support to create this powerful opportunity, this fellowship is your way of ensuring that future orthodontists are trained by the most qualified and passionate individuals. Contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar by funds that the AAO’s House of Delegates allocated from the AAO’s undesignated net assets to create a permanent fund to award three fellowships (each awarded for two years) every year. To learn more about this fund and the important work of the AAO Foundation, please visit https://www.aaofoundation.net/for-the-future
Lastly. I hope you are all taking advantage of the benefits of your AAO / NESO membership. I have had so many conversations that included “I didn’t know the AAO did that!” or “I didn’t know the AAO offered that!” Please open and read the AAO News that arrives in your inbox every Friday for timely information and updates. Also, please visit https://www2.aaoinfo.org/membership/member-benefits/ to explore the many benefits of being an AAO member. I appreciate your support of our specialty. We are stronger together!
Ken Webb
NESO Trustee