Dr. June Harewood
The Special Committee on Inclusion and Engagement (SCIE) met in May and welcomed two new members: Geoff Greenlee from the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists (PCSO) and Brianna Tucker from our own Northeastern Society of Orthodontists (NESO). Two additional positions on SCIE will become available this fall, and interested members are encouraged to watch for announcements in upcoming AAO communications.
SCIE hosted a successful event at the Annual Session featuring keynote speaker Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Building on this momentum, the committee plans to collaborate with the Special Committee on Women Orthodontists to develop programming for the 2027 Annual Session in Vancouver.
The virtual residency open house organized by SCIE attracted more than 200 registrants, with approximately 130 attendees participating. The audience consisted primarily of prospective orthodontic applicants seeking information about the application process and insight into residency training programs. Representatives from the University of Maryland, UCLA, and the St. Barnabas Orthodontic Residency Program shared perspectives on their programs and offered valuable advice for a successful application season.
Another significant milestone for the committee was the recognition of the inaugural recipient of SCIE’s Inclusion and Engagement Award. Dr. Sunil Kapila was honored at the AAO Awards Evening, where the AAO, ABO, and AAOF present their highest honors. In addition, Dr. Sylvia Frazier-Bowers was announced as the 2027 award recipient. Beginning with future award cycles, SCIE will invite all constituent societies to submit nominations for individuals who have advanced diversity, representation and engagement within the profession.