President's Report
President's Update
January 2010
By Joel L. Rosenlicht, DMD
President, American Academy of Implant Dentistry
For those of you who were not able to attend our recent Annual Meeting in New Orleans, you missed a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues and participate in a wonderful educational experience. My congratulations to Dr. Beverly Dunn, our Past President, and all the members of the annual meeting committee who did
a great job making this a truly successful meeting in times when doing so is getting more difficult.
It is a great honor that I have been inducted as president of the oldest and most influential Academy in implant dentistry.
I accept the presidency of this organization with a lot of humility. There have been many wonderful and effective leaders who have preceded me, as well as many members who have played an important part in my AAID career. I want to
thank all of them — too many in numbers to mention — for all the support and encouragement they have given me.
As we enter the 59th year of this organization, it humbles me to think that my membership began in 1983. For over 25 years the impact of the AAID on my career, its influence on my professional development, the friendships and successes
that I have achieved, seem so integrally wrapped up in this organization and what it continues to offer to all it’s members. I am glad to have taken advantage of these opportunities. One of my goals for our future is that more of you — all our members — are able, interested, and look to the AAID to meet their career goals.
My specific goal and objectives for the coming year are to continue to secure the place of AAID as the premier implant organization, working with all disciplines of dentistry. We will continue to provide more educational opportunities, while offering leadership and support to our membership. I believe our credentials and our educational opportunities through District Meetings, Maxicourses®, Annual Meetings, multiple hands-on programs and especially our sponsorship of the ABOI/ID remain vitally important.
The public and the dental profession need to be aware of our purpose and all we offer. Our Research Foundation and Journal of Oral Implantology continue to grow in size and influence though wonderful efforts of the Research Foundation Chairman, Dr. John Minichetti and our Journal Editor, Dr. James Rutkowski. It would be a wonderful goal — one I am hoping to reach — to increase the number of our members who obtain their Associate Fellow or Fellow membership in the AAID and encourage them and all our qualified members to become Diplomates of the ABOI/ID.
As many of our dental specialties start educational programs in implant dentistry, we stand well poised to provide all the support and education they will need to achieve competence and comfort in both surgical and restorative aspects of implant dentistry (Shameful plug follows: Our theme for the 2010 AAID Annual Meeting is “Navigate Zones of Implant Dentistry: Complications, Confidence and Comfort.” Be sure to attend October20 – 23 in Boston. I hope to see you all there).
As an organization we wish to remain inclusive to all those who want to join us. I look forward to having the AAID be the common ground and platform for the voice of implant dentistry. We continue to provide meaningful programs abroad for our international members. A lot of credit needs to be given to our Global Committee Chairman, Dr. Nick Caplanis. We look forward to adding to our membership many of these international students and dentists who do make substantial sacrifices to be active members and support our meetings and the Academy.
The districts and their bi-annual programs they provide continue to enhance the relationships of our members and the camaraderie we are known for. It is a great way to become more involved with the AAID by being more active and recognized at the District level. It’s the District organizations that allow the AAID to be connected to the Headquarters Office and our members. I challenge the Districts to continue to work together in our efforts to welcome new members and strengthen our cause.
We are in challenging economic times; our practices and families are, and should remain, our priority. We will explore alternative means to continue being more relevant and meaningful to you through:
• Online Courses
• Treatment Planning Opportunities
• Membership benefits, etc.
We have a wonderful and very available Headquarters Office. Please take advantage of all our resources. Be proud of whatthe AAID is. I know I am. With our past, present and future leaders committed to AAID, our future is bright and exciting. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and our Academy. I will do my best to help guide us. I look forward to a great year for all of us.
Please feel free to contact me for any issues or concerns you may have to make the AAID a more meaningful organization for you. Have a great year, and I look forward to the upcoming District meetings and next year’s Annual Meeting in Boston.