Journal of the American Orthodontic Society • March

AOS MEMBERSHIP NEWS Leverage Your Skills Through Continuing Education Jordan J. Balvich, DMD, FAGD, DAOS AOS President Are you interested in recog- nition for your hard-earned skills? Are you interested in growing your patient’s confi- dence in your skills? Are you interested in growing your practice? Are you interested in helping move this grand orga- nization forward? Several years ago, I asked myself these same questions and, not surprisingly, I answered YES to each of them. Armed with the knowledge from a Dr. Gerety compre- hensive course and the conviction that general practition- ers COULD and SHOULD include orthodontics in their practice, I found myself more determined than ever to leverage my skills and my practice with the help of the American Orthodontic Society. With every course I took, my professional satisfaction grew along with my patient base. I soon realized that credentialing should be my next step. Easy.....NO. Worth the effort......YES. As I moved from Achievement to Fellowship to Diplomate, I watched my confidence grow, along with my interest in the AOS. I enjoyed new friends who shared my passion for (continued from page 44) Dr. Joseph Schmidbauer’s Comprehensive Orthodontic Course will begin in Atlanta on June 4-6, 2010. Endorsed by Dr. Gerety and taught by Dr. Joseph Schmidbauer with assistance from Dr. Jordan Balvich, this four-session program will teach Dr. Gerety’s program of diagnosis, mechanics and case-finish- ing. Any past graduate of Dr. Gerety’s Basic Comprehensive Program who refers a doctor to this course will be eligible to monitor Dr. Schmidbauer’s course FREE. The AOS Orthodontic Review Course (formerly called Tier Advance- ment) will be taught on April 9-10 in Dallas, TX. This course is specifically designed for individuals wanting to move toward full credentialing in the AOS. Taught in conjunction with Kay Gerety’s assistant courses, doctors can receive a $75 discount from this course for every registered assistant in Ms. Gerety’s course. Dr. Jackson and his Kansas City Basic Class enjoy an evening together. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The AOS Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 28-31, 2010, at the beautiful Hotel InterContinental in Houston, TX. This meeting features 25 hours of continuing education credit and four days of outstanding lecturers all under one roof for less than the price of one weekend course. Watch our website and your mailbox for more information! Renew your AOS dues today to ensure that you are included in the 2010 Membership & Referral Directory. Renew online at www.orthodontics.com or call (800) 448-1601. ATTENTION According to Society bylaws, any active member of the AOS may bring new business or old business before the Board of Directors for considera- tion. The next meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for April 8, 2010 at the Addison Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dallas. If you have items for Board consideration, they need to be e-mailed to tchapman@orthodontics.com no later than Friday, March 19, 2010. www.orthodontics.com March/April 2010 45 orthodontics, as well as the mentoring that was so impor- tant to my growth. Soon I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors for our Society. Sit beside Bob Gerety and Bill Wyatt and help steer this incredible educational organization? This unthinkable honor was soon a reality. I now find myself both a Diplomate and your AOS Presi- dent. It all started with those four simple questions and the American Orthodontic Society. Now is the time to start your credentialing path or restart it if it stalled along the way. You need the benefits that come from professional credentialing and the Society needs the leadership that you can offer. Call our central office at (800) 448-1601 or visit our website at www.orthodontics.com. We are offering an excellent program April 9-10 in Dallas, TX to help you achieve your goal. I encourage you to attend our “Orthodontic Review Course” and learn many of the basics that will help you prepare for your progression from Achievement to Diplomate. You will not be disappointed, and I promise you professional growth. Jordan Balvich, DMD, FAGD, DAOS