The pediatric specialty community is an amazing resource for the child patients, their parents and the GPs, and I am proud of my specialty as its members broaden their interest and involvement in the area of orthodontic and craniofacial orthopedic treatment, bringing in their extraordinary working knowledge of growth and devel-opment, child patient management and their successes in transforming lives of these patients. What sparked your interest in early treatment and what educators have influenced you? From the time I graduated from dental school at the University of Kentucky, I was fascinated by the possibilities of orthodontics for the dental patient. And, following my residency in pediatrics at Univer-sity of Connecticut (UConn), I was offered a yearlong fellowship in the orthodontic department there by Dr. Sam Weinstein. While at UConn, I learned from Dr Charlie Burstone, Dr. Lou Norton, and Dr. Ravi Nanda. I was still fascinated -and fortunate. Dr. Lenny Cara-pezza was an invited speaker on several occasions and shared his passion for orthodontics in the practice of pediatric dentistry. Dr. Walter Doyle was the world’s first dual specialist in Pediatric Dentistry (then Pedodontics -Indiana University) and Orthodontics (Boston University), boarded by examination in both specialties. I had the magnificent fortune to join Dr. Doyle in his practice. Educationally, I could not be more privileged. And that is why I am passionate about teaching interested pediatric dentists and GPs what I have been so fortu-nate to learn and practice. We dentists are a funny bunch. The dentists in one’s community often are insu-lated and unaware -perhaps wary -of their geographi-cally close colleagues. Yet, as we extend out into the world -for me, all over the United States and to Dubai, UAE and China, we find colleagues hungry to learn and practice at a new transformative level. What a privilege and honor it is to share with our colleagues. You’re invited to the American Orthodontic Society’s 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 19-22, 2019. All general and pediatric dentists can have the ultimate opportunity to expand their practices and further educate themselves on the latest in techniques, clinical advancements, practice management and products. www.orthodontics.com Spring 2019 41
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Spring 2019: Page 41
