AOS MEMBERSHIP NEWS The Education of a Lifetime “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other”-John F. Kennedy Twana Farley-Duncan, DDS AOS President The demands of our dental practice and expecta-tions of our patients require us to be lifetime learners. Yet, the words of John F. Kennedy should give us pause about our educational pursuit in favor of our individ-ual responsibility to the broader good of our profes-sion. More specifically, what is the connection between learning and leadership, and why are they indispens-able to each other? First, a key tenet of good leadership is the sharing of knowledge. We have a responsibility to mentor others, to lead the younger dentist, both clinically and profes-sionally. To avoid that minimizes our own educational value. The AOS has been built upon mentoring and providing leadership to the younger student. The class-room without follow-on mentoring is an incomplete education. Secondly, we have a responsibility to the broader needs of our profession through organized dentistry associations, like the American Orthodontic Society. Again, to deny the value of membership unfairly denies the impact that experienced dentists and their leadership can have in shaping the present and future path of our profession. I’ve willingly served as President of the AOS, not to further my own interests, but to offer what I can to an organization that has supported my career in such an impactful way. Too many dentists deny the impact that organizations can have on the profession. Only a few weeks ago, the AOS helped shape Texas State Dental Board legislation and AOS was instrumental in adding wording that significantly benefits the general practitioner. Yes, organized dentistry is listened to in state capitals across the US. Finally, we learn constantly but we must also take that education and experience and lead constantly: the two are clearly indispensable to each other. As I leave the President’s seat in a few weeks, I am thankful to this organization for the chance to serve and to my Board of colleagues that so ably supported me this year. I am humbled by this experience. I pass the gavel to Dr. Paul Winborn at our Annual Meeting in Clear-water Beach, FL on September 13-17 and know it remains in good hands. See you there! Twana Farley-Duncan, DDS Nominations Wanted for Open Board Positions Names are now being accepted for individuals you would like to place in nomination to serve as a Director on the Board of the American Orthodontic Society. Elections will be held at this year’s Annual Meeting in Clearwater, FL, September 14-17, 2017. The individual must have been a member in good standing of the AOS for five consecutive years and have at least 50 hours of AOS-sponsored continuing education credit. The deadline for submission is August 15, 2017. Please fax this form to (972) 234-4290. Name of Nominee _______________________________________________________________________________________ Individual Making Recommendation ____________________________________________________________________ Date ______________ Phone/Email: ________________________________________________________________________ www.orthodontics.com Summer 2017 45
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Summer 2017/Buyer's Guide: Page 45
