AGpO MEMBERSHIP NEWS Signing Off but Staying Involved Dear AGpO Family, As I write my final President’s message, I find myself reflecting on what an incredible privilege it has been to serve this Academy and, more impor-tantly, to be a part of it. Our future as practitioners is not determined by a single course, technique, or accomplishment. It is something we build over time—through the systems we create, the foundations we establish, the mentors we learn from, the colleagues we surround ourselves with, and our willingness to continue learning and challenging ourselves. For me, AGPO has been an important part of that journey. Some of my fondest memories are a result of the relationships and connections I have made through this organization. I have had the opportu-nity to reconnect with doctors who participated in my 12-session comprehensive course, to meet and learn alongside practitioners from across the ocean through our online study clubs, and to develop friendships with colleagues I may otherwise never have had the opportunity to know. Those connec-tions have reminded me that while orthodontics may bring us together professionally, it is the rela-tionships we build along the way that make organi-zations like ours truly special. I hope you will join us for the Academy’s Annual Meeting, September 24–26, at the Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center in Plano, TX, where we are pleased to welcome Dr. Marcos Lugos presenting “Re-Thinking Tip-Edge: Simplicity, Efficiency, and Clinical Relevance in Modern Orthodontic Treatment” and Dr. Bruce MacFarlane presenting “Good to Great: The Abso-lute Latest in Clear Aligner Orthodontics.” We will also kick off the meeting on Thursday, September 24, with a special limited-attendance add-on program focused on clear aligner treatment for pediatric patients in the primary and mixed denti-tion, featuring Dr. Milton Ntragatakis, as well as a panel discussion where he will be joined by Drs. Humberto Núñez Gil and Maria Jackson, with Dan German serving as moderator. Our popular monthly Mastermind Case Discus-sion Zoom sessions will return on October 6 and continue on the first Tuesday of every month, giving AGpO members the opportunity to collaborate on cases, exchange Amanda Larsh, DMD clinical insights, and earn two AGpO President free CDE hours per session. I am particularly disappointed to miss our upcoming Annual Meeting due to a conflict in scheduling. It has always been one of the high-lights of the year for me—not only for the educa-tion, but for the opportunity to reconnect in person, catch up with old friends, meet new members, share experiences, and enjoy being together as a group. I will genuinely miss being there with all of you this year. As I finish my term, one of the things I hope every member recognizes is just how much this Academy has to offer. Attend the meetings. Join a study club. Take a course. Ask questions. Share a case. Reach out to someone whose expe-rience you can learn from. And, when you have something to offer, be willing to share it with someone else. I am incredibly grateful to have played a small part in building that future, and I look forward to seeing where it takes us next. Amanda Larsh, DDS orthodontics.com Summer 2026 35
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Summer 2026: Page 35
