EDITOR’S WELCOME Greg Cannizzo, DDS, CDE, JAOS Editor 3617 Municipal Drive, McHenry, IL 60050 Phone: (815) 344-2282 • Fax: (815) 344-5815 • Email: drgrc@joltmail.com ASSOCIATION STAFF Nate Porter AOS Executive Director American Orthodontic Society 1785 TX-26 Suite 200 Grapevine, TX 76051 E-mail: support@orthodontics.com Adam Griswold AGpO Executive Director Academy of Gp Orthodontics 509 E. Boydston St. Rockwall, TX 75087-3956 (800) 634-2027 E-mail: agriswold@academygportho.com What to Do With 2,000 Hours As the calendar turns, we once again find ourselves at the start of a new month and a new year. I’ve written before about the importance of setting annual goals and taking deliberate action to achieve them, whether for our offices, our orthodontic practices, or our lives. By my estimation, the average dentist will spend approximately 2,000 hours this year working in or on their practice. For some, that may feel like a long time; for others, it may not seem nearly enough to accomplish everything they hope to do. Either way, work occupies a significant portion of our lives, and it would be a shame to waste that time feeling unpro-ductive, unhappy, or unable to perform at our best. Distractions are often what keep us from reaching our goals. The ancient Greeks understood this well. In The Odyssey , Odysseus knew the Sirens’ song would lure his sailors off course, drawing them toward beautiful distractions that would ultimately destroy them. To prevent this, he tied himself to the mast and had his crew plug their ears with wax. He understood that resisting distraction requires inten-tional systems, not just willpower. So, let me ask you: What are you going to do with your 2,000 hours? How will you prepare yourself to perform at your best and avoid the distractions that can derail you? Will you spend your days watching the clock, counting down the minutes until you’re finished? Or will you be so engaged in meaning-ful, compelling work that time flies by as you care for your patients? It’s important not to let your natural skills and abilities wither from lack of use. Make a conscious effort to operate within your areas of strength while continuing to grow and learn. One way to do this is by attending the many excellent courses our organization will offer this year. Seek out oppor-tunities that will maximize your performance and leave you excited to talk about the outstanding work you’re doing. Use your 2,000 hours to hone your orthodontic skills. Begin your credentialing journey this year or continue your progress toward Diplomate status, while avoiding the distractions that may have led you off course in the past. Stand out through your orthodontic cases by taking the time to organize them and share them with others in our group. Make this the year you inten-tionally grow and develop your skills. Our Annual Meeting this fall is an ideal place to do just that. Outstanding speakers, vendors, and instructors will be available to educate and support you as you move to the next level. Don’t fall into the trap of becoming a hamster on a wheel, constantly busy yet never moving forward. Instead of repeating the same setbacks or being detoured by distractions, take full advantage of what’s available through this Journal, our meetings, and our courses to inspire, encour-age, and empower both yourself and those around you. As legendary business consultant Stephen Covey said, “The key is not spending time, but investing it.” You’re beginning the year with 2,000 hours deposited into your account. Be intentional about how you invest them, so you receive the greatest return. Our organization is here to help ensure your investment pays dividends. A year from now, you may wish you had started today, so take action now. Time does fly, but remember—you’re the pilot. EDITORIAL STAFF Greg Cannizzo, DDS ............. AGpO/AOS Editor Shea Gibbs ............................... AOS/AGpO Managing Editor Email: shea@gibbscom.com EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Robert Allen, DDS.................................AGpO Ron Austin, DDS...................................AGpO Kauser Bari, DDS ...................................AGpO Jeff Dahm, DDS........................................AOS Fred Der, DDS .......................................AGpO Elsa Echeverri, DDS..................................AOS Drew Ellenwood, DDS ..........................AGpO Debra Ettle-Resnick, DDS.........................AOS Clark Hunstad, DDS.................................AOS Scott Earp, DDS.....................................AGpO Bernadino Elizondo, DDS ........................AOS Andrey Horton, DDS................................AOS Thomas Jacobsen, DDS.........................AGpO Gregory T. Jeneary, DDS ..........................AOS Amanda Larsh, DMD ............................AGpO Brian Machart, DDS..............................AGpO Kyle McCrea, DDS ................................AGpO Sherman Menser, DDS..........................AGpO Danielle Meirick-Immerman, DDS ..........AOS Nemeen El Gammal, DDS ....................AGpO Milton Ntragatakis, DDS.......................AGpO Humberto Nunez-Gil, DMD .................AGpO Jana Oister, DDS.......................................AOS Ann Mary Orr, DDS .................................AOS Jennifer Rand, DDS...............................AGpO Allen Rotberg, DDS ..................................AOS Raphael Santore, DDS...........................AGpO Gary Schulman, DDS ...............................AOS Coty Shores, DDS..................................AGpO Kimberly Suter, DDS ................................AOS Susan Tiede, DDS .....................................AOS Walter Tippen, DDS ..............................AGpO Brian Vierthaler, DDS...............................AOS Bradford R. Williams, DDS ......................AOS 4 Winter 2026 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Winter 2026: Page 4
