Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists

Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists  

Message from the MASO President

Dr. Luis A. Toro

Let me begin by thanking a few people for their service to MASO.  Dr. Steve Siegel set a great example last year, as President and we are glad for his continued involvement as the newly elected Chairperson of our MASO Delegation to the 2013 AAO House of Delegates.  Departing Immediate Past President Dr. Natalie Parisi and Director Dr. Jazmin Oliva also deserve our thanks for all their contributions to MASO. 

As we look to the year ahead, I would like to welcome the new Board of Directors member Dr. Tarun (Ty) Saini from Maryland.  He joins our existing Directors: Dr. Doug Harte, Dr. Russell Sandman, Dr. Robert Penna, and Dr. Normand Boucher, as well as Dr. Lawrence Wang (President Elect), Dr. Stephanie Steckel (Secretary), Dr. Jean Asmar (Treasurer), Dr. Robert Williams (Editor), Dr. Nahid Maleki (MASO Trustee) and Mrs. Anita Field (Executive Director).

Working as a volunteer for our Society has been one of my greatest satisfactions as a professional in orthodontics.  I exhort all of you to keep supporting MASO, our component societies and the AAO.  Also invite you to actively participate in our MASO committees, governing Board of Directors or as a delegate at the AAO House Of Delegates.  This is not a job for just a few; we need all of you to continue our Society’s mission of improving our member’s professional life, which will inevitably benefit our patients.

As you all know it is a different world out there and the goal is to help usher our Society and members, into this new era.  There are many threats to our traditional orthodontic practice business model and its viability is at risk.  To keep up we always need education and vision and that’s were I see MASO’s future.  I strongly believe in MASO’s mission and I quote: “the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists shall promote the ethical delivery of quality orthodontic care by providing its members with educational opportunities and information regarding advances in orthodontic treatment and technology.”  MASO will serve as the instrument to implement all the new and ingenious ways that many of you will design or invent to improve the clinical and the business end of our specialty.

2013 will be a very exiting year for MASO and here are some of the events already scheduled:

·        The first meeting of the year will be the AAO Professional Advocacy Conference, January 28 to the 30^th at Washington, DC.

·        Next the “Young Leaders In Orthodontics: Shaping A Vision For The Profession” On February 7.  The AAO invites all residents and orthodontists in their first 10 years of practice.

·        The AAO midwinter conference will immediately follow the young leaders meeting; “A Collaborative Approach For Today’s Patient; Orthodontists And Periodontists Working Together” on February 8 through the 10th.  Both meetings will be at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Desert Springs (Palm Springs), CA.

·         The 113^th AAO annual session will be from May 3 to 7, 2013 in Philadelphia, PA.  Yes, the big meeting is back in our region.  It cannot be any closer or easier for our MASO members to attend.

·         And finally, I personally invite each and everyone to our 2013 MASO annual session.  It is a joint meeting with NESO from the 13^th to the 18^th of November at the Rio Mar Resort and Casino in Puerto Rico.  

Thank you for your trust and the privilege you have given me to serve as your president.

Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Luis A. Toro
MASO President