Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists

Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists  

Message from the MASO President

Dr. Steven Seigel

It is an honor and a privilege to serve MASO as your President this year. I consider myself fortunate to be an orthodontist, and a part of this most rewarding profession. Our specialty continues to attract the best and brightest that dentistry has to offer, and this bodes well for the future of our profession. The best way that we can insure the continued vitality of our profession is for each of us to give back to the profession in our own way. There are a myriad of ways to do this.

Please consider supporting the AAOF and the Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collections Project. This important project will provide access, by preserving in digital format, over seventy-five years of invaluable historic growth studies.  Why not support your local orthodontic residency program: become a part-time faculty member or guest lecturer; mentor an orthodontic resident or recent graduate; provide pro-bono service for underprivileged patients or children with clefts or other craniofacial conditions; become active in your organization at a local, regional or national level by serving on a committee or council? Consider attending the AAO Professional Advocacy meeting which will take place in Washington, DC on January 21-23, 2012. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your representatives in Congress and advocate on behalf of your patients and profession. As the American philosopher William James said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference.” It does!

I recently had a chance to preview the AAO’s new public awareness campaign. The new campaign is well conceived and will be an excellent complement to each of our own efforts to educate the public to recognize that orthodontists are uniquely trained to provide all forms of orthodontic service for children and adults.

MASO’s Spring CE Event will take place on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the conveniently located Philadelphia Renaissance Airport Hotel. Our speaker, Dr. Frank Celenza, a dual trained orthodontist and periodontist, will be discussing “Seeking Interdisciplinary Excellence”.

Please consider bringing your staff and family to join me at MASO’s Annual Session which will take place at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel at Baltimore’s beautiful inner harbor from September 20-23, 2012. Our theme is “Charting a Course for the Future”. We will have excellent scientific and staff programs as well as enjoyable social activities. Speakers will include: Dr. David Sarver, Dr. Roger Levin, Ms. Char Eash, and Ms. Tina Byrne among others. 

We live in challenging times, but I believe that together we can meet the challenges facing our profession. We appreciate the benefits of orthodontic treatment and strive to provide the finest orthodontic service to our patients.

Please join me as we chart a course for the future of our profession. In the words of Margaret Mead, “A small group of thoughtful, committed people could change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”