The 99th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) was held in San Francisco, California from October 9 – 14, 2017, and yet again, the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) made headlines. Dr. Pushkar Mehra DMD 95 OMFS 99, Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, was named Director of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). He previously served as Co-Chair, Section I of the ABOMS Examination Committee. Dr. Mehra was also appointed by AAOMS to the Faculty Educator Development Award Committee.
Dr. Mehra wasn’t the only faculty member recognized during the AAOMS Annual Meeting. Dr. Ruben Figueroa, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, received the 2017 Daniel M. Laskin Award for Outstanding Predoctoral Educator in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Figueroa received this award at the opening ceremony of the AAOMS Annual Meeting.
In addition, two GSDM OMFS alumni were also recognized during the opening ceremony as they received the Faculty Educator Development Award (FEDA), given to promising young oral and maxillofacial surgeons who choose a long-term faculty career in the specialty. Drs. Carolyn C. Brookes DMD 08 and Johnathan Tomlinson DMD 05 received the prestigious FEDA recognition this year.
Other notable achievements by faculty members and alumni at the AAOMS meeting included: Dr. Hussam Batal DMD 98 OMFS 03, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, was appointed by the AAOMS to the Committee on Health Care Policy, Coding, and Reimbursement; and Dr. Michael Hunter OMFS 90 was appointed to the AAOMS By-laws Task Force.
On Thursday, October 12, 2017, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Dr. Mehra hosted the AAOMS Alumni Reception at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. After giving the 45 alumni, faculty, and family members in attendance time to mix and mingle, Dean Hutter took the podium and began the program for the evening. He began by welcoming everyone to beautiful San Francisco and the alumni reception. Dean Hutter then congratulated all GSDM faculty and alumni on their awards and honors received during AAOMS; Dr. Mehra, Dr. Figueroa, Dr. Brookes, Dr. Tomlinson, Dr. Batal, and Dr. Hunter. Dr. Mehra then recognized Dr. David Lustbader DMD 86, Chair of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board and President of the Massachusetts Dental Society; and Dr. Donald Booth, Professor Emeritus in OMFS.
The highlight of the Dean’s remarks was the update and presentation about the GSDM Addition and Renovation Capital Project. Since he last spoke to this group, the Boston Civic Design Commission had approved the plans for the project, and on October 12, the Boston Planning and Development Agency Board had given final city approval of the project.
The alumni in attendance were then treated to the Virtual Reality Video Animation of the new space, followed by the presentation of the 3-D glasses for a more immersive view.
“I would like to thank all alumni in attendance at our AAOMS alumni reception,” said Dean Hutter. “Their continued support will be vital during this exciting time in our School’s history.”
Wendy Little, Practice Manager in the OMFS Department, and Catherine Macisaac, Billing & Insurance Coordinator in the OMFS Department, were crucial in receiving and setting up the alumni table with materials, the GSDM banner, greeting the alumni with their nametags and having them sign the Guest Book at the reception. “I would like to thank Wendy and Catherine for helping make the reception such a huge success,” said Dean Hutter.
The 100th 2018 Annual Session of the AAOMS will take place from October 8-13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois