More than 40 members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Endodontic Alumni Association “went west” in late September to gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for their annual fall meeting. The alumni and their families spent four days absorbing information on the latest trends and research in endodontics and reveling in the natural splendor of one of the most scenic locations in the country.
The 2018 Endodontic Alumni Association Fall Meeting was chaired by Michael Stevens ENDO 98, who said he was thrilled to welcome his fellow alumni to Jackson Hole.
“Here on the doorsteps of one of nation’s greatest national parks, you will find adventure and fun for everyone,” Dr. Stevens said. “More importantly, I hope that you connect with each other in the way that makes our group so special.”
The 47th annual meeting kicked off Wednesday evening with a welcome dinner and reception at the Hotel Terra, with views of the famous Jackson Hole ski mountain serving as a dramatic backdrop. Dr. Stevens welcomed Endodontic alumni, family, and friends, and then Ed Hsu ENDO 04 ENDO 05 introduced four Endodontic residents who were in attendance.
The academic portion of the weekend started promptly at 8 a.m. on Thursday, as the Endodontic alumni participated in a new session designed to help participants get feedback on a treatment approach. In this session, moderated by Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06, attending members each presented a case and then answered questions from the crowd on their treatment approach and outcomes. Two more presentations followed: a discussion among GSDM Endodontic residents and moderated by Dr. Hsu on current highlights in the endodontic literature, and a presentation by Chris Lampert ENDO 03 on “Cracked Teeth and Clinical Decisions.”
The learning continued on Friday morning with a presentation by Dr. Jack Hadley, who was a featured speaker at the 2018 American Association of Endodontists annual meeting, on how practitioners can use social media to grow their endodontic practices. Mani Moulazadeh DMD 00 AEGD 01 ENDO 03 followed this with a presentation on “Surgical Endodontics.”
Terry Pannkuk ENDO 85 and Thomas McClammy ENDO 99 rounded out the continuing-education portion of the weekend on Saturday with their respective sessions. Dr. Pannkuk led a session on cervical root resorption, and then Dr. Thomas McClammy followed with a presentation entitled “The Wave Continues,” which focused on new advances in endodontic therapy.
The weekend was a great opportunity for Endodontic alumni to step back, learn, and reflect on their practice – but it wasn’t all work and no play. There were plenty of activities scheduled throughout the weekend to allow attendees to enjoy and take advantage of the incredible natural setting in the mountains of Wyoming. On Thursday afternoon, the group drove through Teton National Park to Jenny Lake, where they took ferries to access hiking trails that afforded breathtaking views. Then on Friday evening, attendees rode in horse-drawn covered wagons to an outdoor dinner on the grounds of a ranch that nestled next to Teton National Park. View photos from the weekend on GSDM’s Flickr page.
The 2019 Endodontic Alumni Associate Fall Meeting will be held in Burlington, Vermont, on Oct. 2-6, 2019.