Seattle Scenes

Saturday, September 21, 2008

Although a full complement of educational sessions was scheduled, you could feel the pace slowing as the annual meeting began its final day. The exhibit hall shut its doors at 1:00 pm and traffic throughout the convention center steadily slowed.

Another successful AAOMS annual meeting comes to an end.

To view and/or purchase images from the Seattle meeting, watch for the link to be posted on aaoms.org soon!

We'll see you next year in Toronto at the 91st AAOMS Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition, which will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons! Don't forget your passports.

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Friday, September 19, 2008

View the inaugural address presented by 2008-2009 AAOMS President Dr. R. Lynn White.

Meet your 2008-2009 AAOMS Board of Trustees! Elected and installed during Friday morning's third session of the House of Delegates, they are:

R. Lynn White, DDS - President
Ira D. Cheifetz, DMD - President-Elect
Larry J. Moore - Vice President
Lee D. Pollan, DMD, MS - Immediate Past President
Eric T. Geist, DDS - District III Trustee
William J. Nelson, DDS - District IV Trustee
Henry C. Windell, DMD - District VI Trustee

Friday evening, attendees headed to Seattle's amazing Museum of Flight for the President's Event, the main social event of the annual meeting week. Surrounded by music, food and friends, the revelers had an incomparable view of aviation history from WWI fighters to Apollo space missions.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

AAOMS' Thursday in Seattle was all business, packed from beginning to end with educational sessions, the AAOMS Keynote Lecture by Thomas R. Russell, MD, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, on The Role of Surgery in a Changing Healthcare Environment, a special Chinese Society program on Innovations in Chinese Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a number of AAOMS Clinical Interest Group programs and the opening of the exhibit hall.

The six District Caucuses held their second sessions preceding the second session of the House of Delegates. House Session II is when the delegates consider and vote on the resolutions put before them. In addition to approval of the 2009 operating budget, the house considered measures pertaining to hospital privileges, amendments to the Code of Professional Conduct, membership and tenure of directors on the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The annual meeting exhibition opened Thursday morning to great acclaim. More than 200 booths displayed the latest equipment, devices, technological products and services — all designed to help oral and maxillofacial surgeons and their staffs serve their patients better.

Check back tomorrow for more Seattle Scenes!

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Wednesday began with a sense of excitement. Reference committee hearings; a coding workshop; a day full of scientific sessions, including a series of hands-on simulated anesthesia emergencies courses; and exhibitor showcases presenting the latest technologies in dental implants, bone regeneration and maxillofacial prosthetics were some of the day's most popular events.

The highlight of the day, and one of the most anticipated events of the annual meeting, was the Annual Meeting Dedication, Opening Ceremony and Awards Presentations held Wednesday night to honor the men and women whose contributions have advanced the association and the specialty.

This year's Annual Meeting was dedicated to the oral and maxillofacial surgery faculty.

AAOMS President Lee D. Pollan welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Dr. Zhi-yuan Zhang, president of the Chinese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, who welcomed the audience on behalf of his organization.

The most anticipated part of the program was the presentation of awards in recognition of exemplary contributions to oral and maxillofacial surgery. Those honored for their service and friendship to the specialty included:

Distinguished Service Award
OMS National Service Company (accepted by Dr. Lewis Estabrooks)

Special Honorary Fellowship
Mr. David Patton

Committee Person of the Year Award
Dr. Brent T. Garrison

OMSF Torch Award
Dr. Gerald E. Hanson

William J. Gies Foundation Award
Dr. O. Ross Beirne

Donald B. Osbon Award for an Outstanding Educator
Dr. Richard A. Finn

Daniel M. Laskin Award for an Outstanding Predoctoral Educator
Dr. Michael T. Goupil

Presidential Achievement Award
Dr. Robert L. Coles
Dr. David E. Frost

OMSF Research Recognition Award
Dr. Ceib Phillips

Faculty Educator Development Awards
Dr. Brian T. Bast (in memory of Dr. Francis P. DiPlacido)
University of California - San Francisco

Dr. Ron Caloss, Jr. (generously supported by 3i through a grant to OMSF)
University of Mississippi

Dr. Sean P. Edwards
University of Michigan

John F. Freihaut Political Activist Award
Dr. Paul G. Sims

Community Service Award for Fellows and Members
Dr. Barry Steinberg

Community Service and Leadership Award for Residents
Dr. Grant B. McGann (accepted by Rachel McCollister)

OMSF Synthes Award
Dr. Peter Waite
University of Alabama at Birmingham

OMSF Daniel M. Laskin Award
Dr. R. Bryan Bell
Dr. Eric J. Dierks
Dr. William B. Long
Dr. Timothy Osborn
Dr. Bryce E. Potter

OMSF Ambassador Service Award
Dr. Thomas J. Skiba

Outstanding Legislator of the Year
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-New York)

Media Award for Excellence in Reporting of OMS Issues
Mr. Daniel Connolly

Following the ceremony, attendees gathered for the annual welcome reception. A favorite attraction, the reception is a relaxed and festive start to the annual meeting week and the perfect chance to catch up with old friends.

Check back tomorrow for more Seattle Scenes!

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The 90th AAOMS Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition is about to begin! Attendee registration opened bright and early Tuesday morning as nearly 400 OMSs arrived at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center for day one of the 1.5 day preconference Anesthesia Update for the OMS.

On Tuesday afternoon, the AAOMS House of Delegates convened its first session, as President Lee D. Pollan took the podium and shared highlights of the specialty's major achievements during the past year.

See Dr. Pollan's address to the House of Delegates

In other highlights of Tuesday's House session, delegates:

• elected Dr. Peter Larson to a seven-year term as director of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery;
• recognized the 50th anniversaries of the Nebraska and Wisconsin Societies of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; and
• elected Drs. Rolf Ewers of Vienna, Austria and Nabil Samman of Hong Kong to honorary fellowship. Awards will be presented to Drs. Ewers and Samman at the 2009 annual meeting.

The annual meeting pace is quickening, with a full day of scientific sessions and the official opening ceremonies and welcome reception slated for this evening.