“How can we do better?” was the principal theme of Dr. Mara Schenker’s presentation to the Faculty Section in New Orleans. She was addressing the challenges of identifying and recruiting the best candidates for residency in any medical specialty (hers happens to be orthopedics), but her question is one that is always at the front of my mind.
This year, the Foundation has made it a priority to “do better.” Dr. Schenker’s talk, delivered during a free Lunch & Learn for faculty at the Annual Meeting, represents a commitment to provide our specialty’s academicians – the custodians of our future – with relevant and practical resources. It’s worth noting that we also subsidized the enrollment of 15 OMS programs in SCORE this year and supported (alongside AAOMS) the career development of four of our specialty’s most promising educators with Faculty Educator Development Award (FEDA) grants.
“How can we do better?” was the principal theme of Dr. Mara Schenker’s presentation to the Faculty Section in New Orleans. She was addressing the challenges of identifying and recruiting the best candidates for residency in any medical specialty (hers happens to be orthopedics), but her question is one that is always at the front of my mind.
This year, the Foundation has made it a priority to “do better.” Dr. Schenker’s talk, delivered during a free Lunch & Learn for faculty at the Annual Meeting, represents a commitment to provide our specialty’s academicians – the custodians of our future – with relevant and practical resources. It’s worth noting that we also subsidized the enrollment of 15 OMS programs in SCORE this year and supported (alongside AAOMS) the career development of four of our specialty’s most promising educators with Faculty Educator Development Award (FEDA) grants.
The front page of this TORCH showcases how researchers at Texas A&M are exploring ways to utilize artificial intelligence to better assess the risks of surgery for facial trauma patients. This new technology is poised to impact the diagnostic and treatment practices of every medical specialty. Our support of this research ensures that the entire specialty will benefit from the knowledge it generates, and that your patients will have access to the most advanced care available. We will all “do better” as a consequence.
Artificial intelligence, 3D bioprinting, alternatives to opioids and anesthesia simulation training are examples of high-priority issues and innovative technologies we are addressing with Foundation research grants this year. We also are seeing strong returns on recent investments in Student Research Training Awards. Research training and mentorship from the OMS faculty at Loma Linda University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham are introducing exceptional dental students to the specialty, and a majority of them are choosing to pursue OMS residencies.
We celebrated the reboot of our Global Initiative for Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) in 2022, offering expense reimbursements to OMS residents eager to travel, learn and serve with OMS-led international humanitarian healthcare teams. We anticipate a surge in applications for this program as COVID-related travel restrictions ease, and we’re grateful for every donation to GIVE we received this year. Dr. Adam Abel shared an account of his GIVE experience with a rapt audience at the Alliance’s 2022 Luncheon and FUNraiser for GIVE, helping the Alliance raise more than $15,000 for the program. A tribute appeal honoring Dr. Jim Bertz, a lifelong healthcare volunteer, raised an additional $60,000 for GIVE, and 2021-22 AAOMS President Dr. J. David Johnson concluded his term with a donation from AAOMS of $2,000 to honor the program’s many “individuals united in service.”
I would like to thank everyone who supported our mission this year, especially our ROAAOMS donors – who remind us daily that our work is both important and appreciated – and our OMSFIRE donors. I also would like to thank our legacy donors who share our residents’ hope for a bright future and have provided resources to support it in their estate plans.
Our capacity to do better depends on your support. OMS Partners, LLC, has generously pledged to match every gift to the Annual Fund received by Dec. 31, including inaugural OMSFIRE gifts, up to a total of $25,000. Please be generous.