October 2024 AO CMF NA CDC Newsletter
Welcome from Dr. Michael Grant
As the new chair of the Community Development Committee (CDC) I am excited to share with you our quarterly AO CMF North America Newsletter. The CDC has created this newsletter to keep our members up to date with the AO CMF NA activities, highlight some of the outstanding work of our members, as well as provide opportunities for members to become more involved with AO CMF.
Below you'll read about upcoming initiatives including Case-Based Dinners, which offer a new opportunity for residents to engage with AO faculty. Learn more about our highly anticipated course focused on ballistic injury management as well as the multidisciplinary and AO NA-sponsored Academic Practice and Research Forum taking place at this month’s AAFPRS annual meeting.
This newsletter will also serve as a vehicle for reminders about research opportunities, mentorship, and other career development initiatives. Included here is a recap of this year's Fellows Forum, which provided a valuable networking opportunity for the fellows to connect with AO colleagues and faculty members. Visit www.aona.org to read about the 2024 CMF Resident Research Award winners and other recent news.
Please feel free to reach out to me at cmfnews@aona.org with ideas and comments for future newsletter issues.
Sincerely,
Michael Grant, MD, PhD, FACS
AO CMF NA - Community Development Committee Chair
Paul N Manson Distinguished Professor
Chief - Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland
Case-Based Dinner Series
Launching fall 2024, the AO North America CMF Community Development Committee will convene a Case-Based Dinner series. Geared towards Residents, this event series is designed to be highly interactive with clinical case presentations on surgeries that are approaching and/or recent surgeries that were challenging or thought provoking.
Through presentation and discussion, faculty hosts and participants will work toward a deeper understanding of the complications and characteristics of complex fractures that are necessary for quality patient outcomes. Faculty will also discuss recent advances, tips, tricks and techniques in fracture care as well as approaches for handling difficult fracture problems.
The first event will take place in Baltimore, MD. Additional details will be announced soon. In the meantime, contact cmfnews@aona.org if you have any questions.
Course Highlight: Maxillofacial Reconstruction: A Focus on Ballistic Injury Management
Join nationally prominent multidisciplinary faculty (including AO military experts) in Tampa, FL on November 8- 10, 2024 for the highly anticipated Maxillofacial Reconstruction: A Focus on Ballistic Injury Management course.
This two-and-a-half-day course emphasizes practical lectures and hands-on experiences—from planning a cutting-edge reconstruction procedure for the tertiary reconstruction of an individual’s craniomaxillofacial wound to performing the reconstruction of both hard-tissue and soft-tissue defects under expert mentors in a 3:1 student to expert faculty ratio.
Event Highlight: Academic Practice & Research Forum section
Marlborough Room, Hilton New Orleans Riverside
The AO-sponsored Academic Practice & Research Forum at this year’s AAFPRS Annual Meeting will showcase the multi-disciplinary approach to solving patient problems that is at the core of both organizations. Featuring leaders across specialties, AO Faculty Dr. John Chi and Dr. Travis Tollefson will moderate this discussion on sponsorship, mentorship, and coaching in the pursuit of growth—both personal and professional. Hear more from Dr. Tollefson on why AAFPRS attendees should make sure to join this event at the link below.
Contact babb.allison@aona.org with questions.
Fellows Forum 2024 Recap
On September 6, 2024, thirteen AO CMF North America Fellows for the 2024/25 year gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Fellows Forum— a mini–Faculty Educator Program. This marked an essential first step in their journey toward potential involvement with the AO Foundation after completing their Fellowship training.
During this one day event, the participants explored the meaning of being an AO Fellow. They shared their best and worst educational experiences and learned the art of giving and receiving feedback, during a segment was skillfully led by Dr. Travis Tollefson and Dr. Kerry Latham, Chair of the AO CMF North America Fellowship Committee. Additionally, the fellows delved into progressive research during a session facilitated by Dr. Lamont Jones, Chair of the AO CMF North America Research Committee, along with committee members Dr. John Chi and Dr. Timothy King. They had the opportunity to discuss their current research projects, a key requirement of their fellowship award.
The day concluded with a reception attended by AO CMF North America faculty, who taught the Facial Skeleton and Soft Tissue Management course that weekend, in which the fellows also participated.
This gathering provided a valuable networking opportunity for the fellows to connect with colleagues and faculty members. The weekend was marked by a strong sense of community and collaboration, embodying the spirit of AO North America.
Upcoming Courses
Learn more and register now for an upcoming AO NA CMF course.
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