AO CMF Community Development Commission

Ana Catalina Tobón Trujillo, MD

Head Coordinator Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service, Panamerican Clinic, Apartadó, Antioquia, Colombia

“I see the AO CMFCDC as a key driver for other AO global commissions—the AO Education Commission, the AO Research and Development Commission, and the AO Technical Commission—and I want to connect these commissions, create networking, dialogue, and collaboration that will ultimate serve not just our surgeons and members, but the AO itself.

We stand on the shoulders of giants: The AO founders were the first real and important surgeons who left us a great legacy in education, research, and innovation all under one umbrella. No other organization can match this legacy.

The unique ‘AO family’ represents opportunities for lifelong professional development—for our members to grow as surgeons, educators, researchers, and innovators—as well as lifelong friendships. This is what I want the world to know about AO CMF and the AO.”

Read the full chairperson interview here.

Yeshaswini Thelekkat

Susana Heredero-Jung, MD, PhD

Consultant Craniomaxillofacial Surgeon at Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía in Córdoba, Spain. 

Serving as the AO CMF Representative for the Mediterranean subregion, I have been privileged to witness the impact of cross-cultural collaboration and shared expertise among peers. 

My vision is to cultivate a vibrant, diverse network where surgeons across our ESA region can collaborate seamlessly, enhancing both scientific dialogue and education.
My priorities include fostering more personalized, two-way communication online; creating engaging, interactive educational content; promoting diversity and supporting early and mid-career surgeons; encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration; and strengthening connections between young and senior professionals through the region.

This approach reflects AO CMF’s core values and aims to build a more inclusive, connected, and dynamic community across the ESA region—one that supports continuous learning and inspires the next generation of surgeons.

Rafael Cypriano, DDS

Head of the Vitória Apart Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), Vitória, Brazil

“The face represents our identity and our individuality. The outcomes of our work must fulfill requirements other than just function. The aesthetic part of our job is extremely important, and we must be aware of these challenges in every case we treat.

The priority of the AO CMFCDC is our community, our members. It's very important that we work together with other commissions and deliver new projects to our members.

myAO is an important tool to connect our members and we are working on improving participation in the app. Additionally, the fellowship program is now the responsibility of our commission and that's a huge responsibility from our side, since this is a very popular AO program, especially for young surgeons. Another important part of our job is inclusion, diversity, and mentorship, and we are working with AO Access to improve our offer dedicated to the AO CMF Women Surgeon Group and beyond.

AO CMF gives us the opportunity to learn and improve our skills—and not only surgical skills. Networking is the key to success and the AO gives us an opportunity to know and connect with surgeons from all parts of the world. That's amazing. Every surgeon should know that.”

Mohamed Hazem Abdelazeem, MSc., M.D., MRCS(Eng), FRCS(Glasg)

Professor of Plastic and Cranio-maxillofacial surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo university, Egypt. Private practice at my clinics in central Cairo and New Giza area.

"As a plastic & CMF surgeon, I do all plastic surgery procedures and operations with sub specialization in CMF surgery with special interest in minimally invasive and endoscopic assisted CMF surgeries."

At the AO CMF CDC:

• Vision and mission: "Now a days with the great changes in technology, communication, artificial intelligence and digitalization the needs for surgeons in there different stages in their carrier has changed, Especially for the young generation. Our role as CDC, is understanding and responding with new innovated tools to fill their needs and motivate them to learn and improve their skills both professionally and personally. “The AO spirit is a drive to excel in your carrier and enjoy your life“"

• Priorities and goals: "Increase the reach of the voice of AO CMF. Motivate more surgeons to be AO CMF by becoming active member. Maintain and augment the reputation of AO CMF. Implement the equality, diversity and  inclusion for opportunities offered by AO CMF. Expanding the AO CMF network of surgeons by improving the awareness of the AO CMF members benefits and value. Working on collaboration with other global and regional societies to spread the word of AO CMF."