Event recap: AGD Annual Meeting draws thousands to San Francisco

“This meeting was a great success,” said AGD Immediate Past President W. Carter Brown, DMD, FAGD. “Attendees were able to engage in cutting-edge continuing education courses and learn about the latest in dental technologies, procedures and clinical skills, which will surely enhance their professional careers.”

“It was a great time, and the fun location offered the perfect summer getaway for many of the attendees and their families,” Brown said.

Innovation took center stage in San Francisco with a keynote speech, “The Business of Innovation,” from Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity.com. And, for the first-time ever, the AGD offered a live patient continuing education (CE) course, “Live Implant Surgical Demonstration — The Magic Circle,” led by Todd B. Engel, DDS, of the Engel Institute. Plus, an additional 74 CE courses were made available to attendees.

Another AGD annual meeting first was the introduction of the AGD 2015 Scientific ePoster Session, where dental students, recent graduates and residents presented 15 ePosters in the exhibit hall — and five winners took home cash prizes.

The AGD also announced that 469 dentists earned the AGD Fellowship and Mastership Awards, which were presented during a special Convocation Ceremony on June 20. There were 38 Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition recipients.

Special events of the AGD Foundation included a Silent Auction, a Fun Run/Walk 5K fundraiser event, with more than 100 participants, and an oral cancer screening event, in which 72 people were screened for the potentially deadly disease.

At AGD 2015, the members of the 2015–2016 AGD Executive Committee also were announced:

• President W. Mark Donald, DMD, MAGD, of Louisville, Miss.
• President-Elect Maria A. Smith, DMD, MAGD, of Easton, Conn.
• Vice President Manuel A. Cordero, DDS, CPH, MAGD, of Sewell, N.J.
• Speaker of the House Bryan C. Edgar, DDS, MAGD, of Federal Way, Wash.
• Treasurer Mohamed F. Harunani, DDS, MAGD, of Rockford, Ill.
• Secretary Neil J. Gajjar, DDS, MAGD, of Mississauga, Ontario
• Editor Roger D. Winland, DDS, MS, MAGD, of Athens, Ohio
• Immediate Past President W. Carter Brown, DMD, FAGD, of Greenville, S.C.

At the meeting, there were three special award recipients: Gordon R. Isbell III, DMD, MAGD, received the Distinguished Service Award; Kraig S. Vandewalle, DDS, MS, MAGD, ABGD, received the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award; and Connie Sonnier, CAE, received the Honorary Membership Award.

AGD 2016 will be held in Boston, July 14 to 17.

(Source: Academy of General Dentistry)