First I’d like to wish all our members a happy and prosperous 2012! I hope each of you enjoyed a warm and fulfilling Holiday season that serves to nourish and inspire you throughout the new year.

As you probably know from previous FAO e-mail messages, in September, there was an unprecedented action taken by the AAO BOT approving a motion that the AAO president be one of the signatories on a letter to state BOD's advocating reciprocity and portability of licensure between states. This action greatly concerned the FAO leadership since it was diametrically opposed to our efforts at our own BOD (over the past six years) to maintain quality (continuity) of care for future orthodontic patients in Florida.

Click here to read FAO’s letter to Dr. Rogers. Click here to read AAO’s response.

As a result of our (and others) response, the AAO BOT reconsidered and voted instead to send the issue to several councils for consideration.

On November 9th, a survey was sent by the AAO to 63 members (component presidents and others unnamed ). The survey included no additional information pertaining to the issue. It consisted of 3 questions and one area for comments. The response rate was 39.6%.

The only question with a significant majority response was:
“Should the AAO adopt a positive position on the portability of specialty licenses between states and actively encourage states to adopt such policies?”

Out of 63 surveyed, 20 responded yes to the above and 5 responded no.

Subsequently, the FAO prepared and the SAO submitted a different survey for component presidents of just the SAO, including additional points to consider (facts that were not likely considered by the twenty respondents above). Click here to view our survey questions and click here to view responses.

As part of our mission, your FAO leaders will continue to defend against any threats to the highest possible quality of care in our state and uphold those principles that bring us together each year as one of the largest component organizations in the country.

We could not do this effectively without your membership and we invite more active participation from those of you so inclined. Licensure is but one of our key legislative issues that requires more active participation and financial support from our members. Contributions to our legislators through our CCE, (Florida Orthodontists for Freedom), helps speak to the intensity of our issues with one voice.

We look forward to seeing everyone on March 2nd for our 72nd Annual Session. Dr. Chris Mariani has brought together an outstanding presentation with the usual AAO liability lecture (good for 10% off your premium), Dr. Mark Johnson speaking to the new and young members on a variety of important topics and Dr. Stephen Tracey promising to inform and entertain at the same time. You don’t want to miss this one!

I am very sorry to announce the loss of another of our valued regular attendees, Dr. Terry Tippin, this past September 9th. Terry and I shared many mutually beneficial and interesting discussions at our annual sessions over the past 25 years. I will not forget our time together on the train ride up to the top of Pikes Peak at the SAO meeting in 2010. He is responsible for inspiring many young orthodontists and his friendly manner will be sorely missed.

Jimmy Glenos