American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Meeting 2022 – reflections by Dr Bryce Lee

Written by:
Dr Bryce Lee
President
Association of Orthodontists Singapore (AOS)

It has been 3 years since the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has held an in-person spring meeting. In fact, the 2022 meeting was meant to be held in Hawaii. However, due to logistical issues because of the on-going pandemic situation, the meeting venue was changed to Miami Beach, Florida. The first-ever hybrid meeting of the AAO was held from the 21^st - 24^th May, 2022. Although a virtual option was offered, many (over nine thousand delegates) chose to travel to Miami to meet in person. Exhibition booths were fully subscribed. Lecture rooms and seminar talks were very well attended.

The welcomed feeling of finally meeting in a physical setting was palpable everywhere you went in the Miami Beach Convention Centre. For those who were not able to travel to Miami; a virtual event, with lectures available for a month, was made available.

The AAO annual session has always been one of the yearly highlights within the orthodontic fraternity. The international participation as well as the high quality of lectures presented did not disappoint. Among the highlights were the 2022 Lifetime Achievement award Lecture delivered by Dr Katherine Vig and the 2022 Edward H Angle Award Lecture presented by Dr Sunil Kapila.

In conjunction with the scientific program, many administrative meetings were conducted amongst which, was the WFO Presidents breakfast meeting. The highlight of this meeting was the presentation of the TM Graber Outstanding Article Award for best JWFO Articles for the years 2019 to 2021, as well as the announcement of the host city for the 2030 International Orthodontic Congress. Dr Nikhilesh Vaid, President of the WFO, declared that Milan would be the host city for the 11^th IOC in 2030.

The AAO annual session did not disappoint in the Covid era where a new normal affects the way we live and practise our profession. I look forward to being there, in person, at the 2023 meeting in Chicago.