Written by: Dr. Roberto B .Tan
Secretary General, APOS 2018-2020
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Executive Committee Members (ECM) of the Asian Pacific Orthodontic Society (APOS) was held on 24th February 2019 in Singapore alongside the Association of Orthodontists, Singapore Conference (AOSC). This meeting was hosted by the Association of Orthodontists, Singapore (AOS) and was attended by all twenty-three ECMs and thirteen observers.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the announcement of the opening of the Asian Pacific Foundation for Orthodontic Research and Education (APFORE) bank account in Singapore. APFORE was established to promote and encourage research, education and development of the science of orthodontics within Asia Pacific. With the opening of the APFORE bank account, this foundation can finally move forward to support its cause.
The ECMs approved the membership application of the Mongolian Association of Orthodontists (MoAO) as the 20th Affiliate member of the APOS after complying with the requirements. You can read more about this below as Dr. Bolormaa Sainbayar, the International Liaison Officer of MoAO writes about his experience.
The search committee for the next Editor-in-chief (EIC) of the APOS Journal started accepting nominations ever since its current EIC, Dr Niklesh Vaid announced that he will be stepping down in 2020. By recommendations of the committee, Dr Eric Liou was appointed the next EIC of the APOS Trends in Orthodontics in 2020. Congratulations to Dr. Liou!
The APOS was fortunate to have Dr. Chng Chai Kiat (Singapore Chief Dental Officer) present his report on the proposed ‘Conduct of the ECMs’ document. The recommendations were well received as his suggestions were in line with the rules of the Registry of Societies in Singapore, where APOS is registered. Further recommendations will come as a new Committee was formed and will be chaired Dr. Nikhilesh Vaid.
Dr Roberto Tan, ECM of Association of Orthodontists Philippines (APO) presented a report on the previous 11th Asia Pacific Orthodontic Conference (APOC) in Boracay in 2018. Following this, the Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) ECM, Dr Keiji Moriyama (on behalf of Professor Takashi Ono) updated us all on the ongoing preparations for the 9th IOC, 12th APOC and 79th JOS Meeting, scheduled for 4-7th October 2020. Chairperson of the 3rd Residents’ Forum, Dr Eric Liou have also started preparations for the Residents’ Forum.
The ECMs were also pleased to hear from Dr Seung-Hak Baek as he reported on the progress the Korean Association of Orthodontists (KAO) have made in preparation for the 13th APOC in 2022. Finally, the committee has also awarded the host for the AGM in 2021 to Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedic Association of Nepal, ODOAN where the APOS ECMs will meet in Nepal.
Other projects undertaken by the APOS were updated and each committee Chair-in-charge presented their reports. Amongst them were: the Financial Report by APOS Treasurer Dr. WM Senadeera and Assistant Treasurer Dr. Yian Sian Seow, the APOS Journal Report by Dr. Nikhilesh Vaid and the APOS Newsletter report by the EIC, Dr. Yian San Seow.
A plaque of appreciation was presented to Dr. Yian San Seow by the APOS President, Dr. Yanheng Zhou for her outstanding service as the Assistant Treasurer and Editor-in-Chief of the APOS newsletter from 2016 to 2019. We welcomed Dr. Sylvia Tan, as she was introduced as the new Assistant treasurer and Editor in Chief of the APOS Newsletter. Dr. Zakir Hossain, ECM of the Bangladesh Orthodontic Society (BOS) presented a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Nikhilesh Vaid. On behalf of the BOS and the APOS ECM, we thank him for his services and his outstanding achievement as he was elected as the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) President-Elect. The APOS is truly grateful for their service, commitment and dedication rendered to the APOS.
Before the adjournment, the APOS President, Dr. Yanheng Zhou congratulated the AOS for a successful conference and thanked the AOS for hosting the 2019 AGM. It was a fruitful 2019 AGM and everyone is looking forward to the next AGM in Yokahama, Japan in October 2020.