Face to Face® - September 2023

ED DORE Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee 25th ICOMS

In June, the CAOMS members welcomed their lnternational colleagues and families to Vancouver for the 25th ICOMS. This was only the second time the conference has been held in Canada and with the unfortunate cancellation of Glasgow 2021, the first meeting since Rio. lt was an extraordinary meeting with representatives from 60 countries. Old acquaintances were reunited and new friendships formed. Vancouver contributed perfect weather to make all the informal and social activities a great success.

Our Scientific Committee composed of Nardi Caspi, Sean Edwards, David Koppel, Mathilde Sarlabous and chaired by Ben Davis gave everyone a chance to hear presentations on all areas of our specialty, educational directions, and research studies. Presenters from over 60 countries shared their wisdom, experience and expertise. lt was an amazing opportunity to hear about the ongoing research and new directions in OMFS from established and up and coming researchers in our field. In addition, there were 300 plus free papers along with multiple excellent poster presentations to augment these plenary and symposia sessions. Special thanks to our many exhibitors who brought the new products and instruments that enabled us to see and experiment with the latest technologic advances for our practice.

Presenters from over 60 countries shared their wisdom, experience and expertise. lt was an amazing opportunity to hear about the ongoing research and new directions in OMFS from established and up and coming researchers in our field.

FAREWELL VANCOUVER

Social events were outstanding; all of them were sold out well in advance. Several special food tours occurred involved the Gastown area and the very famous Grenville lsland market - lots of opportunity to sample cuisine from around the world as well as the specialities of British Columbia.

The Foundation Luncheon was a special occasion when we heard the story of Alexis Guimond, a Canadian paralympic skier. He suffered an accident at 6 months of age, which resulted in hemiparesis [full paralysis] on the right side of his body and a stroke at age 12, which caused partial paralysis on the left side of his body... He spent three days in a coma after the second stroke and didn’t walk for weeks. His journey was an inspiring tale of how he rose to win a bronze medal in the Olympics.

After four wonderful days in the magnificent setting of Vancouver nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains it was time to say “Farewell to ICOMS23”

The sunset dinner cruise had 300 enthusiastic participants enjoy a trip around the outskirts of Vancouver Harbour while they ate, drank and danced. This carried over the next night to the Foundation Reception. Everyone cleaned up very well. Many pictures were taken with Corporal Janes of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the distinctive dress Mountie Red Surge uniform. The pictures supported the funding raising efforts of the Foundation; thank you everyone who participated in this effort. This was followed by the formal Gala Dinner with music and dancing and lots of mingling with new and long-time colleagues and friends.

After four wonderful days in the magnificent setting of Vancouver nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains it was time to say “Farewell to ICOMS23”. Many extended their time with wine tours, travel to more northern BC and cruises to Alaska. While many memories will linger of the knowledge, friendships and fun of Vancouver, it is time to look forward to meeting again at the 26 th ICOMS in Singapore. See you there!!! ■

October 17-19

October 17-19 / 2023

NEW CHALLENGES

AFTER A LONG FOUR YEARS apart due to the pandemic, ICOMS 2023 in Vancouver was muchneeded closure for our membership and a brilliant premiere for the future ahead of us. With over 1,300 attendees from 60 countries, the four days of programming and events were at full capacity and the air was truly electric with longtime friends and first-time attendees alike sharing their passion for this specialty. Our deepest gratitude goes out to the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and our local organizing committee for making this event possible after years of planning, and to every sponsor, exhibitor, and attendee who added to this shared experience.

To keep the momentum going from this reunion of the specialty, the IAOMS is already hard at work on programming throughout rest of the year for every member’s stage of career. The upcoming IAOMS NextGen Online Conference on October 17-19 will be in collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) featuring both renowned experts in the field as well as upcoming NextGen members with new perspectives and approaches. Members will enjoy three days of live presentations and Q&A sessions, with nights dedicated to orthognathic surgery, dental implants, and oncology developments.

Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming Virtual Conference partnering with the Osteo Science Foundation. Building on the success of past events with a more refined format and topic selection, we are looking forward to giving our members the next installment of this acclaimed program.

I would like to once again personally thank Kimberly Shadle for her seven years of service to the IAOMS as my right-hand ally and as a constant pillar for our leadership as she moves on to her next chapter after seeing through this last ICOMS to completion. We were able to welcome the new Governance and Administration Manager Marisa Peacock in time for ICOMS for a face-to-face introduction to our members. She is joining us with extensive association experience.

We are also proud to introduce Tressa Thomas as the new Marketing and Communications Manager, bringing with her an eclectic range of talents throughout the nonprofit and private sectors.

We’re looking forward to this new chapter in serving our membership. ■

Mitchell Dvorak EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IAOMS

Editor-in-Chief

Deepak Krishnan

Assistant Editors

Noor Al Saadi

Lilis Iskandar

Graphic Designer

María Montesinos

Executive Committee 2022-2023

Board of Directors

Alejandro Martinez, President

Gabriele Millesi, Past President

Sanjiv Nair, Vice President

Rui Fernandes, Vice President-Elect

Brett Ferguson, Treasurer

Larry Nissen, IAOMS Foundation Chair

Mitchell Dvorak, Executive Director

Members-at-Large

Nardy Casap

Alfred Lau

Fred Rozema

Regional Representatives

Imad Elimairi, Africa

Tetsu Takahaski, Asia

Nick Kalavrezos, Europe

Leopoldo Victor Meneses Rivadeneira, Latin America

Ian Ross, North America

Jocelyn Shand, Oceania

Nabil Samman, Editor-in-Chief, IJOMS

Committee Chairs

G.E. Ghali, Education

Alfred Lau, NextGen

Henry Garcia, NextGen

Sean Edwards, Research

Issue 69 / September 2023

Letter from the President

To my Dear Colleagues,

LOOKING BACK on our week in Vancouver last month, I cannot express my thoughts as only the sitting IAOMS President. As a doctor and practitioner of OMFS and as your friend who missed you all dearly, this ICOMS was a prayer being answered. Seeing us all together again and standing for our respective countries during our roll call of nations at the opening ceremonies felt like sitting at the long table with family after too long apart.

The work of Dr. Ed Dore and his ICOMS planning committee overcame numerous obstacles throughout the pandemic to make this conference possible, and their work was repaid with incredible lectures, classes, and social events designed to make the world of OMFS smaller and ask what our brothers and sisters across the oceans are doing differently. From the outstanding Presidential Lectures on the latest technology and the fascinating history of what we do to the unforgettable nights taking a river cruise and raising glasses at our Gala dinner, ICOMS is the crown jewel of OMFS specialty.

But most of all, I was able to enjoy it all in a position where I could meet so many new faces and shake hands with doctors I once only knew from their articles. I thank you all for this time at the head

of the table, and I will be clapping the loudest in December when we welcome Dr. Sanjiv Nair as the next President of IAOMS. I look forward to serving my President as the incoming Chair for the IAOMS Foundation as I try and fill the shoes of the irreplaceable Dr. Larry Nissen.

To serve a term as your President for this occasion is truly a miracle to me; I am only a doctor. But this organization has allowed me to travel this world and learn from my peers in every corner of it, and by doing so, we have helped our patients, our practices, and each other to push our specialty further than ever before.

To even be a member of the IAOMS has greatly touched my life. Whatever path you take as a member, I am proud of you, and you inspire me to do better.  ■

Alejandro Martinez IAOMS PRESIDENT 2022-2023

• Learn with IJOMS, one of the world’s leading OMF journals with the highest impact factor of all OMF publications; read Face to Face, written for and by members

• Enhance patient care through webinars, online conferences and other e-learning courses*

• Prepare for the International Board for the Certification of Specialization of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (IBCSOMS) with the IAOMS Review Course

• Support the next generation through the IAOMS Foundation Fellowship and Scholarship opportunities

• Experience events for all OMF surgeons, ranging from trainee to experienced surgeons: ICOMS, the IAOMS’ biennial signature educational and networking conference and “The Next Level Forum;” International Symposia, and regional conferences*

• Expand your knowledge; access innovative best-in-class training

• Connect with peers throughout the world

• Grow among the next generation of oral and maxillofacial surgeons through our NextGen programmatic initiatives; network with your colleagues through our online community

Questions? Contact Membership Manager Katie Cairns at kcairns@iaoms.org *IAOMS

THANKS

ICOMS 2023 IN VANCOUVER, CANADA, was truly an exceptional event that reunited old friends and created many new friendships in a first-class educational event combined with wonderful social activities. There is no better feeling than seeing beloved friends after a four-year absence. Thank you to everyone who made ICOMS 2023 possible. I would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Kimberly Shadle, who has served as the Foundation’s staff member for 7 years. She has been the “glue” that held us together with her exceptional organizational skills. Unfortunately, she is moving into a new phase of her career. She will be missed but we wish her the best in her future endeavors. Our Communications staff member, Xander Sobecki, will also be leaving the Association for a new job. He has been instrumental in the last few years, providing great advice and information in all areas of communications. Again, Xander, thank you and we wish you well.

Foundation highlights of the 2023 ICOMS included the Foundation Luncheon featuring an absolutely inspiring speaker, Alexis Guimond, who has won two Paralympic bronze medals (which he brought with him, and they are HEAVY) while fighting a lifetime of cerebral palsy and related complications. The sheer determination and drive this young man continues to show, despite numerous setbacks, is humbling. We wish him well as he continues his pursuit of excellence in the Paralympic skiing world.

The Foundation

Donor Reception which immediately preceded the Gala Dinner was a grand prelude to a very special

evening. We had a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal who posed with guests for a donation to the Foundation was a highlight of that event. Many lighthearted photos returned home with patrons as a fond memory of Vancouver. The Gala itself was an elegant event with many awards given. A special recognition by Immediate Past President, Gabriella Millesi, presented the Honorary Fellowship to Mr. Christian Leibinger, of the KLS Martin Group. Christian and his father, Karl Leibinger and the entire KLS Martin Group, have been tremendous supporters of the specialty and of our Foundation for many years. Without them, our Foundation would not be nearly as successful. To top off the night for the Foundation, I along with Vice Chairman, Alejandro Martinez, announced that Mr. Christian Leibinger and the KLS Martin Group have pledged another 1 million dollars to the IAOMS Foundation over the next 5 years. This will make the total donation of the KLS Martin Group to our Foundation over 2.2 million dollars. Thank you may not seem enough to say to the Leibingers and the KLS Martin group, but they continue to be THE leaders that are instrumental in helping provide the IAOMS educational programs around the

ICOMS 2023 may be in the history books, but it will be remembered as the first postpandemic meeting of the IAOMS and will go down a very memorable one for all those that attended. Next ICOMS is in Singapore in 2025. Plan to be there. ■

Larry W. Nissen IAOMS FOUNDATION CHAIR

TMJ ARTHROSCOPY

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

DR. NEHAL PATEL Director at Nuface Dental and Maxillofacial Surger Clinic Surat District, Gujarat, India

FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS

The IAOMS Foundation will launch the application process for the Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Surgery Fellowships in India and the Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery Fellowships in China in Fall 2023. The Fellowships are 12 months in length.

The Foundation is also launching the application process for the Visiting Scholars Program in Fall 2023. The IAOMS Foundation has provided the opportunity for young surgeons to travel to other countries and visit, for short periods of 2-4 weeks, prestigious OMS Departments to enhance their postgraduate education by observing and studying with top surgeons and professors.  Each year the IAOMS Foundation awards a number of scholarships to cover travel and living expenses.

All Fellowship and Scholarship recipients must be IAOMS members.

For Visiting Scholar applicants, please click to view the Red Book, our on-line directory of IAOMS affiliated training facilities.

AAOMS INTERNATIONAL IAOMS FOUNDATION RECEPTION

IAOMS Foundation will be holding an International Reception in conjunction with the AAOMS Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 7:30 – 9:30 pm at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, CA. We greatly appreciate the support from our sponsor, KLS Martin Group. For more information on the AAOMS Annual Meeting, please go to www.aaoms.org

Marisa Peacock Manager of Office Administration and Governance Support

After thought

A handshake and a hug

By Deepak G Krishnan Cincinnati. USA

THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION is often overlooked. As the tragedy of a pandemic canceled our opportunity to meet in 2021, we pivoted to learning online and got adept at navigating the Zoom calls and the Teams meetings and the multitude of other virtual platforms and started getting used to this new normal. While it was certainly cool for a while to listen to some world class lectures from one’s bedroom at one’s convenience, there was something fundamental missing since the ICOMS in Rio. The power of a handshake and the warmth of a hug!

When the doors to the Vancouver convention center opened its doors to over 1300 participants from 60 countries, there was a renewed energy. Friends and colleagues from across the globe came together with much joy and fervor after the 4-year hiatus. The venue was perfect with great early summer British Columbia weather, and the warm Canadian hospitality. Attendees got a rare treat of two Presidential lectures - one about history and one about the future! The symposia had folks lining the walls, the Women in OMS session was dynamic and powerful, the free paper sessions were stimulating, and the Masterclasses were masterful. The social events were spectacular and fun, and the gala was simply classy!

Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence seemed to be the overarching theme throughout the congress. Every aspect of our specialty seems to be heading in that direction, as are our lives. Innovative minds from all over the globe presented outstanding research and surgical techniques with a fervor to a hungry audience of curious minds. It seemed ironic that so many humans were talking so much about machine intelligence. It was as though they had all seen a new type of sunrise.

Above and beyond all the scientific congressional hullabaloo was a sense of satisfaction in gathering with the birds of the same feather. We are a small specialty. It is likely that you know every Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in your town, perhaps in your

region. It is possible that you happen to know or know of, just about everyone in your country by less than a degree or two of separation. It fascinates me to recognize that the folks that come to the ICOMS and committedly keep attending it year after year are also often the same. I meet the same contingent from Estonia and the same group from Nigeria and the same surgeons from Australia at every ICOMS. And then there are the deer in the headlights appearing first time attendees that congregate on trade exhibit floor, fascinated by what they are seeing! Why do we all keep gathering at this event every other year? Is it the scientific content? Is it the social aspect of gathering? Is it the political clout that it projects? Perhaps it is one of these, many of these, or all of these for most of the conference attendees.

As for me, I have been a regular ICOMS attendee since 2007. I go to the ICOMS to have a good time, connect with my global family, and learn from the very best in the craft of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The Vancouver ICOMS hit the spot perfectly. I arrived like a hungry traveler at an inn in a far-off land, in the middle of the night. I soaked up the conference like a sponge, the science, the culture and the camaraderie and it was just delightful. Thank you, Vancouver and good bye! ■