ACOMS Letter From an Editor: Chose 'Adventure,' Lose 'Misadventure' in Your OMS Career

Dear ACOMS members,

By virtue of our very profession, I believe we each possess an innate sense of adventure. As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we work in tight spaces, in close proximity to nerves, vessels, and the airway on a daily basis. We are undeterred by blood, saliva, and the very essence of our profession—working inside another person’s oral cavity, a place where most people would rather not venture.

Every day, we counsel patients about risks, develop contingency plans, and prepare for potential complications. Emergencies can present at any time. In many ways, operating is an exercise in managing the unexpected.

Yet, adventure in oral surgery does not necessarily mean seeking the extraordinary or unpredictable. Nearly a decade into private practice, I do not long for unexpected ordeals in my office or among my staff. Quite the opposite: I hope that advances in technology, imaging, and digital planning continue to reduce misadventure by allowing us to anticipate challenges and optimize surgical care.

Rather, adventure represents intellectual curiosity, courage, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning that accompanies the surgeon along the professional journey. Ultimately, adventure in oral surgery is a mindset. It is the willingness to remain curious when confronted with the unfamiliar, resilient when faced with difficulty, and humble when the limits of our knowledge become apparent. It encourages us to pursue lifelong learning, embrace innovation responsibly, and approach every patient as an opportunity to improve.

This sentiment extends beyond our clinical practices and into the outside world. It is easy to become myopic when confronted with the daily realities of difficult patients, staffing dilemmas, and the grind of owning a business or working within an institution or hospital system. We all recognize that growth often occurs when we step outside our comfort zones. Adventure can take many forms: traveling to an unfamiliar place, becoming a parent, finishing a novel, trying a new cuisine or restaurant, taking up a new hobby, or acquiring a new skill. It does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful.

Sometimes, adventure is simply allowing ourselves to be beginners again.

This issue serves to highlight a couple of our members’ experiences and explorations. With the advent of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, we may feel that we know people we have never met, experienced procedures we have only seen on a screen, and visited places we have never set foot in. So much of the world, and so much of our profession, is now available at our (and everyone’s) fingertips. Does this change our definition of adventure? Perhaps it does. Perhaps adventure is no longer defined simply by places traveled or experiences encountered, but by our willingness to remain curious, to engage with the unfamiliar, and to seek experiences beyond what is immediately comfortable or convenient.

As surgeons, we spend our careers navigating the unknown with preparation, judgment, and humility. Perhaps we should bring that same spirit to the rest of our lives. I hope these stories inspire you to pursue your own adventures, in whatever capacity that means to you!