Experience It Differently — Message From ACOMS President
In my first president’s message for ACOMS Review, I want to begin by thanking everyone who makes ACOMS possible — including our dedicated sponsors, staff, members, and the Board of Regents. I would also like to acknowledge those who have led the organization before me; their dedication, insight, and commitment to ACOMS have built a strong foundation upon which we can grow. Each of these groups has come together to create the ACOMS culture that we value and look to build upon further as our organization transforms.
ACOMS aims to reflect the spirit of our specialty by fulfilling the needs of our members and the oral and maxillofacial surgery community as a whole. As such, the ACOMS Board and leadership has spent time listening to our members and adjusting to ever-changing trends. As president, it’s a great honor to usher in transformation that will further enrich our College, as we invite you to experience ACOMS differently.
Here are our coming focuses:
Providing Events — Differently
As our ever-popular Winter Meeting, also known as the “ski meeting,” continues to grow, I am inspired by our approach to providing continuing education in unique ways. We aim to create events with schedules that allow attendees to experience the destination rather than spend their entire days in a windowless meeting room.
The response to our Winter Meeting is strong, with many attendees creating a family trip around the event, and we want to replicate that experience with other ACOMS events. Therefore, ACOMS is shifting to be experiential, with its focus on two main events per year, one on the summit (the ski meeting) and one at the shore — a newly envisioned annual conference in a warm location.
Please save the date to join us for the ACOMS and FACES 29th Annual Winter Meeting Feb. 7-12 at the Four Seasons Resort in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada — a truly world-class destination offering mountain activities for the entire family. Registration will open late summer.
I am proud that ACOMS combines lifestyle, wellness, fellowship, and education in all our meetings. Next, expect exciting new projects, such as smaller “pulse meetings” in intimate locations, which will facilitate truly unique experiences with a splash of continuing education.
Fostering Global Collaboration
After a very successful meeting in Puerto Rico, we look forward to expanding collaboration with global colleagues and broadening our horizons to include meetings in international locations.
Building Personal Connection
ACOMS’ mission includes fostering personal connection and community, all which will be built through our winter meeting, re-envisioned annual conference, and our peer-driven publication ACOMS Review. Read and share articles from ACOMS Review, and if you know of a surgeon who has a story to tell, reach out to our publications team.
We truly appreciate our members, event participants, and those who support ACOMS. By fostering relationships, professional development, and mentorship, we can continue to develop experiences tailored to the modern surgeon and, through it all, foster community and connection to advance the profession.