Reenergized by AAOF

By Rick Fuchs MSO/SD, National Vanguard Society Chair

My initial exposure to the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation was during the first Graduate Orthodontists Residents Program meeting I attended in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2006. Dr. Fred Garrett, one of the most passionate and colorful people within the profession, detailed to our group the role that the Foundation seeks to have in support of research and education within orthodontics. As an orthodontic resident, you are engulfed in research and education, and realize how crucial these two areas are in maintaining the quality of care for our patients. Even though I was only two months into residency, I understood that supporting the Foundation was the right thing for a future orthodontist to do.

After hearing Dr. Garrett speak, I stopped by the Foundation booth and promptly became a Vanguard member, pledging at the Regent level. It didn't take deep thinking on my part to realize that a pledge of $25,000, spread over 15 years, was a reasonable gift to give in the face of all the blessings the profession was poised to give me. That moment was just the beginning of many wonderful memories I have already made during my involvement with the Foundation.

In the spring of 2007, I was asked to participate in a strategic long range planning session for the Foundation, where my role would be to represent a resident's point of view. I have to say that this is where my passion for the Foundation was sparked. It was here that I got to meet and interact with dozens of passionate orthodontists for the first time. I was able to discuss the struggles in research and education funding with some of my professional heroes, and also discuss ways the Foundation could grow to meet these challenges. I left that meeting knowing that I wanted to take an active role within this group.

For the past three years, I have volunteered to attend the annual GORP meeting on the Foundation's behalf to help residents see the value in becoming a Vanguard member. It has been a blessing to work with Drs. Fred Garrett and Jep Paschal as well as Executive Vice President Robert Hazel at this event, and every year I leave that meeting reenergized in my passion for the work the Foundation does. I believe it is crucial to familiarize residents with our core goals, and to show them how the Foundation is trying to improve their education with funding for research and supporting junior faculty. I look forward to continuing this role in helping the Foundation grow.

My role has recently been modified. This past summer I was honored to be asked to join the board of directors of the AAOF as the new Vanguard Society chairman, replacing Dr. Paschal. I look forward to serving on the board and hope that I can make some positive, lasting contributions to this group.

That summarizes my journey so far with the AAOF, and I encourage everyone to develop their own relationship with the Foundation as well. I believe that it is crucial for orthodontists to support the AAOF and I take a simplistic view of the issue. I pose one question to every orthodontist:

If we as orthodontists don't care about supporting orthodontic research and education, then who will?

Learn How You Can Help

To learn how you can use planned giving to support AAOF's mission of research and education in the orthodontic specialty, contact AAO Foundation at 800.424.2841 or aaof@aaortho.org today, at no obligation.