The air is turning crisp and the leaves are beginning to change their colors. Fall is a great season to stay active by getting outside and taking advantage of the remaining days of mild weather. Fall is also a busy time for ACOMS, as we kick off our new fiscal year and look forward to seeing colleagues at our upcoming meetings and courses—one almost every month, culminating in our 1^st ALACIBU & ACOMS International Meeting in June. Please make plans to attend this very special meeting in sunny South Florida.

The Elaine A. Stuebner Scholars Award is currently accepting submissions through November 1, 2019. Now in its third year, this award was founded by Immediate Past President and Stuebner Committee Chair, Dr. Stephanie Drew, in memory of the first woman certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The Committee, which includes the previous three winners, Drs. Shelly Abramowicz, Suganya Appugounder, and Natalie Eden, convened in July to envision this year’s award question, “how would you design a community outreach or marketing campaign to encourage females to consider a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery?” This question encourages the writer to consider what form of media would be effective in raising awareness of the profession amongst young women and girls, who may not have considered the profession before. I’d like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Steven A. Guttenberg for his extremely generous donation of $30,000 to the scholarship fund. This donation will go a long way in ensuring the perpetuity of this scholarship.

This season is also busy for the College, because we have recently launched our Membership Needs Assessment Survey. Whether you are a member, non-member, or lapsed member, I encourage you to submit your honest feedback. This important data will be used in January when the Board of Regents convenes for strategic planning. Your opinion is important to us and will directly impact the direction of the College, its membership benefits, and educational offerings.

Lastly, we know this is a busy season for you, as students return to school and the holidays approach. You may also be making your plans for what meetings and courses to attend in the next year. We hope that ACOMS will be a part of your plans, whether through hands-on practice in facial cosmetic surgery or reconnecting with colleagues on the slopes in Vail Valley. We are fortunate that the overwhelming share of our members signify their support and satisfaction by timely renewal of their membership. We sincerely appreciate this and don’t take it for granted. We know, as an organization, we must strive to earn and maintain your commitment. If you have not yet seen your renewal notice or need help updating your member status, the ACOMS staff will be pleased to assist you. We are a stronger organization than ever, providing an expansive portfolio of educational programs to meet the needs of today’s oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Thank you for your continued support, for recommending ACOMS to others, and for being so committed to your profession. Enjoy the season and consider what you want to learn from ACOMS in the months ahead.

Best regards,
Kevin L. Rieck, DDS, MD, FACS