Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2020 - 4

PCSO News and Events

President's Report

My Perspective

I am an optimistic, "glass-half-full" person. It is
not that I don't see the empty half of the glass.
It's just that I prefer to focus on what can be
accomplished with what is still in the glass.

Dr. Robert Meister
PCSO President 2019-2020

We are emerging from one of the most devastating worldwide events of the past 100 years. A
global pandemic has not only taken hundreds of
thousands of lives but has also brought record
unemployment, failing businesses, and widespread social disruption. Most of us want to get
back to work, eat out at our favorite restaurant,
make weekend plans with friends, and enjoy our
favorite activities. We long to get back to our
practices and our routines.
We could look at the empty top of the glass and
be upset at how our lives have been disrupted-
all that we missed while isolating at home, the
plans that we canceled, the tickets that went
unused, the time with loved ones that we could
not enjoy, the revenue we lost, the growth that
withered, the momentum that stalled. This could
be your focus, and no one would blame you for
your anger, anxiety, and bitterness. But what
does this perspective accomplish?
Instead, we could look at the bottom of the glass,
still full, and realize how fortunate most of us
have been through this difficult experience. We
have our families to love, care for, and enjoy.
We have a place to work that provides us with
fulfillment and satisfaction because we help our
patients have a better life. We have faced a setback, but we will rebuild and move forward. We
will be wiser and able to share our knowledge and
experience with future colleagues.
While we strive to return to life as it used to be,
we have been provided a unique opportunity to
acknowledge our blessings and restore our fellow
man. Many around us-perhaps a patient, a
neighbor, or a friend-will not have been as lucky.
They may have lost a loved one, a friend, their
business, or their home. They may be struggling
at levels that we cannot even comprehend. We
have been supporting our community for years
with the care that we provide our patients. Now is
the ideal time for us to open our eyes to the needs
of our neighbors, to broaden our view, and renew
our commitment to help those around us.

Each of you will do this in your own unique way.
Your vision, your resources, and your opportunities will all play into the special ways that you can
help others. But I am sure generosity will define
your choices, as it always has for our profession. I
encourage you to grasp this chance, make a plan,
and lead with your heart.
A Note on Advocacy
I realize that it is difficult to look beyond our immediate concerns related to the pandemic-the
health and well-being of our families and loved
ones, the stability of our practices, and so much
more. That is where your focus should be right
now. But I wanted to make sure you are aware
that the AAO, PCSO, and its component organizations continue to vigorously defend our profession. We were hard at work on your behalf in the
months leading up to this pandemic, and our
efforts will continue as we emerge from it.
As the multipronged attacks on our specialty
have increased, advocacy efforts have ramped
up at every level of orthodontics. The AAO legal
team has worked with component associations to
protect specialty advertising and define the proper
supervision needed to perform orthodontic procedures. The California Association of Orthodontists
was instrumental in getting legislation passed
requiring proper diagnosis and accountability in
direct-to-consumer clear aligner therapy. Additional legislation to protect consumers is pending.
Initially during the pandemic, the lack of clear
guidance for our profession from government
agencies led to great confusion. Generalized
guidelines were developed that ignored the
specific procedures that orthodontists perform.
All levels of organized orthodontics effectively advocated for clearer and more pertinent
guidance. Your professional associations drove
conversations that brought logical modifications
to guidelines, which are now allowing our offices
to reopen safely.
Well-informed, persistent advocacy is essential
for safeguarding our profession. Never before
has this been more evident than in the recent
shutdown that we all experienced. Please take
this to heart and remember that your membership matters.

PCSO Bulletin Summer 2020

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2020