President’s Message- Summer 2025
The elevator that opens to my office lobby has a quote on it that inspires me daily: “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.” -Henry Ford. This spirit of collaboration, unity, and connection is integral to the AAP Annual Meeting, and are the heart of our profession. As we look ahead to the 2025 Annual Meeting in Toronto, it’s the perfect time to highlight these values in this issue of Periospectives.
This year’s meeting, held in collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Periodontology from Oct. 15-18, offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge, explore new research, and foster meaningful connections with our Canadian colleagues and periodontists from around the world. Toronto sets the stage for vibrant collaboration and the exchange of ideas that will shape the future of our specialty.
We’re excited to welcome a dynamic lineup of Canadian speakers presenting at multiple sessions this year, including Dr. Peter Fritz and Dr. Véronique Benhamou. Don’t miss Dr. Fritz at two sessions this year—Say Hi to AI: Deep Learning Applications in Periodontics and The Art of Patient Care Beyond the Chair. And make sure to catch Dr. Benhamou at this year’s Dental Hygiene Symposium, a key highlight of our programming. An impressive lineup of sessions covering relevant topics for attendees at all stages of their careers is coming our way this year, offering insights and tools that attendees can bring back to their practices. For a sneak peek of the 111th AAP Annual Meeting, explore the Annual Meeting Program Preview and Speaker Profiles on Dr. Fritz and Dr. Stephanie Ganter in this issue!
The AAP recently interviewed the Presidents of the Canadian Academy of Periodontology (CAP) and the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA)—Dr. Trudy Nwachukwu, and Alexandra Sheppard, respectively—to share important information with our AAP members. Dr. Nwachukwu shared her insights on the significance of international partnership, what attendees can look forward to from the Canadian perspective, and the value of international collaboration in advancing periodontal care, while Alexandra Sheppard shared CDHA’s perspective on the evolving role of dental hygienists in periodontal care, opportunities for collaboration with periodontists, and current initiatives that may resonate with our members. You can read more in the Beyond the Practice section.
Our commitment to global collaboration continues beyond North America. AAP staff members and I recently traveled to Vienna in May for EuroPerio11, where we represented the Academy and participated in discussions with periodontal leaders and experts from all over the globe.
To learn more and see more of AAP’s presence at EuroPerio11, visit the International Periodontics section.
We’re thrilled to once again feature reflections from Dr. Cassandra McKenzie, Dr. Maria Cecilia La Torre Sanchez, Dr. Max J. Perlitsh, and Ryan Lark in our Gen You section. They each share personal insights on what makes the Annual Meeting meaningful to them—from connections with colleagues to memorable sessions that have shaped their professional journeys, as well as what they’re looking forward to in the future. Check out Gen You to learn more about these four incredible individuals and their experiences.
Whether you’re a first-time Annual Meeting attendee or a seasoned member, I hope this issue inspires you to explore how global collaboration and international periodontics is shaping the future of periodontology. From Toronto to Vienna and beyond, our specialty thrives when we exchange ideas across borders and cultures. Together, we’re advancing periodontics, not just locally, but globally.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mia L. Geisinger
President, American Academy of Periodontology
P.S. Don’t miss our Ask the Board section, Dental Hygiene Engagement Initiative Update, AAP Journals Roundup, Education Updates, and more!
The elevator that opens to my office lobby has a quote on it that inspires me daily: “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.” -Henry Ford. This spirit of collaboration, unity, and connection is integral to the AAP Annual Meeting, and are the heart of our profession. As we look ahead to the 2025 Annual Meeting in Toronto, it’s the perfect time to highlight these values in this issue of Periospectives.
This year’s meeting, held in collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Periodontology from Oct. 15-18, offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge, explore new research, and foster meaningful connections with our Canadian colleagues and periodontists from around the world. Toronto sets the stage for vibrant collaboration and the exchange of ideas that will shape the future of our specialty.
We’re excited to welcome a dynamic lineup of Canadian speakers presenting at multiple sessions this year, including Dr. Peter Fritz and Dr. Véronique Benhamou. Don’t miss Dr. Fritz at two sessions this year—Say Hi to AI: Deep Learning Applications in Periodontics and The Art of Patient Care Beyond the Chair. And make sure to catch Dr. Benhamou at this year’s Dental Hygiene Symposium, a key highlight of our programming. An impressive lineup of sessions covering relevant topics for attendees at all stages of their careers is coming our way this year, offering insights and tools that attendees can bring back to their practices. For a sneak peek of the 111th AAP Annual Meeting, explore the Annual Meeting Program Preview and Speaker Profiles on Dr. Fritz and Dr. Stephanie Ganter in this issue!
The AAP recently interviewed the Presidents of the Canadian Academy of Periodontology (CAP) and the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA)—Dr. Trudy Nwachukwu, and Alexandra Sheppard, respectively—to share important information with our AAP members. Dr. Nwachukwu shared her insights on the significance of international partnership, what attendees can look forward to from the Canadian perspective, and the value of international collaboration in advancing periodontal care, while Alexandra Sheppard shared CDHA’s perspective on the evolving role of dental hygienists in periodontal care, opportunities for collaboration with periodontists, and current initiatives that may resonate with our members. You can read more in the Beyond the Practice section.
Our commitment to global collaboration continues beyond North America. AAP staff members and I recently traveled to Vienna in May for EuroPerio11, where we represented the Academy and participated in discussions with periodontal leaders and experts from all over the globe.
To learn more and see more of AAP’s presence at EuroPerio11, visit the International Periodontics section.
We’re thrilled to once again feature reflections from Dr. Cassandra McKenzie, Dr. Maria Cecilia La Torre Sanchez, Dr. Max J. Perlitsh, and Ryan Lark in our Gen You section. They each share personal insights on what makes the Annual Meeting meaningful to them—from connections with colleagues to memorable sessions that have shaped their professional journeys, as well as what they’re looking forward to in the future. Check out Gen You to learn more about these four incredible individuals and their experiences.
Whether you’re a first-time Annual Meeting attendee or a seasoned member, I hope this issue inspires you to explore how global collaboration and international periodontics is shaping the future of periodontology. From Toronto to Vienna and beyond, our specialty thrives when we exchange ideas across borders and cultures. Together, we’re advancing periodontics, not just locally, but globally.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mia L. Geisinger
President, American Academy of Periodontology
P.S. Don’t miss our Ask the Board section, Dental Hygiene Engagement Initiative Update, AAP Journals Roundup, Education Updates, and more!