President’s Message
Over the past several months, I have been reminded again and again that some of the most meaningful moments in our profession happen when we are together in person. In an era when so much of our communication takes place through screens, emails, and virtual meetings, face-to-face connection feels not only refreshing, but essential. It is often in those personal conversations, before a session begins, between lectures, or in a chance hallway exchange, that ideas take shape, relationships deepen, and our shared commitment to periodontology is strengthened.
I felt that especially during my recent travels to Vienna for the Osteology Foundation meeting and to Japan for the Japanese Society of Periodontology Spring meeting, where I had the privilege of representing our Academy. In both settings, I was reminded that while science and education can be shared in many ways, there is something uniquely powerful about being in the same room: listening, learning, exchanging perspectives, and building the kind of trust and camaraderie that only comes from personal interaction. These experiences highlighted the global respect for our Academy, the strength of our international partnerships, and reinforced how essential it is that we continue to come together as a professional community.
That is one of many reasons I am especially looking forward to our Annual Meeting in Seattle. It is one of the few times each year when we as periodontists, dental hygienists, educators, researchers, residents, students, and industry partners come together in one place with a shared purpose: to learn from one another and to advance our specialty. This year’s opening general session featuring several “Masters” in our profession will set the tone for that experience. Designed as an interactive panel with audience engagement, it will bring us together from the very start in a way that sparks conversation, reflection, and meaningful connection throughout the days that follow.
The strength of the AAP has always been rooted in its members, and that strength becomes even more evident when we come together in person. Whether you are engaging with speakers during educational sessions, discussing complex cases with peers, reconnecting with longtime colleagues, or meeting someone new in the Exhibit Hall or at Perio Park, these interactions often become the most memorable and significant parts of the meeting. They expand our knowledge, certainly, but just as importantly, they reinforce the relationships that sustain and advance our specialty.
I encourage you to make the most of everything the Annual Meeting has to offer. Attend the sessions that challenge your thinking. Seek out conversations with colleagues, both familiar and new. Share your own experiences and perspectives. Be fully present for the moments, whether planned or unexpected, that remind us why gathering together still matters.
For this issue, we invited previous AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive attendees to reflect on the value that in-person connection has brought to their careers and their lives. I hope you will enjoy their perspectives in the Beyond the Practice section. We also spoke with AAP’s Third-Party Specialist, Michelle Flesch, for Gen You about the Academy’s virtual insurance workshops, an important reminder that while virtual learning can extend our reach, our goal is always to foster the same level of connection, engagement, and practical value that defines our in-person experiences.
As you read through this issue, I hope you will also take time to explore the 2026 AAP Annual Meeting speaker profiles, the 2025 Balint Orban Memorial Competition and Research Forum Poster Competition winner profiles, the 2026 Best Evidence Consensus recap, Education updates, the AAP Journals Roundup, and more.
In the meantime, keep probing science. I look forward to seeing you in Seattle and continuing the conversation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ana Becil Giglio
President
American Academy of Periodontology
Over the past several months, I have been reminded again and again that some of the most meaningful moments in our profession happen when we are together in person. In an era when so much of our communication takes place through screens, emails, and virtual meetings, face-to-face connection feels not only refreshing, but essential. It is often in those personal conversations, before a session begins, between lectures, or in a chance hallway exchange, that ideas take shape, relationships deepen, and our shared commitment to periodontology is strengthened.
I felt that especially during my recent travels to Vienna for the Osteology Foundation meeting and to Japan for the Japanese Society of Periodontology Spring meeting, where I had the privilege of representing our Academy. In both settings, I was reminded that while science and education can be shared in many ways, there is something uniquely powerful about being in the same room: listening, learning, exchanging perspectives, and building the kind of trust and camaraderie that only comes from personal interaction. These experiences highlighted the global respect for our Academy, the strength of our international partnerships, and reinforced how essential it is that we continue to come together as a professional community.
That is one of many reasons I am especially looking forward to our Annual Meeting in Seattle. It is one of the few times each year when we as periodontists, dental hygienists, educators, researchers, residents, students, and industry partners come together in one place with a shared purpose: to learn from one another and to advance our specialty. This year’s opening general session featuring several “Masters” in our profession will set the tone for that experience. Designed as an interactive panel with audience engagement, it will bring us together from the very start in a way that sparks conversation, reflection, and meaningful connection throughout the days that follow.
The strength of the AAP has always been rooted in its members, and that strength becomes even more evident when we come together in person. Whether you are engaging with speakers during educational sessions, discussing complex cases with peers, reconnecting with longtime colleagues, or meeting someone new in the Exhibit Hall or at Perio Park, these interactions often become the most memorable and significant parts of the meeting. They expand our knowledge, certainly, but just as importantly, they reinforce the relationships that sustain and advance our specialty.
I encourage you to make the most of everything the Annual Meeting has to offer. Attend the sessions that challenge your thinking. Seek out conversations with colleagues, both familiar and new. Share your own experiences and perspectives. Be fully present for the moments, whether planned or unexpected, that remind us why gathering together still matters.
For this issue, we invited previous AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive attendees to reflect on the value that in-person connection has brought to their careers and their lives. I hope you will enjoy their perspectives in the Beyond the Practice section. We also spoke with AAP’s Third-Party Specialist, Michelle Flesch, for Gen You about the Academy’s virtual insurance workshops, an important reminder that while virtual learning can extend our reach, our goal is always to foster the same level of connection, engagement, and practical value that defines our in-person experiences.
As you read through this issue, I hope you will also take time to explore the 2026 AAP Annual Meeting speaker profiles, the 2025 Balint Orban Memorial Competition and Research Forum Poster Competition winner profiles, the 2026 Best Evidence Consensus recap, Education updates, the AAP Journals Roundup, and more.
In the meantime, keep probing science. I look forward to seeing you in Seattle and continuing the conversation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ana Becil Giglio
President
American Academy of Periodontology