Beyond the Practice: Face-to-Face
In a profession built on relationships, there is undeniable value in coming together face-to-face.
Virtual education and online networking have expanded opportunities for connecting, but there are certain experiences that can only happen face-to-face, like the spontaneous conversations between sessions, the mentorship formed over shared experiences, the reassurance of meeting peers experiencing similar challenges, and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a professional community in real time.
For residents and early-career professionals, these moments can leave a lasting impact. To explore the importance of face-to-face connections, the AAP spoke with two members, Drs. Amanda Rodriguez Betancourt and Polina Gubareva, who participated in the 2025 AAP Resident Retreat (ARRive) for third-year residents and attended the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting just a couple months after. Hear from them below:
Q: What made the face-to-face experience at the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive especially meaningful for you?
Dr. Betancourt: Both of these meetings were incredibly meaningful experiences. As a third-year resident preparing to begin an academic career, it was refreshing to connect with colleagues and mentors beyond scientific presentations and clinical discussions. These conversations provided valuable insight into topics that are rarely taught in residency, including career planning, practice models, insurance considerations, leadership, and how to navigate important decisions about private practice or academia. Residency is often a fast-paced journey, and for the past several years we have all been focused on meeting clinical, academic, and research demands. These meetings offered an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and engage with fellow residents and faculty on a more personal level. Hearing their experiences, challenges, and advice about life after residency was both reassuring and inspiring.
Dr. Diego Velasquez’s presentation, “Living in the Dash,” was especially impactful. His message about embracing the journey, staying present, and recognizing that we shape our own future served as an important reminder that graduation is not an ending, but the start of a new chapter. It is a lesson I will carry with me throughout my career. These past meetings also felt different because it was my final one as a resident. It was rewarding to connect with future colleagues on a deeper level and to realize that, despite our different backgrounds and career aspirations, we all share a common goal: to advance the specialty of Periodontics and improve patient care. These interactions reinforced the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and service. They reminded me that each of us has an opportunity to contribute to the future of our profession through evidence-based care, education, research, and leadership. Being part of a community so committed to making a difference for both patients and future periodontists was truly inspiring.
Dr. Gubareva: What made the face-to-face experience at the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive especially meaningful for me was the opportunity to connect with the periodontal community beyond my own institution. As a resident, much of my daily experience was centered around clinical training, research, and learning within my program, so being surrounded by periodontists, educators, researchers, and fellow residents from across the country was both inspiring and motivating. The meetings provided an environment to exchange ideas, hear different perspectives on advances in periodontal care, and appreciate the continued evolution of our specialty. Presenting and discussing research, attending lectures, and engaging in conversations with colleagues allowed me to strengthen my understanding of current developments while also reflecting on how I can continue to grow as a clinician and researcher. ARRive was particularly meaningful because it created a welcoming space for residents to build relationships, share experiences, and learn from mentors and peers.
Q: How did being together in person shape the conversations you had differently than they might have in a virtual setting?
Dr. Betancourt: In-person meetings provide a unique opportunity to connect with speakers, faculty, and residents beyond their professional roles. They allow us to learn about their personal journeys, experiences, and perspectives, creating a deeper and more meaningful connection. These interactions add context to the knowledge shared during presentations and make future encounters at conferences and meetings more engaging and enriching. Seeing someone on stage after having had a personal conversation with them transforms the learning experience and fosters a stronger sense of mentorship and professional community.
Dr. Gubareva: Face-to-face conversations allowed for more spontaneous discussions, meaningful exchanges, and opportunities to learn from others beyond what could be shared during a scheduled session or presentation. In a virtual environment, discussions can often feel more structured and limited to the agenda, whereas being physically present encouraged collaboration and relationship-building throughout the entire meeting.
Q: Can you describe a moment when an in-person interaction at the Annual Meeting or ARRive gave you encouragement, perspective, or a sense of belonging?
Dr. Betancourt: Absolutely. One of the most valuable aspects of the ARRive meeting was the opportunity to interact with highly accomplished speakers, faculty members, and leaders in the field. Hearing their career journeys, challenges, and advice provided meaningful insight into both professional growth and leadership in periodontics. One moment that particularly resonated with me was Dr. Diego Velasquez’s presentation on “Living in the Dash.” His message about being fully present in our own story and recognizing that we are the authors of our future was powerful. As residents, we often become so focused on reaching the next milestone that we forget to appreciate the journey itself. His reminder that graduation is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter, whether in academia, private practice, research, or leadership, was a lesson I will carry with me throughout my career.
Dr. Gubareva: A particularly impactful moment was speaking with other trainees at ARRive about the challenges and growth that come with residency. Hearing their stories, how they navigated training, developed their clinical skills, pursued research, and found their place within the specialty, provided both encouragement and perspective. As a resident, it can sometimes feel like the day-to-day focus is centered on patient care, procedures, research deadlines, and the demands of training. Being surrounded by others who were on similar journeys reminded me that these challenges are part of a shared experience and an important part of becoming a well-rounded periodontist. Fellow residents gathered together and all shared stories of tough cases, challenges with research, and how they balance day-to-day resident duties with daily life. The openness, understanding and support from the periodontal community created a strong sense of belonging and reinforced that I am part of a larger group committed to advancing patient care and the future of our specialty.
Q: How do gatherings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive help build a stronger sense of community within the specialty?
Dr. Betancourt: Meetings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive are key in strengthening the sense of community within Periodontics. As a senior resident preparing for an academic career, I especially valued connecting with peers and mentors beyond the scientific and clinical content. These conversations provided insight into career paths, practice models, insurance, leadership, and the transition into private practice or academia, topics often not emphasized during residency.
Dr. Gubareva: These meetings create a space where residents, educators, researchers, and practicing clinicians can exchange knowledge, celebrate achievements, and learn from one another’s experiences. It is also wonderful to be able to see the same people at each meeting to connect with them and catch up with each other. At the most recent AAP Annual meeting, there was a session specifically for people who attended the ARRive conference that served as an opportunity to meet again, this time with familiar faces instead of new ones.
Q: What do face-to-face connections at meetings and retreats like these lead to over time—for example, mentorship, collaboration, referrals, or career growth?
Dr. Betancourt: Face-to-face interactions at meetings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive often evolve into meaningful, long-term professional relationships that extend well beyond the event itself. What often begins as a simple conversation can grow into mentorship, where individuals genuinely guide you through career decisions, share their own experiences, and offer advice as you navigate training and beyond. Over time, these relationships naturally expand into collaboration, research opportunities, referrals, and broader professional support networks built on trust and familiarity.
Dr. Gubareva: For residents and early-career periodontists, meeting experienced clinicians and educators in person creates opportunities to seek guidance, gain perspective, and learn from the career paths of those who have come before us. A brief conversation can develop into an ongoing mentorship relationship that provides support during important career decisions, from pursuing additional training opportunities to navigating the transition into practice, whether its ownership or navigating how to grow as an associate.
Q: What would you say to someone who wonders whether attending an in-person meeting is worth the time and investment?
Dr. Betancourt: I would absolutely encourage them to attend. While the educational content is excellent, the greatest value often comes from the relationships you build. In-person meetings provide opportunities to connect with future colleagues and mentors who can share their experiences, offer career guidance, and help you navigate important decisions in academia, private practice, research, or leadership.
For me, these connections have been invaluable. They have provided mentorship, perspective, and support at a pivotal stage of my career. Beyond the lectures and presentations, these meetings create a sense of community and remind you that growth in Periodontics is not an individual journey, it is one guided by colleagues and mentors who are invested in your success. That lasting professional and personal support makes the time and investment well worth it.
Dr. Gubareva: The value of attending extends beyond the scientific, clinical sessions. The conversations between lectures, the opportunity to ask questions directly, the chance encounters with individuals who share similar interests, and the relationships formed throughout the meeting are often the experiences that have the greatest long-term impact. These interactions can lead to mentorship, collaboration, new opportunities, and a stronger connection to the specialty. I think annual meetings should be something to look forward to, as we are all committed to lifelong learning both inside and outside of the lecture hall.
These stories serve as a reminder that some of the most valuable takeaways from face-to-face meetings like ARRive and the AAP Annual Meeting happen beyond the sessions- in the connections we make, the community we build, and the conversations that continue long after the meetings end.
In a profession built on relationships, there is undeniable value in coming together face-to-face.
Virtual education and online networking have expanded opportunities for connecting, but there are certain experiences that can only happen face-to-face, like the spontaneous conversations between sessions, the mentorship formed over shared experiences, the reassurance of meeting peers experiencing similar challenges, and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a professional community in real time.
For residents and early-career professionals, these moments can leave a lasting impact. To explore the importance of face-to-face connections, the AAP spoke with two members, Drs. Amanda Rodriguez Betancourt and Polina Gubareva, who participated in the 2025 AAP Resident Retreat (ARRive) for third-year residents and attended the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting just a couple months after. Hear from them below:
Q: What made the face-to-face experience at the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive especially meaningful for you?
Dr. Betancourt: Both of these meetings were incredibly meaningful experiences. As a third-year resident preparing to begin an academic career, it was refreshing to connect with colleagues and mentors beyond scientific presentations and clinical discussions. These conversations provided valuable insight into topics that are rarely taught in residency, including career planning, practice models, insurance considerations, leadership, and how to navigate important decisions about private practice or academia. Residency is often a fast-paced journey, and for the past several years we have all been focused on meeting clinical, academic, and research demands. These meetings offered an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and engage with fellow residents and faculty on a more personal level. Hearing their experiences, challenges, and advice about life after residency was both reassuring and inspiring.
Dr. Diego Velasquez’s presentation, “Living in the Dash,” was especially impactful. His message about embracing the journey, staying present, and recognizing that we shape our own future served as an important reminder that graduation is not an ending, but the start of a new chapter. It is a lesson I will carry with me throughout my career. These past meetings also felt different because it was my final one as a resident. It was rewarding to connect with future colleagues on a deeper level and to realize that, despite our different backgrounds and career aspirations, we all share a common goal: to advance the specialty of Periodontics and improve patient care. These interactions reinforced the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and service. They reminded me that each of us has an opportunity to contribute to the future of our profession through evidence-based care, education, research, and leadership. Being part of a community so committed to making a difference for both patients and future periodontists was truly inspiring.
Dr. Gubareva: What made the face-to-face experience at the 2025 AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive especially meaningful for me was the opportunity to connect with the periodontal community beyond my own institution. As a resident, much of my daily experience was centered around clinical training, research, and learning within my program, so being surrounded by periodontists, educators, researchers, and fellow residents from across the country was both inspiring and motivating. The meetings provided an environment to exchange ideas, hear different perspectives on advances in periodontal care, and appreciate the continued evolution of our specialty. Presenting and discussing research, attending lectures, and engaging in conversations with colleagues allowed me to strengthen my understanding of current developments while also reflecting on how I can continue to grow as a clinician and researcher. ARRive was particularly meaningful because it created a welcoming space for residents to build relationships, share experiences, and learn from mentors and peers.
Q: How did being together in person shape the conversations you had differently than they might have in a virtual setting?
Dr. Betancourt: In-person meetings provide a unique opportunity to connect with speakers, faculty, and residents beyond their professional roles. They allow us to learn about their personal journeys, experiences, and perspectives, creating a deeper and more meaningful connection. These interactions add context to the knowledge shared during presentations and make future encounters at conferences and meetings more engaging and enriching. Seeing someone on stage after having had a personal conversation with them transforms the learning experience and fosters a stronger sense of mentorship and professional community.
Dr. Gubareva: Face-to-face conversations allowed for more spontaneous discussions, meaningful exchanges, and opportunities to learn from others beyond what could be shared during a scheduled session or presentation. In a virtual environment, discussions can often feel more structured and limited to the agenda, whereas being physically present encouraged collaboration and relationship-building throughout the entire meeting.
Q: Can you describe a moment when an in-person interaction at the Annual Meeting or ARRive gave you encouragement, perspective, or a sense of belonging?
Dr. Betancourt: Absolutely. One of the most valuable aspects of the ARRive meeting was the opportunity to interact with highly accomplished speakers, faculty members, and leaders in the field. Hearing their career journeys, challenges, and advice provided meaningful insight into both professional growth and leadership in periodontics. One moment that particularly resonated with me was Dr. Diego Velasquez’s presentation on “Living in the Dash.” His message about being fully present in our own story and recognizing that we are the authors of our future was powerful. As residents, we often become so focused on reaching the next milestone that we forget to appreciate the journey itself. His reminder that graduation is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter, whether in academia, private practice, research, or leadership, was a lesson I will carry with me throughout my career.
Dr. Gubareva: A particularly impactful moment was speaking with other trainees at ARRive about the challenges and growth that come with residency. Hearing their stories, how they navigated training, developed their clinical skills, pursued research, and found their place within the specialty, provided both encouragement and perspective. As a resident, it can sometimes feel like the day-to-day focus is centered on patient care, procedures, research deadlines, and the demands of training. Being surrounded by others who were on similar journeys reminded me that these challenges are part of a shared experience and an important part of becoming a well-rounded periodontist. Fellow residents gathered together and all shared stories of tough cases, challenges with research, and how they balance day-to-day resident duties with daily life. The openness, understanding and support from the periodontal community created a strong sense of belonging and reinforced that I am part of a larger group committed to advancing patient care and the future of our specialty.
Q: How do gatherings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive help build a stronger sense of community within the specialty?
Dr. Betancourt: Meetings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive are key in strengthening the sense of community within Periodontics. As a senior resident preparing for an academic career, I especially valued connecting with peers and mentors beyond the scientific and clinical content. These conversations provided insight into career paths, practice models, insurance, leadership, and the transition into private practice or academia, topics often not emphasized during residency.
Dr. Gubareva: These meetings create a space where residents, educators, researchers, and practicing clinicians can exchange knowledge, celebrate achievements, and learn from one another’s experiences. It is also wonderful to be able to see the same people at each meeting to connect with them and catch up with each other. At the most recent AAP Annual meeting, there was a session specifically for people who attended the ARRive conference that served as an opportunity to meet again, this time with familiar faces instead of new ones.
Q: What do face-to-face connections at meetings and retreats like these lead to over time—for example, mentorship, collaboration, referrals, or career growth?
Dr. Betancourt: Face-to-face interactions at meetings like the AAP Annual Meeting and ARRive often evolve into meaningful, long-term professional relationships that extend well beyond the event itself. What often begins as a simple conversation can grow into mentorship, where individuals genuinely guide you through career decisions, share their own experiences, and offer advice as you navigate training and beyond. Over time, these relationships naturally expand into collaboration, research opportunities, referrals, and broader professional support networks built on trust and familiarity.
Dr. Gubareva: For residents and early-career periodontists, meeting experienced clinicians and educators in person creates opportunities to seek guidance, gain perspective, and learn from the career paths of those who have come before us. A brief conversation can develop into an ongoing mentorship relationship that provides support during important career decisions, from pursuing additional training opportunities to navigating the transition into practice, whether its ownership or navigating how to grow as an associate.
Q: What would you say to someone who wonders whether attending an in-person meeting is worth the time and investment?
Dr. Betancourt: I would absolutely encourage them to attend. While the educational content is excellent, the greatest value often comes from the relationships you build. In-person meetings provide opportunities to connect with future colleagues and mentors who can share their experiences, offer career guidance, and help you navigate important decisions in academia, private practice, research, or leadership.
For me, these connections have been invaluable. They have provided mentorship, perspective, and support at a pivotal stage of my career. Beyond the lectures and presentations, these meetings create a sense of community and remind you that growth in Periodontics is not an individual journey, it is one guided by colleagues and mentors who are invested in your success. That lasting professional and personal support makes the time and investment well worth it.
Dr. Gubareva: The value of attending extends beyond the scientific, clinical sessions. The conversations between lectures, the opportunity to ask questions directly, the chance encounters with individuals who share similar interests, and the relationships formed throughout the meeting are often the experiences that have the greatest long-term impact. These interactions can lead to mentorship, collaboration, new opportunities, and a stronger connection to the specialty. I think annual meetings should be something to look forward to, as we are all committed to lifelong learning both inside and outside of the lecture hall.
These stories serve as a reminder that some of the most valuable takeaways from face-to-face meetings like ARRive and the AAP Annual Meeting happen beyond the sessions- in the connections we make, the community we build, and the conversations that continue long after the meetings end.