Academia Costarricense de Ortodoncia focuses on continuing education for members

The Academia Costarricense de Ortodoncia (ACO) was founded in 1966 by Drs. Carl Walter Steinvorth, Mario Truque, Alvaro de la Cruz, Jorge Steinvorth and Edgar Montealegre. Dr. Carl W. Steinvorth and Dr. Truque were the pioneers in orthodontics in Costa Rica.
For almost nine years, the five founding members were the only practicing orthodontists in Costa Rica. They formed the ACO to provide a forum where they could consult with each other and discuss difficult cases. The organization also organized an X-ray center, which minimized the costs for this necessary equipment and provided quality service to orthodontic patients. Today, the overall goal remains the academic improvement of members. Consequently, the organization provides six to eight academic activities for members throughout the year

The society is now comprised of 35 members. Sixty-five percent of the practicing orthodontists in Costa Rica belong to the organization. The non-member orthodontists recently received their postgraduate training in orthodontics and will become members as soon as they fulfill the membership requirements.

The increasing membership has proved beneficial for the organization.
“As the number of members increases, it becomes easier to afford the costs of good speakers,” said Dr. Carlos M. Castro, outgoing president of the ACO. “Therefore, our potential for academic improvement will be better in the future.”

The ACO convenes every two years during the Central American Federation of Orthodontist Associations (FAOCA) meeting. The FAOCA meeting was recently held in November in Montelimar, Nicaragua.

In addition to enhancing continuing-education opportunities for its members, the ACO is also focused on informing the public of the qualifications of an orthodontic specialist and the benefits of orthodontic treatment. To do so, the organization quarterly publishes a list of licensed orthodontists in the largest local newspaper La Nación.

For more information about the organization, visit the ACO Web site at www.ortocostarica.com. Several new officers were elected in November as this issue of the WFO Gazette was going to press. The up-to-date list of officers is on the Web site.