International Notes

The Asociación Mexicana de Ortodoncia (AMO) presented the 2002 Outstanding Female Mexican Orthodontist Award to Dr. Hilda Torre of Garza Garcia, Mexico, and the 2002 Outstanding Male Mexican Orthodontist Award to Dr. Roberto Justus of Mexico City, Mexico. Drs. Torre and Justus received this honor at the AMO’s meeting in March 2002. Dr. Justus is a member of the WFO Executive Committee.

The College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics (CDABO) installed new officers during its 24th Annual Meeting July 7-11 in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Dr. Raymond George Sr. of East Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is president. Dr. Roberto Justus of Mexico City, Mexico, is president-elect. Dr. John W. Carter of Overland Park, Kansas, USA, is secretary. Dr. Robert B. Nemeth of St. Cloud, Minnesota, MN, USA, is treasurer. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) has also asked CDABO council members Dr. Justus and Dr. Ridgley and CDABO’s immediate past president, Dr. John Kanyusik, to serve as ABO consultant examiners. CDABO encourages all board-eligible orthodontists to take the Phase III Clinical Examination offered by the ABO.

Dr. Lily Shum received an award from the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) for the best poster during the EOS 78th Congress in June 2002 in Sorrento, Italy. The award is based on the research, originality and information of the presentation. Dr. Fiona Leung received the WJB Houston Research Award for best paper, and Dr. A. Chayanupatkul received the WJB Houston Award for best poster. All three award-winners are postgraduate students at the University of Hong Kong. Their research dealt with growth factors regulating temporomandibular joint growth during functional appliance therapy.

The South African Society of Orthodontists (SASO) held its conference in conjunction with the South African Dental Association (SADA) meeting August 19-22, 2002, in Durban, South Africa.

The conference was well supported by orthodontists, including those who practice outside of South Africa. The guest speakers included Dr. Ram Nanda, Dr. David Birnie and Dr. Nigel Harradine. Dr. Nanda discussed the treatment of patients with an open bite, molar distalization procedures, and early treatment of Class II malocclusions. Dr. Harradine discussed orthodontic extractions, orthodontic anchorage, self-ligating brackets, the modern role of functional appliances, and managing increased overbites. Dr. Birnie focused his presentations on facial esthetics, current concepts on orthodontics, archwires and bonding, tooth transposition, and clinical tips and cases of interest.

Following the conference, SASO elected its new officers. Dr. A.G. McCollum is president; Dr. Colin Lesar is vice president; and Dr. Mark Wertheimer is honorary treasurer. Dr. Errol Stein is in charge of publishing the SASO newsletter.

SASO welcomes WFO fellows to attend its next conference: February 26-28, 2003, in Cape Town, South Africa. Guest speakers will be Dr. Hans Pancherz, Dr. Kevin O’Brien and Dr. Timothy Wheeler.