SEEN&HEARD Members making news and news for GDA members. BY LESLEY GAMWELL — Atlantabased Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO), established in 2016, celebrated its sixth and largest graduating class of 40 residents from its 36-month Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The graduation ceremony was held at the InterContinentalBuckhead in Atlanta. “With this latest group of graduates, GSO is fulfilling its mission to educate talented dentists to become highly qualified specialists in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics,” said Randy Kluender, D.D.S., M.S., President & Chairman, Board of Trustees. “GSO’s extensive curriculum provides residents with the opportunity to assist in providing orthodontic treatment to patients in the school’s two patient clinics in Atlanta and Duluth,” he adds. The recent graduates underwent intensive didactic, clinical and research components taught in GSO’s state-ofthe-art facilities with technologically advanced equipment, research and materials. GSO also collaborates with the renowned oral surgery program at Emory University, which exposes the resident doctors to the most unique and uncommon cases in their field. And to increase their level of success, they were Georgia School of Orthodontics Honors Graduates of World’s Largest Orthodontics Residency Program Curriculum stresses community impact and business operations instructed in the business aspects of operating an orthodontic practice. “Our curriculum also encourages our graduates to promote diversity and offer affordable orthodontic care to underserved communities. We have treated over 12,000 patients and have saved the Atlanta communities over $35 million* in orthodontic treatment costs,” said Cintia Mendes, B.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., GSO’s Interim Program Director, Associate Professor, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. To date, GSO has bestowed more than $4.3 million in scholarships to its residents. According to Dr. Mendes, the School has also provided over $250,000 in complimentary care to children, adults and members of the military through three programs: Gift of a Smile, Gift of a Smile Heroes, and Purple Heart Smiles. Two special awards were presented during the ceremony. The Doctor John W. Stockstill Outstanding Research Award recipient was Dr. Mason Childers. The President’s Award was presented to threeterm Georgia Senator and nationally renowned healthcare provider Lester G. Jackson III, D.D.S. Dr. Jackson previously served as Chairman of the Georgia Senate Urban Affairs Committee and represented Georgia’s 2nd District, delivered the ceremony’s keynote address. Prior to being elected state senator Dr. Jackson served in the Georgia General Assembly’s House of Representatives for 10 years. Before entering politics, Dr. Jackson was commissioned as a dental officer for the United States Navy. He obtained the rank of Lieutenant Commander and then served as Detachment Commander of the Beaufort Marine Corp. Air Station Dental Clinic in Beaufort, S.C., where he provided dental services to military personnel and their families. He later established the Jackson Dental Center in Savannah, GA. Dr. Jackson is an active member of the American Dental Association, the National Dental Association, and the Georgia Dental Association. Dr. Jackson currently serves as the Sr. Vice President of External Affairs at GSO. For more info about Georgia School of Orthodontics Residency Program, visit GAorthodontics.org. To schedule a complimentary consultation, visit bracestoday.com or call 770.351.7737. * Based on estimated median treatment costs as reported in the 2023 Journal of Clinical Orthodontics Practice Study (Oct-Dec 2023 JCO issue). 18 | Nov 2024
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