Editor’s Editorial: AO strategic plan
By: AO Fellow and Diplomate Mehrdad Favagehi, DDS, MS; Academy News Editor
As implant professionals, we’re very familiar with Benjamin Franklin’s assertion that “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Or as the French author and aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry stated, “a goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Recently, the AO Board of Directors adopted an updated strategic plan. The three-year plan is designed to serve our mission “to serve and support members in their efforts to advance the science and practice of implant dentistry, enhancing patient care and outcomes.”
The plan was formulated based on our organization’s philosophy and core values.
AO’s philosophy according to the strategic plan: The Academy of Osseointegration (AO) is dedicated to advancing implant dentistry through a commitment to innovation, research, and excellence. With members in 70 countries, AO fosters collaboration among dental professionals by sharing the latest evidence-based science and adopting cutting-edge techniques. By uniting specialists and generalists, AO sets the standard for excellence in education and patient care, positioning itself as the premier and most trusted authority in implant dentistry.
The AO vision, as listed in the strategic plan, is to set to establish the highest standards for implant dentistry based on three specific goals:
- Cultivate a growth mindset by expanding and empowering membership, fostering leadership and building strategic alliances to drive innovation and achieve success.
- Elevate AO’s status as the foremost, trusted authority in implant dentistry.
- Deliver evidence-based and unbiased education.
To implement the above goals, AO’s strategic plan lists 10 specific objectives and more than 20 strategies. All AO leaders, committee volunteers, members, and staff are encouraged to align their AO activities with the strategic plan. The Osseointegration Foundation as the philanthropic arm of the Academy, is also formulating a strategic plan to align itself with AO’s.
There are other implant organizations, societies and corporate entities that may mirror AO with continuing education, scientific publication and social media presence. But their agenda and scope are limited compared to the Academy and its comprehensive strategic plan.
From the beginnings of modern implant dentistry, AO has always been a leader as the world’s premier science-based dental implant organization where experts from around the world collaborate to establish new standards in implant science and practice. AO’s new strategic plan is a transparent roadmap for our Academy to accomplish its mission to serve and support members to enhance patient care and outcomes.
A core part of the plan is to seek feedback from our members about how we could serve them better. Please use the link below to review the AO 2025-2028 strategic plan and provide us with your feedback to help our Academy continue its leadership in implant dentistry.
