Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
By Dr. Fugazzotto – Program Chair for the 2026 AO meeting.
Innumerable “how to” online technique videos. In-person courses hosted by one of the 52,795,445 private “institutes” presently in existence. Never ending case reports, devoid of context. Multi-day symposia by long-established academies.
The tsunami threatens to overwhelm us, as the number of “opportunities” rivals that of the “pre-approved loans” we are offered throughout the day (which would support a very comfortable retirement if one opted to accept them all, drew out the cash and disappeared!).
In such an environment why use your valuable time to attend the annual Academy of Osteointegration (AO) meeting in Washington, D.C., March 5-7, 2026, entitled “Make A Difference: Transforming the Lives of Our Patients and Ourselves”?
Yes, the AO is one of the most respected implant academies on earth, characterized by an unsurpassed synthesis of scientific understanding and clinical acumen. Yes, the collegial atmosphere of the meeting ensures a welcoming, stimulating and enjoyable experience.
BUT what makes the 2026 program so special?
I am positive that our committee (Drs. Irene Marron-Terrazzi, Will Martin, Phil Melnick, Greg Phillips, Todd Schoenbaum & Ting Wang) working under the direction of AO president Dr. Robert Vogel, and with oversight of the AO board, has put together a unique experience for all.
- A real-world discussion of how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing patient safety, clinical efficiency and ethics in daily practice.
- A single-track format, eliminating the artificial separation between surgical and restorative therapies, and emphasizing comprehensive patient care.
- Sessions devoted to treatment of fully edentulous and partially edentulous patients, incorporating video examples as appropriate.
- A constellation of over 40 speakers, made up of world-renowned experts and rising stars.
- A “Failure Session”, in which highly respected clinicians will discuss implant and treatment failures, and how to prevent and/or successfully manage such failures.
- A “Young Clinicians Business Session”, designed to help newer practitioners decide upon career paths, and manage their practices. If you feel you have everything figured out, this session is not for you. However, if you are not yet sure which practice environment you will pursue (a new practice, purchase of an existing practice, associateship with or without eventual partnership, DSO employment, etc.), or if you are in private practice and have less than a 93-94% comprehensive care case acceptance rate, a true overhead above 55%, or a trickle of new patients rather than a river, this session is for YOU.
- Limited attendance half-day clinical hands-on workshops.
- A vibrant and engaging array of “lunch with the masters” sessions
- “To the point” presentations of 2-5 minutes in length
- More than 200 research presentations
- Over 13 hours of available CE credits
- Close to 100 exhibitors demonstrating the latest technologies, tools and techniques
Most importantly, this AO experience is grounded in a discussion of “The Why”. Why we do what we do: for the benefit of our patients and ourselves, but ultimately because it is the right thing to do.
And there’s more….
To help foster interdisciplinary comprehensive patient care, the AO board has authorized a 44% tuition discount for all study club members!
Pass the word…. Have your study club members come to Washington…. Let’s raise the bar together!
* Apologies to Joe Strummer
