AMERICAN ASSOC OF ORTHODONTISTS FDN

FELLOWSHIPS: THE ORTHODONTIC FACULTY DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP AWARD IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ORTHODONTIC STUDENTS AND GRADUATES TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ORTHODONTIC EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNIOR FACULTY. IT IS FELT THAT THE YOUNG CLINICAL INVESTIGATOR AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST MUST BE SUPPORTED TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR TEACHING, PATIENT CARE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL; THIS, IN GREAT MEASURE, WILL ENABLE EXCELLENCE IN ORTHODONTIC EDUCATION AND PROGRESS FOR THE SPECIALTY. THIS AWARD PROVIDES SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN ORTHODONTIC TRAINING LEADING TO A MASTER OF SCIENCE OR PHD DEGREE, AN ORTHODONTIC GRADUATE INVOLVED IN POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH PROJECTS AND JUNIOR FACULTY SERVING AS FULL-TIME FACULTY IN AN ORTHODONTIC DEPARTMENT. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS ARE INTENDED ONLY FOR THOSE COMMITTED TO A CAREER IN ORTHODONTIC TEACHING AND/OR RESEARCH. RESEARCH: BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AWARDS ARE NOW FOCUSED ON HELPING JUNIOR FACULTY IN U.S. AND CANADA DEVELOP INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO HELP COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS FOR TENURE AND TO PROVIDE PILOT STUDY DATA FOR OTHER EXTERNAL FUNDING APPLICATIONS (E.G. NIDCR). BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE TO A.) U.S. AND CANADIAN CITIZENS, B.) FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO POSSESS A U.S. "GREEN CARD OR ITS CANADIAN EQUIVALENT, AS LONG AS THE APPLICANT AND THE INSTITUTION WILL STIPULATE THAT OBTAINING SUCH STATUS IS APPLICANT'S INTENTION AND WHERE THERE IS DEMONSTRABLE EVIDENCE OF THIS INTENT. AWARDS ARE DESIGNED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED IN AN ORTHODONTIC DEPARTMENT DURING YEARS 3-14 OF THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS. FURTHERMORE, THE AAOF WILL BE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC FOR THOSE PROPOSALS WHERE THERE IS COLLABORATION WITH MORE SENIOR FACULTY WHO ARE ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS. EVIDENCE OF INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT (E.G., IN THE FORM OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM AN APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL/OFFICIALS) IS REQUIRED. COLLECTIONS: LONGITUDINAL ORTHODONTIC RECORDS OF UNTREATED INDIVIDUALS HAVE LONG BEEN AT THE CENTER OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEAD AND NECK AND FORM THE BASIS OF OUR TREATMENT IN ORTHODONTICS, PROVIDING MATERIAL TO DEVELOP NORMATIVE DATA FOR TREATMENT GOALS. THERE ARE SEVERAL ORTHODONTIC RECORD COLLECTIONS IN EXISTENCE CONTAINING RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATED LITERALLY OVER GENERATIONS, AS INDIVIDUALS UNDER STUDY HAVE GROWN, MATURED AND PROCEEDED THROUGH ADULTHOOD. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THESE RECORD COLLECTIONS BE PRESERVED IN PERPETUITY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, AS WELL AS CONTROLS FOR RESEARCH AND GROWTH STUDIES, NOT ONLY IN ORTHODONTICS BUT ALSO IN OTHER ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES. THESE COLLECTIONS ARE STORED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS UNDER VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND ALL OF THEM ARE SUBJECT TO DETERIORATION WITH TIME. THE NATURE OF THESE COLLECTIONS IS UNIQUE SINCE THEY MAY NEVER BE DUPLICATED AGAIN. FURTHERMORE, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, MANY OF THESE RECORDS ARE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS, AND, CONSEQUENTLY, MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN LESS THAN OPTIMALLY UTILIZED OVER THE YEARS. THE AAOF IS COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT, ON A LONG-TERM BASIS, IN THREE STAGES, I.E., STAGE ONE - ESTABLISHMENT OF A WEBSITE CONTAINING 900 LATERAL CEPHALOGRAMS FOR OVER 80 SUBJECTS FROM NINE OF THE TEN COLLECTIONS; STAGE TWO - CREATION OF TRULY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE(S) OF THE PARTICIPATING COLLECTIONS; AND STAGE THREE - COMPLETE PRESERVATION OF ALL RECORDS IN ALL COLLECTIONS.

GIFTED SMILES IS A PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS FOUNDATION (AAO FOUNDATION) THAT PROVIDES THE CONDUIT TO ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT. GIFTED SMILES PROVIDES AND CONNECTS CHILDREN WHO CANNOT AFFORD TREATMENT TO A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER ORTHODONTISTS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ORTHODONTIC CARE.