by AACD President, Salvatore Lotardo, DDS, AAACD

No doubt about it. 2020 was a tough year, for dental practices and for our Academy.

And while the world is starting to see some glimmers of hope in the form of vaccine availability and retuning optimism, so too is AACD seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are just a few of OUR glimmers of hope, which I am excited to share with you.

• Membership rose by 473, more than 15%, from December 31 – March 31. 
• Corporate Membership more than tripled thanks to a new structure launched in 2020 which provided greater exposure to AACD dentists and lab techs.
• AACD pivoted successfully and adjusted to a different way of serving members.
• We added member value including transforming the Virtual Campus into AACD CEntral, a robust, online learning portal.
• We added new forms of learning including Hands-On @Home online workshops, AACD Virtual Trainings, and AACD Happy Hours.
• Communicated AACD’s value via multi-channel industry awareness initiatives which are bearing fruit.

Soon, these glimmers will be bright, shining lights.

So as I complete my presidential year, I leave you with my personal gratitude:

• Thank you for sticking with us through a difficult year.
• Thank you for your loyalty and your commitment to esthetic excellence.
• Thank you for spreading the word about how the Academy has impacted your life and career.
• Thank you for allowing me to serve and, hopefully, make a difference.

As John Lennon famously said,

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.”