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Representing Endodontics on an International Stage at IFEA 2018

Last month, our Immediate Past President Dr. Garry Myers, Executive Director Ken Widelka and I had the distinct pleasure of representing the AAE at the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA) 11th World Endodontic Congress in Seoul. This was a great show of international excitement and fascination for all things endodontic. It was a wonderful thing to see – I felt that I was with my people! IFEA now has 46 member countries, with five having been inducted at the General Assembly on October 5. Over 60 countries were represented at the congress.

IFEA biannual meetings are largely organized by the local endodontic association, in this case, the Korean Association of Endodontists, and attended by a truly international cadre of dentists with a passion for endodontics. The event was considered a great success with over 2,000 attendees, remarkable in that they had only two years to prepare due to a reassignment of the host country in 2016.

Dr. Myers presented our Country Representative lecture on “Management of the Open Apex” to a standing-room-only crowd on the first day of the conference. Other American speakers included Drs. Syngcuk Kim, Sam Dorn, Cliff Ruddle, Martin Trope, Frank Setzer and Mo Kang, Brian Jafine, Sergio Kutler and Asgeir Sigurdsson. The international cast was excellent, with over 160 speakers representing 40-plus countries. The opportunities for networking and sharing ideas, clinical techniques and the newest in equipment were tremendous.

The 2020 World Congress will be held in Chennai, India, September 24-27, 2020. The Indian endodontists promise a wonderful cultural experience in addition to a fantastic program. Everyone should consider going.

In the meantime, we have our own opportunities for networking, discussion and learning on an international scale coming up — the biggest being AAE19 in Montreal on April 10-13, 2019. Registration is already open – please go to aae.org/aae19 and sign up!

Coming up even sooner is a special Insight Track on CBCT in Lake Tahoe, California, on January 24-26, 2019. Please plan to join us at the Squaw Creek Resort for some intense, focused CE on CBCT.

As you can see, there is an abundance of learning and networking opportunities on the horizon! Embrace them.