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My Extraordinary Year as President of the American Association of Endodontists—A Case Study in Optimism, Hope, and Collaboration

Stefan I. Zweig, D.D.S., President

Leadership is the creation of an environment in which others are able to self-actualize in the process of completing the job. If your actions inspire other to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. The greatness or a leader is measured by the achievements of the led.”—John Quincy Adams

As I near the end of my presidential term its difficult not to be introspective and to recount the journey which has brought me to this point. I consider serving as the President of the American Association of Endodontists to be the most fulfilling accomplishment and pinnacle of my career as an endodontist. And yet, I ask myself if there is more that I could have done or even if what I did helped advance and point us in the right direction as we move forward in support of our organization and world oral health. I don’t really know the answers to these questions, but my solace is that the AAE is filled with talented, dedicated, and innovative volunteers, who, together with our tremendous staff, will carry our specialty forward to new levels of success and effectiveness as we promote the highest levels of endodontic care in our communities and for our patients. My true hope is that perhaps I have inspired someone to understand the value and benefits of being a leader and that they too will contribute to the future of endodontics.

Truth be told, I am not inherently an optimistic person. I worry about the future of our world, my family, our profession, and our specialty. I began my career in endodontics with great hopes and aspirations. But I soon learned that my training was becoming somewhat obsolete, that dental implants undermined the usefulness and relevance of the therapy I performed, that general dentists were performing root canal therapy that was below the standard of care, and that changing practice models were threatening the way I practiced. The pessimism that was bread within me made me question our direction and our leadership. I was just a “regular guy” who cared an awful lot about what he did, and deep down I knew I wanted to do something. Education and leadership were the outlets I used to make a difference, and I can honestly attest that I have no regrets about the time and effort I have expended in service to the specialty of endodontics.

I recently attended the AAE Leadership Development Program which was designed to engage members of our organization to pursue leadership positions and to make valuable contributions to our organization. There I learned that leadership takes many different forms and involves many different qualities and that there is no such thing as a prototypical leader—I consider myself a living example of these facts. But I also learned that great leaders listen, inspire, collaborate, and don’t let what they cannot do interfere with what they can do. As I was asked to reflect upon my own personal leadership story, I came to realize that although I didn’t possess all the classic attributes of a prototypical leader, my love and respect for our specialty could and did act as the impetus for leadership roles and enable me to make a small contribution and a difference. And as I looked out into the audience and saw intelligent, engaged, and caring members, it was time to let go of my pessimism and become optimistic about the future of our profession and our association.

The future of the AAE and the endodontic specialty is bright and getting brighter all the time. Our thoughtfully formulated and responsive strategic plan emphasizes the value of saving natural teeth and encourages the public to seek endodontic care from endodontists, the specialists in saving teeth. It engages the dental profession to collaborate with endodontists in restoring oral health, and it embraces the diversity of our membership as we promote endodontics on a global level. Our goal for health equity for all is real, and our resolve to deal with the existential threats with afflict us is forceful. We represent and advocate for all our members vigorously, regardless of their experience, position, or practice model. Our leadership is concerned, dedicated, and works tireless with our staff to make our specialty the best that it can be for our members and for the public.

A few years ago, after becoming Vice President of the AAE and realizing that I would eventually become President, a colleague asked me why I wanted to do this. Afterall, we serve as volunteers and the time commitment can be great. I must admit that I was quite taken aback by this question, but never really understood the answer until recently. I fashion myself as an aficionado of Rock and Roll history. During a recent interview, Paul Stanley of the band Kiss (yes, I said Kiss), recalled that during his early years as a musician he had met both Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, two of the most iconic rock guitarists in Rock and Roll history. Deep down, he believed he would never be as good as them, but he was inspired nonetheless to work hard to become the best that he could be. Later in his career, he was approached by Page who praised Stanley’s talent and success. To Stanley’s point, he was proud that he gained the recognition of his idols but was equally as proud that he had made a difference in his profession, and that this was what life was all about and what he had set out to do. I am not sure if I have been the best President the AAE has ever had, but I am thankful for the friendship and mentorship that I have been afforded by those who preceded and that are better than me, and I am proud that I have been able make a small contribution and a  difference in the history of our association and to the specialty that I love and respect.

I want to thank the hundreds of members, leaders, and staff members I have worked with over my 20 years volunteering with the AAE. Although my term is ending, my dedication to our association and to endodontics will never end. I will continue to be an educator and a strong advocate for oral health, health equity, and for the expertise of endodontists around the world. I want to leave you with a message; Leadership is a never-ending task that takes many forms and that can be hard, thankless, time consuming, frustrating, sometimes even demoralizing. But the difference you make as a leader is important, will energize you, and pay you back in multiples. Please consider becoming involved in the AAE, so that you too can make a difference, a contribution, and become the optimist I never thought I could be. See you all in Chicago at AAE23!