The committees of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry (AARD) are actively preparing to host another excellent meeting in February 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. AARD committee chairs Robert Margeas (Essay) and Markus Troeltzsch (Clinic), along with their respective committees, have diligently worked for over a year to assemble a roster of outstanding national and international educators for the 2026 Annual Meeting. Their efforts will continue as they strive to ensure that the presenters teach our attendees how they execute their exceptional work, rather than merely showcasing it for visual enjoyment. This is a distinguishing feature of our AARD programming.
Roxanna Esguerra, the Arrangements Chair, along with her committee, will address both the macro and micro elements to ensure that the Restorative Academy meeting flows smoothly from beginning to end. Adam Winkler, the Reception Chair, and his committee will provide the warmth and professionalism for which the AARD is renowned. All things considered, this makes the 2026 AARD meeting one that should not be missed.
As we approach our 100th meeting celebration in 2028, I am deeply impressed by the ongoing excellence demonstrated by our Academy. I attended my first meeting in 2004 as a guest of Dr. Peter Dawson, who was eager to introduce the Academy to me. I absorbed everything I could while trying not to feel too intimidated. Sitting shoulder to shoulder in the Drake meeting room, I saw my mentors and heroes everywhere I turned. You could “hear a pin drop” during presentations, even if not everyone in the audience agreed with what was being presented. Then, Dr. Tom Colquitt’s voice would come over the sound system to lead a discussion after an essay presentation, easing the tension with relaxed humor and clarifying the content through questions submitted by attendees. The Q&A session ultimately satisfied most attendees, and regardless of personal opinions about the content, it was acknowledged that the time spent hearing about the presented subject was valuable, for that is how we learn.
The Presidential Reception was a blur, but I remember wondering where they found shrimp that big! Then came the amazing second day, with the rapid-fire Projected Clinicians providing me with pearl after pearl to enhance my craft. Next was the Report of the Scientific Investigation Committee of the AARD. At that time, this segment of the program was scheduled after lunch in the Drake ballroom while the outstanding table clinic presentations were being set up. I never would have believed that 400 people could be so quiet! Everyone listened intently to every word of the report, which lasted 50 to 60 minutes, without uttering a sound. In that moment, I realized this was a group that not only talked the talk but also walked the walk. I had never seen anything like it before or since at any other meeting I have attended around the world. Their dedication to our profession was ultimate, sincere, and absolute.
So, how did I transition from a wide-eyed guest in 2004 to serving as the AARD President in 2026? The AARD is member-driven and has developed an incredible formula for achieving results effectively and with merit. In addition to the excellent administrative support from our Executive Secretary, Ms. Cindy Metcalf, everything during my time with the organization was accomplished by our members. It is a long-held principle that when you are “tapped on the shoulder” and entrusted with a responsibility, the appropriate response is, “Thank you for the opportunity to serve; I will do my very best.” I aimed only to give my best to the organization that had provided me so much.
The beauty of the AARD system lies in this: when you collaborate with fellow members toward common goals, you learn about them much better and on a much deeper level as human beings than if you were simply attending a meeting together. There is beauty in getting to know the incredible individuals who comprise this Academy- people who have committed themselves to upholding the legacy built and refined by those who came before us. These individuals define excellence in unequivocal terms. I am forever grateful, humbled, and honored to serve the Academy in whatever capacity the membership decides. I promise you that I will give it my all.
Thank you for this opportunity to serve the Academy. On behalf of your Executive Committee- Secretary-Treasurer Chris Mack, President-Elect Nader Sharifi, Chair of Council Betsy Bakeman, Vice-Chair of Council Jeff Rouse, and myself- I promise we will continue to work diligently to advance the ever-expanding knowledge of the future while honoring the wisdom and traditions of the past.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Sesemann
