Orthotown April 2021 - 10

a voice in the arena

Membership earned, where do we find ourselves within our specialty and among our
equally distinguished colleagues? Coming out of residency, likely feeling a bit isolated. No
matter where the first day practicing in the " real world " occurred, in many ways on that
day we became the kings and queens of our own castles ... and heavy lies the crown. For
most of us, that was enough to scare the heck out of us-and rightly so! So, we do our
best to remember lessons learned in residency, pursue continuing education, and consult
our trusted peers. Eventually we all find our groove of systems and philosophies we prefer,
mentors we admire and look to emulate, and find the confidence to dig in a little bit on
where we stand.

Finding-and cultivating-community online
Speaking of continuing education, one of the biggest developments in my 10-year
frame of reference has been the emergence of the online orthodontic communities. The
three I'm most involved with are Orthotown (of course!), and the Orthodontic Pearls and
Orthpreneurs groups on Facebook. If you haven't yet explored these online communities,
I'd strongly recommend doing so: The discussions, cases shared, and personal and business
tips offered have become some of my most valued learning experiences.
In these groups, I have witnessed colleagues doing a very brave thing: being vulnerable.
Vulnerability in the world of social media, no less, where the cloak of anonymity often fuels
self-righteousness, shaming and a zero-sum mentality to differing viewpoints. I see this
bravery exemplified in the form of colleagues asking tough questions, sharing controversial
opinions or offering records of cases that could be widely interpreted and criticized.
It's my opinion that those who are willing to selflessly share in this regard-whether
online or in print-and for no other reasons or ulterior motives are among the very best of
our kind. As one who reads these publications and online posts, I personally benefit greatly
from them, whether it is a phenomenal " heroics " case, a lesson learned from a mistake or
tough case, or a case treated in a totally different way from how I personally prefer to treat.
Most importantly, I have great respect for those who vulnerably step foot in that arena.
That is exactly where I hope to contribute in some small way as the editorial director.

Encouraging tolerance and innovation
My job is to be the kind steward of the Orthotown arena. With conscious acknowledgment given to my own personal preferences, biases and, at times, myopic perspectives, I
aim to specifically and purposefully grow the tolerance of this platform. In my opinion,
tolerance is the best soil for education and innovation to flourish in.
My goal is to lift up those who want to share-those who love orthodontics
and want to contribute to the life of our profession. I want Orthotown magazine and the online community to be homes for those voices.
To those who wish to step into this arena, I hope to be your biggest
fan! I will be cheering from the stands and supporting you in any
way that I can. Putting myself in Dr. Grob's shoes, if I could
picture myself stepping down from this position some number of years from now, I'll consider my tenure time well
spent if I served as that kind of steward. ■

APRIL 2021 // orthotown.com

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3/24/21 3:35 PM

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Orthotown April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown April 2021