Welcome to The Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists!

The Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists (GLAO) is a constituent of the American Association of Orthodontists. The GLAO advocates on behalf of its members and promotes the value and advancement of the Specialty of Orthodontics. Component organizations of the GLAO include: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario (Canada), and Pennsylvania (west of the Alleghenies).
 

A Message from The GLAO President...
 

Greetings GLAO Friends,

I am honored to serve as your president this year, and I look forward to a very successful completion of my term at the GLAO Annual Session, September 18-20, at Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This event will be a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with friends and colleagues, make memories with your team, and explore the latest advancements in our specialty. We have put together a fantastic educational program with plenty of fun stuff too. Luckily, we will be in Grand Rapids for opening weekend of the 2025 ArtPrize, a public art competition with art installations throughout the city. Expect a high energy weekend with dynamic CE programs, networking, and team building.

The GLAO is one of 8 regional (Constituent) associations of the AAO. We are comprised of State/Provincial Associations (Components) from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and Ontario. Our role is to represent orthodontists from our region, provide education and support to our orthodontist members, and defend the specialty through advocacy. Come to our meeting, smile with friends, and meet new people from our region. Meetings like the GLAO Annual Session bring us closer, enrich our knowledge, and keep us strong as we share information about our profession and the challenges we face. Threats to our specialty never seem to stop, and involvement in organized dentistry and orthodontics is the best way to protect the public, our specialty, and our integrity. I urge you to get involved, stay connected, and grow professionally.

The GLAO leadership likes to stay connected with our members. One easy way to spend a little time with us is our quarterly GLAO Coffee Chat. This casual Zoom Meeting format provides GLAO members an opportunity for informal discussions with your colleagues. Our next Coffee Chat is Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM. We will have a discussion about The AAO Consumer Awareness Program and how to utilize available AAO tools and resources. Join AAO Director of Marketing and Communication, Jennifer Diebling, and GLAO Council on Communications Representative, Dr. Jashleen Bedi, as they share instructions on how we can all utilize the many advertising and educational tools available to AAO members. Members can also learn about the current campaign and marketing efforts by the AAO. Please plan to participate in this interactive Zoom meeting to learn more and share your ideas!

I hope to see many of you in September. If there is anything we can do to better support you and your orthodontic team, please reach out to me or any of your GLAO leaders. 

Warmest Regards,

Scott O. Schulz, DDS, MS

GLAO President