President's Letter

May, 20, 2009

 To:       The General Membership of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, and Members of the Executive Board

Re:       A Wrap Up of the 2009 Orlando Meeting

 Dear Colleagues:

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for making our recent annual meeting in Orlando a complete and undeniable success.

My first congratulations should go to Carlton Horbelt and Seth Keller for working so hard in helping to organize the AADMD module lecture series.  All the feedback from both the GI and the Spasticity modules was very positive.  With these multidisciplinary lecture modules, the Academy really walked the walk with respect to promoting a team approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with ND/ID.

I also want to thank Matt Holder for the tireless work he has done on our new website – the virtual meeting place for this ever-evolving, new-millennium organization.

We, as an organization should also take off our hats to Mary Alice Willis and the entire leadership of the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association for all they did to make the 2009 Orlando meeting the success it was.  What a spectacular group of professionals!  We are very fortunate to have found, and formed an alliance with this energetic and passionate organization.

Those who attended the AADMD Executive Board meeting know that the Academy took some very important “next steps” in our march toward a forward-looking mission and strategy.  The incredible energy, intelligence, and focus of some of the newer recruits – people like Bruce Kelly, Allen Wong, and Clarissa Kripke – was truly a sight to behold.  These new Academy leaders will surely provide our Executive Director and President-Elect with the help they need in guiding us in the coming months and years.  It is crystal clear to me, and to many of the founding members, that we now have the perfect combination of talents and temperaments to continue breaking down barriers and kicking down doors on behalf of the wonderful patients we serve.

In closing, let me take a moment to remember and honor Dr. Steve Zelenski, a co-founder of the Academy, a compassionate advocate for people with disabilities, and a dear friend.  I will miss you, Steve; I miss you already.  And I promise you that the rest of us will do all that is within our power to continue to move the ball down the field for the voiceless Americans whose banner you selflessly and courageously carried for so long.

Respectfully, and with great affection,

Henry

Henry Hood, DMD

President