Orthodontic residents from throughout North America gathered in Ann Arbor, Michigan August 1-3, 2024 for the annual Graduate Orthodontic Residency Program (GORP).

The AAO Advocacy booth was a popular destination in the GORP Exhibit Hall, with residents aided in sending emails or written postcards to Members of Congress to ask for their support of the Resident Education Deferment of Interest (REDI) Act or the Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act. Booth visitors could also contribute $30.94 to the AAO Political Action Committee to honor the AAOPAC 30th anniversary, and receive limited-edition AAOPAC socks designed by fellow resident, Dr. Michelle Skelton. Participants also entered a drawing to win one of three custom AAOPAC tumblers.

Advocacy activities and the tumbler drawing were organized by AAOPAC and AAO Advocacy team members, Gianna Nawrocki, Kim VanVeen and Riley Pierce. Congratulations to Drs. Emma Chubb (University of Buffalo), Matthew Wittstein (Temple University), and Nuri Turkoglu (University of Detroit Mercy) for winning the AAOPAC tumblers. Thanks to all booth visitors for your participation!

In addition, booth visitors could take a 5-question survey created by the AAO Mental Wellness Taskforce to understand mental wellness concerns among residents and their interest in resources from the AAO.

Advocacy activity was one of many ways that the AAO engaged with GORP attendees, with numerous AAO leaders and speakers on hand to address residents’ questions or share insights and ideas. The program included greetings from AAO President Dr. John D. Callahan, American Board of Orthodontics President Dr. Jae Hyun Park, AAO Foundation Vice President Brett Schott and Dr. Christos Papadopoulos, representing the AAO Council on New and Younger Members. 

The AAO was a Diamond-level sponsor of GORP 2024. The AAOIC, the AAO Foundation and the American Board of Orthodontics also provided financial support to GORP.

Lecturers included Dr. Christian Groth (3D printing), Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham (practice management), Dr. Clark Colville (clear aligner treatment) and Dr. Audrey Yoon (miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) complications).