Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2020 - 4

PCSO News and Events

President's Report

President's Message

Dr. Robert Meister
PCSO President 2019-2020

Many of you are probably familiar with the
saying, "May you live in interesting times." I have
always appreciated the saying and interpreted it
quite literally. We all want our lives to be more
interesting. We work hard so we can do all the
things that we enjoy. Many like to travel, whereas
others might enjoy hobbies or humanitarian service-the list of choices is long. I doubt any of us
yearn to be a reclusive hermit. We humans seem
to thrive by stretching our minds, our experiences, and our knowledge.
I am old enough to have lived during the oil embargos of the 1970s. On specific days, determined
by a digit on your license plate, you had the
opportunity to wait in long lines to purchase gas.
This was something that I had never experienced
in my young life. We made adjustments, sacrificed, and emerged stronger. Our vision of life
was expanded-we learned to better prepare for
contingencies and to work together. And we were
better for it.
Today, we are experiencing a threat unlike any
we have seen in our lifetimes in the form of the
COVID-19 pandemic. It is frightening on many levels. The disease is deadly and spreading. We are
fearful for our families and friends, all while being
increasingly cut off from them. We know that
the pandemic will likely get worse before it gets
better, but we have no idea how much worse or
for how long. Our efforts to counteract COVID-19
are disrupting our families, our practices, and our
profession. The economy is strained. Government
agencies are implementing measures that we
have never experienced.
This struggle is not limited to one nation or one
ethnic group. It is a human struggle, spanning the
globe. No one is exempt-old or young, rich or
poor, American or Italian. We are all in it together.
By the time you read this, the situation may seem
even worse than it does today. Some of us will
be lucky. We will face a few weeks of disrup-

tion in our routines and our profession but will
emerge relatively unscathed. For others, it will
be devastating. They will lose their jobs, savings,
or-much worse-loved ones.
I do not paint this bleak picture to scare you but
to remind you that during this difficult time,
we are provided an opportunity to bring to our
fellow man what we provide our patients every
day-kindness, generosity, empathy, education,
guidance, and so much more. We love orthodontics because we love serving others. And now, like
no other time, we need to pursue this calling for
service. We may be locked down in our homes
and not seeing patients, but please continue to
seek opportunities to better your communities
in any way you can. No deed is too small-a kind,
uplifting word or gesture can mean so much
right now. That being said, be creative-I have
no doubt that the same spirit that has inspired
your patients and made you successful orthodontists can now be harnessed in our common fight
against COVID-19.
What is happening in the PCSO is probably an
afterthought for you, but we remain committed
to our members. Serving you has always been our
primary purpose. Your PCSO leaders are bright,
insightful individuals who will continue to keep
you at the forefront of our organization. The
recent pace of change as we react to COVID-19
has been rapid, and we are working to adjust our
planning and resources to best serve you and our
profession during this difficult time. As always,
we welcome your questions, concerns, and suggestions. We will continue to keep you updated
as our plans evolve.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your
families. Stay healthy, and I look forward to our
organization and our profession emerging stronger than ever from this struggle.
Robert Meister, DDS, MS
PCSO President

PCSO Bulletin Spring 2020

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2020