- Welcome from CDC Chair
- 2025 Case-Based Dinner Series
- Event Recap: AO CMF NA Visiting Professor at UVA
- Fellows Forum 2025
- 2026 Course Calendar is Now Live
- AO CMF NA Resource Hub is Now Live
View the Fall 2025 newsletter email
Welcome from Dr. Michael Grant, AO CMF NA CDC Chair
Dear AO CMF NA Community,
I am pleased to have another opportunity to share achievements, upcoming events, and other relevant news with AO CMF NA members.
Since the summer issue, Dr. Bradley Strong has assumed the position of the Chair of the AO CMF NA Research & Development Committee through 2028. A new cohort of AO CMF NA Fellows attended the annual Fellows Forum this September in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. This proved to be another wonderful course that combined education, collaboration, and networking.
Below you can learn about on-going Community Development led initiatives, including Case-Based Dinners and the Visiting Professor program. Other remaining opportunities in 2025 include the Management of Facial Trauma courses in November in La Jolla, CA and December in Durham, NC. Read below for details about planned courses for 2026.
Another opportunity that exemplifies the AO CMF’s dedication to fostering fellowship, imparting new surgical skills, and advancing the field of research is FACE AHEAD 2026: Excellence Beyond Boundaries. Happening October 1-3, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, the third edition of this gathering of leading craniomaxillofacial surgeons promises to be a forum for exchanging ideas, networking with peers, and highlighting cutting-edge research and technologies.
Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] with ideas and comments for future newsletter issues.
Sincerely,
Michael Grant, MD, PhD, FACS
AO CMF NA – Community Development Committee Chair
Director of Craniofacial Surgery
Milton T. Edgerton Endowed Professor in Plastic Surgery
Professor of Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology
University of Virginia School of Medicine
2025 Case-Based Dinners Series
Following a successful launch in 2024, the AO CMF North America Community Development Committee will continue the Case-Based Dinner series this fall. Geared towards residents, this event series is designed to be highly interactive with clinical case presentations on surgeries that are approaching and/or recent surgeries that were challenging or thought-provoking.
Join AO CMF North America faculty hosts for interactive clinical case presentations, discussion and comradery. Participants will work toward a deeper understanding of the complications and characteristics of complex fractures that are necessary for quality patient outcomes. Faculty will also discuss recent advances, tips, tricks and techniques in fracture care as well as approaches for handling difficult fracture problems.
The 2025 event schedule is below; additional details will be shared soon.
San Diego, CA | Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Topic: Digital Workflow in CMF Reconstruction
Hosts: Dr. Michael Grant and Dr. Alan Herford
Durham, NC | Date: Friday, Dec. 5
Topic: TBD
Hosts: Dr. Kerry Latham and Dr. Clint Humphrey
Kansas City, MO | Date: Wednesday, Dec. 10
Topic: Focus on Nasal Reconstruction
Hosts: Dr. Clint Humphrey and Dr. David Kriet
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about participating in these or future events.
Event Recap: AO CMF NA Visiting Professor at UVA
This September, the AO CMF NA Visiting Professor program supported Dr. Bradley Strong’s visit to the University of Virginia.
Dr. Strong led 18 residents through a day of interactive clinical case presentations and discussion, sharing his wealth of experience as it relates to reconstructive options of head neck defects as well as sinus/skull base surgery. An afternoon workshop explored applicable concepts that informed the evening session, which focused on “Current Strategies in the Management of Frontal Sinus Trauma”.
Interested in bringing an AO CMF NA Visiting Professor to your institution? The AO CMF NA Visiting Professor program provides financial support for North American institutions to invite an AO NA Faculty member to participate in a one- or two-day educational program. The visit may include various forms of training including lectures, workshops, discussions, or a combination of formats.
Contact Kaitlynd O’Doherty, Project Manager: Engagement at [email protected] for more information.
Fellows Forum 2025
The 2025-26 Fellowship cycle is underway. This year’s AO CMF NA Fellows Forum was held September 26-28, 2025 in conjunction with the Advanced Surgical Approaches to the Craniomaxillofacial Skeleton Course in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. In attendance were 8 of the current fellows.
This gathering provided a key opportunity for the participants to grasp the meaning of being an AO Fellow and to connect with colleagues and faculty members. A reception accompanied the course and research-specific sessions. Overall, the weekend was marked by a strong sense of community and collaboration, embodying the spirit of AO North America.
In addition to the forum, Fellows participate in four webinars throughout the year and are each assigned a webinar to present cases at. The next webinar will be on December 4, and the topic is Orbit.
The application for the next AO CMF NA cycle opens in November.
2026 Course Calendar is Now Live
AO North America is excited to unveil our comprehensive 2026 CMF course schedule, designed to enhance the expertise of residents, fellows, and practicing surgeons.
Our CMF education program includes a variety of distinct learning opportunities throughout 2026, addressing skills in facial trauma management, oncologic reconstruction, and cutting-edge surgical techniques.
The 2026 CMF course highlights include:
Management of Facial Trauma – The foundation of CMF Practice
Houston, TX (January 2026), Ann Arbor, MI (June 2026), and Los Angeles, CA (October 2026)
Management of Facial Trauma (Blended) – Recognizing the evolving landscape of medical education, these courses integrate blended learning approaches.
Chicago, IL (March 2026), Boston, MA (August 2026), and Atlanta, GA (November 2026)
Future of Maxillofacial Reconstruction: Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, & Computer Aided Solutions course – This forward-thinking course prepares surgeons for the next generation of craniomaxillofacial practice
Tampa, FL (May 2026)
Orthognathic Surgery: Current Trends and Clinical Perspectives – Addresses one of the most transformative areas of craniomaxillofacial surgery | Austin, TX (March 2026)
View the complete 2026 schedule
AO CMF NA Resource Hub is now live
Check out the newly launched AO NA Blog! This recent addition to the AO NA website makes it easier than ever to stay updated on what’s new and next for the AO NA community including announcements, updates, and accolades.
Access the Resource Hub for the latest AO CMF NA news, information, events, opportunities and more.