Eladio DeLeon Jr, DMD, MS, of Augusta, Ga, was recently installed as president of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). His installation was held in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Session of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in San Francisco.
With DeLeon installed as president, Paul Castelein, DDS, MS, of Princeton, Ill, completes his term as ABO president.
Each ABO director represents one of the eight constituent organizations of the AAO and serves an 8-year term, which culminates in the position of the president. The ABO directors are responsible for establishing policy with regard to the board certification of specialists in orthodontics. During his tenure as an ABO director, DeLeon has represented the Southern Association of Orthodontists.
DeLeon is the Marvin C. Goldstein Chair, program director of orthodontics, and interim chair of pediatric dentistry at Georgia Regents University-Augusta. He is the ABO’s liaison to the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics, the Graduate Orthodontic Residents Program, and the AAO New and Younger Member Committee. He is also the ABO’s liaison to the AAO, the ADA’s Dental Specialties/Council on Dental Education and Licensure, and the World Federation of Orthodontists.
DeLeon earned his DMD from the University of Kentucky in 1976 and later specialized in orthodontics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, from which he earned his master’s degree in oral biology in 1985. He served in the US Army from 1976 to 1998.
“It’s been the ultimate honor serving our profession through the commitments of the ABO,” DeLeon said. “During my tenure on the Board, I have been committed to advancing the level of orthodontic care for the public, supporting graduate orthodontic education, and evaluating the clinical knowledge and clinical skills through certification examinations. The past 10 years brought forth significant changes to the ABO certification process, and implementing these changes has been both challenging and rewarding. The changes were very much needed as we now enter the new paradigm of new orthodontic therapies, which include, among others, do-it-yourself orthodontics. With these new trends in mind, the ABO is committed to elevating the standard of practice for orthodontics and to protecting the public against irresponsible and unqualified practitioners.”
