Bernhardt & Wang new MSO directors
The MSO welcomes two new directors. Dr. Melissa Bernhardt replaceds Dr. David Gehring as the new director from Iowa. We thank David for his 8 years of service to the MSO. Melissa received her undergraduate education at the University of Northern Iowa and her dental and orthodontic education from the University of Iowa. She initially practiced in central Iowa and in 2007, she and Dr. Blair Smith opened offices in West Des Moines and Waukee. She is an adjunct faculty member for the University of Iowa College of Dentistry at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines and is a past president of the Iowa Society of Orthodontists. She resides in Waukee with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Shae, Regan and Dane. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her kids’ activities, reading and spending time with friends.
Dr. Estee Wang replaced Dr. Nellie Kim-Weroha as the new director from Minnesota. Nellie moved up the ladder as an officer of the MSO. Estee received her undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, her dental degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and her orthodontic training and Masters degree from the University of Michigan. She has two practices in the Twin Cities and has a special interest in the orthodontic treatment of patients with cleft/lip and palate and has taught part-time at the University of Minnesota. She is currently the president of the Minnesota Association of Orthodontists. In her spare time, Estee enjoys doing yoga, traveling and spending time with her husband and son.
We welcome these two new directors to the MSO Board and look forward to their involvement and participation.
Dr. Ross Crist - 2020 MSO Shepard Award Recipient
MSO honors Dr. Ross Crist - Posthumous biography
Top 10 From the AAO Annual Session
Top 10 AAO 2020 Annual Session
Top 10 From the MSO Ad Interim Meeting
Top 10 MSO Ad Interim Meeting 2020
MSO Leadership at the
MSO Ad Interim in March in St. Louis
(left to right) Mike Durbin, Ali Fallgatter, Spencer Pope, Mark Dake, Nellie Kim-Weroha, David Gehring, Deb Lien, Dennis Sommers, Daniel Keith, Ryan Van Laecken, Fabio Pinheiro, Mike LaFerla, Scott Arbit, Kristi Burmenister, and Jackie Miller
MSO Leadership at the AAO
Professional Advocacy Conference, Washington, DC
(left to right front) Drs. Kevin Horner, Eloisa Garcia, Lisa Kwarteng, Deb Lien, Daniel Keith, Scott Arbit, Ginny Mennemeyer, Ara Goshgarian, Emily Willett, Michael LaFerla, Mike Durbin
(left to right back) Drs. Steven Dent, Peter Durbin, Dennis Sommers, Todd Thayer, Jacob Keller
MSO Leaders Kick Up Heels at
2020 AAO Leadership Development Conference
in Austin
These MSO component and emerging leaders participated in the 2020 American Association of Orthodontists Leadership Development Conference held directly before the AAO Winter Meeting: (front row left to right) Drs. Doug Barden - Wisconsin, Scott Arbit - Wisconsin, Alisa Madson - Minnesota, John Firth - Missouri, David Sander - Missouri, Nellie KimâWeroha - Minnesota, Molly Kopf - Nebraska, Nate VanLaecken -South Dakota, Emer Ehlis - North Dakota. (back row left to right) Chris
Wermerson - South Dakota, Robert Ward - Manitoba, Nick Smith - Iowa, Kristi Burmeister - MSO Executive Director, Eric Barnes - Illinois, Mike Durbin - MSO Trustee, and Daniel Keith - North Dakota. Also attending was University of Illinois - Chicago resident Peter Durbin.