president’s message

President’s Message

March 1st, 2025

Hello Fellow ABFO Diplomates,

I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of our recent meeting in Baltimore. For those who couldn’t attend, we missed you and look forward to seeing you at future events.

I’m also deeply thankful to those who have supported me throughout my journey as a forensic dentist. It’s truly an honor to be a part of this distinguished discipline. I appreciate the trust you’ve placed in me as the next President of the ABFO.

A special congratulations to our two new Diplomates, Candice Johnson and Elif Eksoylu, who successfully challenged the board examination. Welcome to the ABFO!

As we look ahead, I’m excited to share that preparations are already underway for the February 2026 ABFO meeting in New Orleans. This will coincide with the AASF meeting, where we will also host the Pattern Injury and Dental ID workshops. Please stay tuned for more details on registration, and feel free to pass the information along to any aspiring forensic dentists who might be interested.

One important initiative your Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Directors (BOD) have been working on is the formation of a new Ad Hoc Committee on Computational Dentistry and AI. As we all know, AI is advancing rapidly, and we are already seeing its potential in forensic dentistry. This new committee will be tasked with monitoring these advancements, researching new software, and providing recommendations on how they may impact our field and the best practices for our Diplomates.

Additionally, we discussed the importance of becoming more involved in standards organizations to ensure we help shape the future of forensic dentistry. The ABFO has agreed to join the International Organization for Forensic Odontostomatology (IOFOS), and we are committed to increasing our participation in other relevant standards organizations. We will be encouraging our members to take active roles in these groups to further elevate the visibility and influence of forensic odontology on the global stage.

Another key area we’re focusing on is mentoring and developing new Diplomates. I’m pleased to announce that Shanetha Collier will serve as the chair of the Diplomate Development Committee. Shanetha brings a fresh perspective, having recently navigated the journey to board certification, and she is excited to help guide others on this path.

I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead as your President. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. Together, we can continue to advance our field and support one another in this important work.

Warm regards, Derek Draft

President, ABFO