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Celebrating 50 Years of Collaboration: The Brazilian Society of Oral Medicine and the AAOM 

The year 2024 marks a significant milestone for the Brazilian Society of Stomatology (Oral Medicine) and Oral Pathology (SOBEP) as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. This occasion was honored at the 50th SOBEP Congress, held at the Sheraton World Trade Center in São Paulo from July 24-27, 2024. The event attracted around 1,050 attendees from 20 countries, including participants from across Latin America and beyond. Over four days, 43 distinguished speakers, including 23 international experts, shared insights on contemporary topics in oral medicine and pathology (Figure 1).

A highlight of the event was the presence of esteemed members from the American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM). Former AAOM Presidents Dr. Alexander Ross Kerr, Dr. Andres Pinto, and Dr. Nathaniel Treister, alongside Dr. Cesar Augusto Migliorati, past president of the American Board of Oral Medicine. Their involvement underscored the longstanding collaboration between SOBEP and the AAOM (Figures 2-5). Other renowned speakers included Drs. Rogério Castilho, Cristiane Squarize, and Felipe Nor (University of Michigan), Dr. Keith Hunter (University of Liverpool), Dr. Nikolaos Nikitakis (University of Athens), Dr. Marco Magalhães (University of Toronto), Dr. Lester Thompson (Head and Neck Pathology Consultations), Dr. Nadim M. Islam (University of Florida), and Dr. Marco Meleti (University of Parma), among many others.

SOBEP’s foundation in 1974 is deeply tied to the support of North American experts, particularly through a training program sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation that helped shape the first generation of Brazilian oral medicine specialists (Santos-Silva et al., 2023). This collaboration has continued for decades, with prominent AAOM figures like Dr. Sol Silverman, Dr. Thomas P. Sollecito, and Dr. Sook Bin Woo, among other AAOM members, contributing to previous SOBEP conferences. An important moment during the Congress was the recognition of SOBEP’s long-standing partnership with Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, the society’s affiliated journal. Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Mark Lingen, accepted a tribute on behalf of the journal, acknowledging a decade of collaboration that includes publishing abstracts from SOBEP’s annual meetings. This year alone, over 700 abstracts were presented, spanning clinical reports, research panels, and systematic reviews.

The Congress was preceded by a virtual pre-congress event, which attracted over 300 participants from 15 countries. This online session featured distinguished AAOM members as speakers, including Drs. Alessandro Villa, Joel B. Epstein, Sook Bin Woo, and Stephen T. Sonis, and raised funds to support the main event. SOBEP is grateful for the invaluable support provided by Dr. Vidya Sankar, past-President of the AAOM, as well as the numerous organizations that contributed to the success of the 50th Congress. These include CAPES, CNPq, FAPESP, and FAEPEX, alongside our sponsors: Conselho Federal de Odontologia, CROSP, Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Grupo Brasileiro de Câncer de Cabeça e Pescoço, and others.

SOBEP’s 50-year journey is a testament to the power of collaboration, with the AAOM playing an instrumental role in its growth. As we look to the future, the enduring partnership between SOBEP and the AAOM will continue to drive advancements in oral medicine and improve oral healthcare for populations across Latin America.

Alan Roger Santos-Silva, DDS, MSc, PhD, Fellow AAOM

Chair, 50th Brazilian Society of Stomatology and Oral Pathology Congress

Treasurer, Brazilian Society of Stomatology and Oral Pathology

Associate Professor, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Brazil

Figure legends

Figure 1: The 2024 Congress brought together over a thousand attendees from 20 countries to celebrate SOBEP’s 50th anniversary

Figure 2: Dr. Alexander Ross Kerr

Figure 3: Dr. Andres Pinto

Figure 4: Dr. Nathaniel Treister

Figure 5: Dr. Cesar Augusto Migliorati

Reference

1. Santos-Silva AR, et al. Oral medicine (stomatology) in Brazil: the first 50 years and counting. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2022 Jul;134(1):57-64.