ATLANTA (Aug. 24, 2017) – The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting -- the nation’s leading dental meeting and comprehensive source of continuing education in dentistry – has announced its 2018 dates. The 106th annual meeting will take place March 22-24, 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, world-renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu, will be the featured Keynote Speaker on Thursday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m.
“We are excited about this year’s program and theme, which is Experience Hinman: Invest in Your Future. It emphasizes the importance of continuing dental education for everyone, from Millennials just starting out to seasoned professionals looking to revitalize their practice,” said Dr. Patrick Yancey III, General Chairman for Hinman 2018. “We’ve created a quality continuing education program delivered by many new speakers as well as some of the profession’s favorites. We’ve also focused on providing attendees with many opportunities for face-to-face networking with colleagues and peers.”
Over three days, Hinman will feature nearly 260 courses, including 73 participation and interactive courses that span a great many topics that dentists and dental professionals can apply immediately in their dental practices and careers. The meeting will feature more than 65 speakers – 20 new to Hinman – who will present the latest developments in the dental profession.
“We are also thrilled to feature Dr. Omalu as our Keynote Speaker this year. His story, which is chronicled in the hit film Concussion (starring Will Smith), is one of incredible triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds,” added Dr. Yancey.
Born in 1968 in Eastern Nigeria during the civil war, Dr. Omalu and his family lived as refugees in a town that was under constant fire by the Nigerian Air Force. Despite suffering war-related malnutrition in the first two years of his life, he attended medical school at age 15 and became a physician by age 21.
It was in 2002 that Dr. Omalu made a career breakthrough when he became the first doctor to discover and identify chronic brain damage as a major factor in the deaths of some professional athletes. He called the disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which he first discovered as the result of an autopsy he performed on Mike Webster, the legendary Pittsburgh Steeler and Hall of Famer who died at age 50. His brain revealed something doctors had never seen before. Within five years of reporting on Webster’s case, Dr. Omalu went on to identify CTE in eight more deceased NFL players, as well as in military veterans diagnosed with PTSD and professional wrestlers. But his findings were summarily dismissed—and even ridiculed—by his professional peers, the NFL, and the sports industry.
Today, CTE has become generally accepted and Dr. Omalu’s findings have revolutionized neuroscience, sports medicine and safety, the study of all types of brain trauma, and the entire sports industry. Dr. Omalu was awarded a WebMD Health Heroes 2015 award for his discovery of CTE and raising awareness of the disease. In 2016, he was awarded the American Medical Association’s Distinguished Service Award—the organization’s highest honor. Dr. Omalu’s memoir, Truth Doesn’t Have a Side, is the story of one doctor’s game-changing discovery and his devotion to unraveling the truth, in order to keep children and athletes safe.
In addition to a complete continuing education program and opening Keynote Session, Hinman 2018 will feature nearly 400 companies -- located in the Building A Exhibit Hall. Exhibitors will showcase new technology, equipment, products and services for the entire dental staff. New this year, Hinman will offer “Free Advice” booths in the exhibit hall where Hinman members will provide guidance on a number of hot, relevant topics. The exhibit hall will be open on Thursday, March 22, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday, March 24, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Registration for Hinman 2018 will open on December 5, 2017. Please visit www.hinman.org for more information.
