Visions of the Past and the Future
Fifty years ago, the first issue of The Journal of the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators was published under the editorship of Dr Jose Medina. This journal and the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators were the predecessors of and the inspiration for Operative Dentistry and the Academy of Operative Dentistry. This has given us a heritage in which to take pride and a foundation in clinical excellence that is unequalled in our profession.
Last year, The Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs elected to make Operative Dentistry their journal and to join The Academy of Operative Dentistry and The American Academy of Gold Foil Operators as a sponsor of this journal. It was a momentous occasion, because all three academies are internationally recognized leaders in promoting clinically-based continuing education and research and are legendary for their mentoring approach and outstanding clinical demonstrations.
With this 50th anniversary of the combined journals (AAGFO and OD) and the addition of the Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs to our family, it seemed appropriate to recognize and honor the singular contributions of both these academies. Therefore, our editorial team has asked each of these academies to contribute an editorial and article to three of our issues for 2008. We suggested that the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators take issues 1, 3 and 5, respectively, and focus on the historical aspects of their group and that the Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs take issues 2, 4 and 6 and provide some of the clinical techniques that have made them famous. It will be a great deal of work for these academies, but they have agreed to it, and I know that these contributions, along with all their others, will be of great enjoyment and benefit to our readers.
Happy New Year to all!