Annual Meeting

Welcome to the beautiful Texas Hill Country!

My name is Dr. Celeste ("Cele") Oliver, and I am delighted to welcome you to the 80th Annual Meeting of the Texas Orthodontic Study Club at the Albert Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas. Although I grew up in Austin, my summers and holidays were spent on our family ranch in nearby Bandera. Climbing limestone cliffs, floating the Medina River rapids, scaling bald cypress trees, and exploring the rugged terrain defined my childhood. I hope my love for this part of the state is as infectious as my excitement for this year's meeting.

Each year, I am inspired by the innovative cases, exceptional speakers, and camaraderie shared among this incredible group of like-minded orthodontists. This year promises to be no exception.

Pearls seem to appear at meaningful moments throughout my life. The first gift from my now-husband was a pink pearl necklace that I still treasure today. We named the beloved black poodle mix I found outside my office Pearl. Later, during the renovation of our home, we moved into a San Antonio neighborhood called The Pearl, where we formed lifelong friendships and created cherished memories.

With only one in every 10,000 oysters producing a pearl, they are among the rarest gems in the world. Pearls are formed when an irritant enters the oyster, prompting the animal to secrete smooth layers of nacre to protect itself. What a fitting analogy for our model room: transforming malocclusions that were once esthetic challenges into smiles of beauty and value through time, attentiveness, and dedication.

The case display room will remain open throughout the meeting, including early mornings and late evenings. In keeping with this year's theme, we ask that each case submission include a "pearl" — something learned during treatment, a novel technique or product utilized, or an insight that may help all of us become better clinicians.

This year, we will also introduce a format featuring a "speed dating" round at the beginning of the meeting to allow attendees to preview all cases, followed by dedicated model room time again on Sunday. Our goal is to maximize opportunities to review cases, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.

This year's theme, Pearls Before Wine, is a playful nod to the biblical idiom "pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6), which refers to offering something valuable to those unable to appreciate its worth. Here, however, the phrase takes on a far more fitting meaning. In the setting of Texas wine country, it reflects the spirit of TOSC — a club rich in orthodontic excellence, where members openly share wisdom, experience, and clinical "pearls" with colleagues who deeply value and understand them.

In that spirit, all of this year's speakers are fellow TOSC members.

On Friday, we are honored to welcome Dr. Larry Tadlock, who will discuss changing facial esthetics through the element of time. We will conclude the afternoon with a winery tour and a fireside chat on behavior management led by yours truly alongside my pediatric dental associate, Dr. Maria Montoya.

On Saturday, Dr. Aurora Sordelli and Dr. Maria Karakousoglou will share updates on clear aligner treatment planning and multidisciplinary care. During lunch, we will honor one of the brightest gems in TOSC with this year's Trailblazer Award: Dr. David Hime. He has been instrumental in shaping a more modern study club and has served as a mentor to me, my husband, and countless residents and TOSC members alike.

Following a cocktail reception, we will enjoy dinner and entertainment in a private dining space across the street at Fredericksburg Brewing Company.

Sunday morning will begin with a member breakfast and dedicated time for Shudy judging, followed by a presentation from Dr. Ron Gallerano featuring his outstanding cases.

I find it fascinating that the luminous luster so prized in pearls is a direct reflection of their environment. As we gather to learn from one another's cases, presentations, and ideas, may we all become more lustrous clinicians — reflecting the brilliance of our peers.

Welcome to Fredericksburg!

Dr. Celeste "Cele" Oliver TOSC President