About FAO

Group of people standing on stairs outside

Your Professional State, Regional and National Organization

The Florida Association of Orthodontists (FAO) is the largest state association of the Southern Association of Orthodontists (SAO) and one of the largest component associations within the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). The FAO represents 697 members and 60 student members throughout the state of Florida. You become part of the FAO and the SAO when you become a member of the AAO.

Founded in 1940 by eight orthodontists headed by Drs. William “Billy” Buhner, Charles E. Harrison and Roy T. Bovard, the Florida Orthodontic Study Group has grown into the Florida Association of Orthodontists.

In 1954, the Florida Orthodontic Study Group became the Florida Orthodontic Society. University trained orthodontists, like Drs. Richard Starr, Robert Litowitz, Douglas Walter and Robert Helms, were instrumental in bringing new techniques to Florida patients.

The Society was renamed the Florida Society of Orthodontics and Maxillofacial Orthopedics in 1978 and came to its present Florida Association of Orthodontists in 1985 to better mirror the relationship of the FAO to the AAO and SAO.

From this small, dedicated group of orthodontists meeting in St. Petersburg to its present state, the FAO promotes increased public awareness of the need and benefits of orthodontic treatment and fosters the delivery of ethical, quality, professional orthodontic care. We are proud of our history, led by our remarkable past presidents, and invite you to join us!

The FAO and You

The FAO’s Executive Committee meets twice a year and via teleconference once a month in order to oversee association business, monitor operations, keep abreast of state and national legislation pertaining to orthodontics, and plan the annual state association meeting.

This committed group of professionals, elected by the general membership, also serves in various capacities within the SAO and AAO; working for the benefit of the public and the FAO membership.

The Florida Association of Orthodontists can be reached at 813-903-8811. The Executive Director is Lissette Zuknick.

FAO... By the Numbers

Members
0
Student Members
0
Year Established
0

Executive Committee 2024‑2025

The FAO’s Executive Committee meets twice a year and via teleconference once a month to oversee association business, monitor operations, keep abreast of state and national legislation pertaining to orthodontics, and plan the annual state association meeting. This committed group of professionals, elected by the general membership, also serves in various capacities within the SAO and AAO; working for the benefit of the public and the FAO membership.

The FAO can be reached at 813-903-8811. The Executive Director is Lissette Zuknick, who can be reached at the number above or email lissette@faortho.org.

Dr. Arghavan Welch

President

11360 Legacy Avenue #120
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
561-627-3500

Dr. John Cordoba

Vice President

734 Sterling Center Place
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-444-9960

Dr. Eddy Sedeño, III

Secretary-Treasurer

16375 NW67th Ave
Miami Lakes, FL 33014
305-822-6784

Directors

Dr. Andrew Brown

Director

2217 Kingsley Ave.
Orange Park, FL 32073
904-272-1165

Dr. Jodi Prine

Director

3308 W. Highway 390
Panama City, FL 32405
850-785-6400

Dr. Brett Lawton

Director

201 N. Lakemont Ave., Ste. 400
Winterpark, FL 32792
407-644-8242

Dr. Nick Mann

Director

5103 N Armenia Ave.
Tampa, FL 33603-1405
813-877-2333

Other Leadership

Dr. Thomas "TJ" Albert

Component Director

5641 Naples Blvd.
Naples, FL 34109
239-592-6300

Dr. John Beattie

AAO Delegates / Alternate from FL

960 Lake Baldwin Lane
Orlando, FL 32814
407-898-2901

Dr. James Wortham

AAO Delegates / Alternate from FL

1755 E Highway 50, Suite B
Clermont, FL 34711-5500
352-394-0100

Past Presidents

2023-24

Dr. John Metz


20743 Sterlington Dr.
Land O’Lakes, FL 34638

(813) 948-6389
1940's

1940-41 Dr. William A. Buhner (Study Group)

1947-48 Dr. William A. Buhner (Reorganized)

1948-49 Dr. Ray Bovard

1950's

1950-51 Dr. William A. Buhner

1951-52 Dr. Charles E. Harrison

1952-53 Dr. Daniel Richelson

1953-54 Dr. Guy W. Toph

1954-55 Dr. L.H. Wilkins

1955-56 Dr. Clare F. McCreary

1956-57 Dr. George F. Wilson

1957-58 Dr. James A. Bell

1958-59 Dr. George J. Coleman

1960's

1960-61 Dr. Robert B. Clark

1961-62 Dr. Burnie W. Bunch

1962-63 Dr. Stuart Allen

1963-64 Dr. Douglas C. Walter

1964-65 Dr. Richard Starr

1965-66 Dr. Neal M. Roth

1966-67 Dr. C. Clinton Warren

1967-68 Dr. Jerry Ahlfs

1968-69 Dr. Harold Friedman

1969-70 Dr. Robert Henns

1970's

1970-71 Dr. William J. Thompson

1971-72 Dr. Donald Eifert

1972-73 Dr. Joe A. Sain

1973-74 Dr. Malcolm Meister

1974-75 Dr. Michael O. Abdoney

1975-76 Dr. Robert L. Edgerton

1976-77 Dr. Harry C. Good

1977-78 Dr. Jack H. Soutar

1978-79 Dr. Jack Shaffer

1979-80 Dr. Edwin B. Creenshaw

1980's

1980-81 Dr. William D. Jacobs

1981-82 Dr. Clifford Marks

1982-83 Dr. Carter Greear

1983-84 Dr. Thomas Anderson

1984-85 Dr. Arthur Burns

1985-86 Dr. Daniel S. Meister

1986-87 Dr. Peter F. Bayer

1987-88 Dr. David B. Olson

1988-89 Dr. Marshall D. Spoto

1989-90 Dr. Thomas L. Klechak

1990's

1990-91 Dr. Robert Blank

1991-92 Dr. Thomas C. Lawton

1992-93 Dr. James D. Campbell

1993-94 Dr. Steven H. Tinsworth

1994-95 Dr. Page Jacobson

1995-96 Dr. John B. Harrison

1996-97 Dr. Ben J. Ossi

1997-98 Dr. Larry F. Elliott

1998-99 Dr. Arturo F. Mosquera

1999-00 Dr. R. (Kim) Reed

2000's

2000-01 Dr. Lucas Stevens

2001-02 Dr. William Kochenour

2002-03 Dr. Steven Chapman

2003-04 Dr. Robert Goldie

2004-05 Dr. David Carden

2005-06 Dr. Brian B. Jacobus

2006-07 Dr. Jorge Coro

2007-08 Dr. Patricia Tapley

2008-09 Dr. Randall Rigsby

2009-10 Dr. Ralph DeDomenico

2010's

2010-11 Dr. Joe LeCompte

2011-12 Dr. William Glenos

2012-13 Dr. Richard Mariani, Jr.

2013-14 Dr. Leigh Curtis

2014-15 Dr. Jeremy Albert

2015-16 Dr. Alberto Vargas

2016-17 Dr. James Wortham

2017-18 Dr. John Richards

2018-19 Dr. John Beattie

2019-20 Dr. Shreena Patel

2020's

2020-21 Dr. Henry Rozen

2021-22 Dr. William Neale

2022-23 Dr. Thomas 'TJ' Albert

2023-24 Dr. John Metz

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