Message from the International President
Hi Alpha Omega,
Many people have said I was destined to take on this challenging and prestigious role as International President of the world’s only Jewish Dental Society. In many ways, they are right, it is most definitely in my genes!
My father, PIP Gordon Perlmutter, of blessed memory, joined Alpha Omega in the late 1940s and was an active, admired, and inspiring member until his passing in 2015. I joined the Alpha Student Chapter in 1984 at SUNY Buffalo, remained active during my GPR in Chicago (1988–89), and have since been involved with the Toronto Alumni Chapter. My CV is filled with AO-related activities, but I will spare you the details. My dad proudly had the license plate “AO GORD.” Suffice it to say, mine could easily be “AO SHAR”!
I am incredibly proud to serve in this role for my beloved AO. While these are challenging times in our world, there is a part of me that truly believes we can still be the best. We are blessed to be part of a profession that values humanity, caring, community, and giving. Though these virtues may feel less visible today, I believe AO, through its very raison d’être, can continue to lead by example.
President, Alpha Omega International
My goal this year is to find the “pearls” (excuse the pun!) in our dental community: extraordinary individuals around the world who share our optimism and our belief that we can always do better.
But it truly takes a village. We must reach out, connect, and engage with those who see this same goodness and are ready to contribute. For 126 years, guided by the tenets of Judaism, Alpha Omega has demonstrated what is possible. Locally and internationally, we continue to make a meaningful difference, supporting dental institutions and hospitals, and serving children, the elderly, the ill, the underprivileged, individuals with special needs, Holocaust survivors, terror victims, and more.
To that end, I ask you, as your new President, to go the extra mile: reach out, inspire, engage, and educate our colleagues. Be on the lookout for someone, a young Jewish dentist in your neighborhood, a parent at your children’s school, or a fellow alum who may have fallen off the radar. It is our responsibility to find them.
By opening their eyes to the good we do and how they can be part of it, we not only strengthen AO and those we serve, but also enrich ourselves, through professional development, community events for our families, and an extraordinary global network of like-minded people. AO’s rewards are as meaningful personally as they are generous and communal.
Finally, I would be deeply honored to visit any chapters willing to host me. I welcome the opportunity to come to your communities and work together to GROW AO.
In summary, HELP! I need everyone’s support to succeed. Let us strive to BE and FIND the PEARLS in the dental world and help Alpha Omega truly make a difference.
Warm regards,
Dr. Sharon Perlmutter
President, Alpha Omega International