First Day Of Registration

The first day of registration for the Braceland Seminar was a resounding success. I was busy answering emails all day. I've put up on the blog those I know plan to attend. But this doesn't tell the full story. No residents emailed me today. Residents, plus others I know will attend, push the attendance to at least 30. That's good attendance given tight TAD budgets. I don't think I'll see again the 48 psychiatrists we had in San Diego a few years ago. That only happened with the outstanding support of CAPT Warren Klam. He made that happen.

If you are a resident, and your training director told you that you are good to go to the Braceland, don't be shy. Send me an email so I can count you in. Let me know which year you are, because I need to know who the PGY-4s are. PGY-4s traditionally make short presentations in the afternoon. I have set aside 2 hours for the PGY-4s. The presentations are short because the number of residents divided into 2 hours determines the time per resident. Resident presentations are my favorite part of the Braceland. I have seen some really priceless 10 minute presentations.

Last year, setting up the Braceland was such a chore. Everywhere I turned there was problem after problem. This year the situation has actually been heartwarming. Since I sent out the first email on 8 February calling for speakers, so many people have contacted me. Enough speakers answered the call that I didn't have to resort to begging. But more than that, psychiatrist after psychiatrist wrote to say that they could not attend for one reason or another. Now, of course, I always want everyone to attend, but the idea that they felt the need to check in and explain their absence, well that was the heartwarming part. They wanted to attend, but they couldn't, and they felt the need to let me know. That means that we have something good going on.

The Braceland brings us together. It's such a simple idea, but it means so much.