Oh, How the Time Flies: Gearing Up for New Orleans 2026

It was a pleasure to reconnect with many of you at this year's conference. As we look forward to the 2026 New Orleans program, we invite your contributions to showcase our collective excellence. I needn't remind you of how quickly time flies. So please be diligent and prepare your topics for submission ahead of time.

Speaking of time management at the Odontology Section Annual Business Meeting, we addressed the issue of 15-minute time slots. It was decided that presentations requiring more time than the standard allotment could have the option to select more time during the abstract submission phase. This approach doesn't require multiple submissions. We aim to ensure that the time constraints do not prevent us from appreciating the significance of your work.
Whether you wish to propose a concise case study or a more in-depth workshop, there is a place for your work! Here are the opportunities available:

Oral Scientific Sessions
Present your research, case studies, or innovations in 15-minute talks.
Suggested topics include:

• Dental Identification
• Bite Marks
• Age Estimation
• Abuse
• Interdisciplinary Collaborations
• Civil Litigation

Poster Presentations (Including YFSF)

• The YFSF Posters are Ideal for students and emerging professionals to showcase concise findings.
• The main Posters are great opportunity for odontologists at all career stages. 

Odontology Workshop Sessions
Do you like to lead hands-on training, skill-building, or collaborative discussions? Developing a Workshop Session may be for you.

• Think core methodologies, mock case analyses, or ethical debates.
• Collaborative workshops (i.e., those involving both the fields of anthropology and odontology) would be both beneficial and fruitful.
• Submission deadline of August 1 is firm, but edits are permitted during the review process.

Build Your Legacy
"Legacy isn't just what we leave behind — it's what we invest in others."
To those who are retired: The next generation of forensic dentists needs your wisdom, your stories, your spark. Come back not to repeat your work, but to multiply its impact.
Mentor the next generation through YFSF, scientific sessions or workshops.

Let us make New Orleans 2026 a celebration of your work — rigorous, practical, and collaborative. The deadline is approaching, but the opportunity is vast. Together, we will build a program that honors our "Back to Basics" roots while propelling us forward.

If you know a fellow member or colleague with a compelling case study or workshop idea? Please forward this email — we want every voice to be heard!

For inquiries, please email Khlea Sumani at: sumaniforensics@gmail.com.