Opening Session features actor Constance Wu
Event includes music by ‘America’s Got Talent’ cellists
Kick off your SmileCon experience in style at the Opening Session, a celebration of the dental community that will energize and inspire you as you connect with colleagues and learn from the best in the dental business for the next three days.
Actor Constance Wu, known for her starring roles in the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians,” TV comedy “Fresh Off the Boat” and film “Hustlers” opposite Jennifer Lopez, will serve as keynote speaker and share her journey to wellness, one of the key themes of the meeting.
“We are thrilled to have Constance Wu join SmileCon to address and inspire our ADA community, who like Ms. Wu, are passionate about their craft,” said ADA President George R. Shepley, D.D.S. “Her words will be a vital reminder to all who hear them that taking care of yourself is the first step in sharing your talents with others.”
The Opening Session will take place from 8-9:30 a.m. Oct. 5 in South Hall A. It is preceded by a continental breakfast, beginning at 7:30 a.m. All pass options include access to the session.
Ms. Wu received both a Golden Globe nomination and a Critics’ Choice nomination for her role in the hit “Crazy Rich Asians.” Her career-launching work as Jessica Huang in the ABC series “Fresh Off the Boat” also earned her a Critics’ Choice nomination and a spot on Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in 2017.
Ms. Wu released a memoir in 2022 titled “Making a Scene,” an essay collection that recounts her experiences growing up in suburban Virginia, navigating her early career as an actress, falling in and out of love, and confronting her identity. She also launched Tempo Wubato Pictures, a production venture that struck a first-look deal with eOne, where she and her vice president of development are actively producing scripted series.
Attendees won’t just hear from a famous actor during the Opening Session, however. The event will also spotlight their fellow ADA members.
Stephanie R. Ganter, D.D.S., and Robert G. McNeill, D.D.S., M.D., hosts of the Between Two Teeth YouTube channel, will take their hosting skills to the next level as they guide dentists through the Opening Session.
“We are beyond excited to represent ADA members as their hosts for SmileCon,” Dr. McNeill said. “This is not the ADA of the past."
"This annual meeting has become super charged, and we want people to see what the excitement is all about,” Dr. Ganter added.
Brothers and cellists Emil and Dariel Liakhovetski, known for competing on “America’s Got Talent,” will share their talents with the dental community as they rock out on the SmileCon stage. Emil Liakhovetski, D.M.D., is a periodontology resident at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, and Dariel Liakhovetski is a dental student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry.
“We are honored beyond words to kick off SmileCon 2023,” the brothers said. “It is humbling to stand among leaders in our profession who remind us of the value of speaking up for what we believe in, and what better venue is there than with the largest family in organized dentistry? Our performance is a tribute to all those who embody what makes this the greatest profession on Earth.”
The Opening Session will also recognize the winners of the ADA 10 Under 10 Awards, which honor 10 new dentists who have demonstrated excellence in the dental profession, and include remarks from Dr. Shepley and ADA Executive Director Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S.
