Hello Members,
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the final stretch of summer.
I wanted to send a brief update as many of us returned this week from another outstanding Aesthetic Society Cruise. It's hard to believe that just three months ago we were together in Boston for The Aesthetic MEET. Coming off the energy and momentum of our Annual Meeting and then sharing the past ten days together overseas only reinforced what continues to make our Society truly distinctive among professional organizations.
You've heard me speak often about our commitment to growing our brand and expanding our community without losing the personal, high-touch experiences that define who we are. Returning from this year's cruise reminded me that we are accomplishing exactly that.
For those who have not yet had the opportunity to experience it, The Aesthetic Society Cruise has been one of our signature member experiences for more than a decade. This year's journey began in Iceland and was originally scheduled to continue through Norway's breathtaking fjords. However, Mother Nature had other plans. To avoid 30-foot swells in the North Atlantic Ocean, our itinerary was adjusted to include the beautiful city of Oslo—a welcome addition that quickly became a highlight of the trip. From there, we resumed our planned voyage with memorable visits to Amsterdam and Bruges before concluding our journey in Southampton, United Kingdom.
I want to recognize and thank this year's course chairs, Dr. Kristi Hustak, Dr. Holly Wall, and Dr. Pat Pazmiño, whose leadership and dedication created an exceptional educational program.
“This year’s cruise was our largest since 2007”
This year's cruise was our largest since 2007, with more than 150 cabins sold and over 320 attendees, including spouses, families, and guests. Among them were 120 registered plastic surgeons, including 15 current and past leaders of both the Society and Foundation. Our faculty featured 37 distinguished subject matter experts, eight of whom were first-time cruise speakers, and attendees represented ten different countries.
These numbers are certainly impressive, but they tell only part of the story.
As an organization, our North Star remains unchanged: to be the gold standard in aesthetic education by delivering the highest-quality faculty, content, and learning experiences that help our members continue to grow, refine their skills, and elevate our specialty. This year's cruise accomplished exactly that. Two full days of outstanding scientific programming, thoughtful discussion, and engaging case-based conversations challenged attendees intellectually while providing practical insights they can immediately bring back to their practices. And, as many would agree, there are few better ways to earn CME than while cruising at sea.
Yet, while the educational experience is exceptional, I believe the true differentiator of this event lies elsewhere.
Grateful to this esteemed group of professionals for generously sharing their knowledge, expertise, and passion with our members and advancing the specialty together.
To my knowledge, few—if any—professional organizations have created an experience quite like this one. The cruise fosters genuine relationships that extend far beyond the lecture hall. It strengthens professional collaborations, creates lifelong friendships, and reinforces the sense of community that has always been at the heart of The Aesthetic Society.
For many of our North American members, the cruise provides another opportunity to reconnect with colleagues they regularly see throughout the year. But for many of our international members, this is often the event they anticipate most because it is where they reunite with friends and colleagues they may only see every two years.
Just as meaningful are the relationships built among spouses and families. This year alone, more than 35 children under the age of 18 joined us. Watching families travel together, seeing children grow from one cruise to the next, and witnessing friendships span generations is something truly special. It serves as a reminder that The Aesthetic Society is more than a professional association—it is a community. Those personal connections create an experience that simply cannot be replicated.
I am personally grateful to Drs. Hustak, Wall, and Pazmiño for their countless hours of planning and leadership. I also appreciate every member who participated and contributed to the welcoming, collaborative spirit that defines our Society. These experiences reinforce why our culture continues to be one of our greatest strengths and why I believe no other organization offers the same combination of educational excellence, authentic relationships, and shared purpose.
“Planning is already well underway for our 2028 Aesthetic Society Cruise”
Finally, I'm excited to share that planning is already well underway for our 2028 Aesthetic Society Cruise. Over the coming weeks, we'll begin sharing additional details about what promises to be another remarkable journey aboard the newly reimagined Seven Seas Explorer from Regent Cruises. I have every confidence it will continue the tradition of delivering world-class education while strengthening the relationships that make our Society so unique.
Until then, thank you for your continued engagement, your leadership, and your commitment to our shared mission. I look forward to seeing many of you again soon.
Sincerely,
Mark Theis
CEO, The Aesthetic Society & The Aesthetic Foundation
