An interview with Hugo De Clerck

?Hugo De Clerck is a graduate of the Rijksuniversiteit Gent?s orthodontic program, he received his PhD in 1986 and he maintains a private practice in Brussels. He received the European Research Essay Award in 1988. He has been Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Orthodontics at the Université Catholique de Louvain from 1989 to 2006. Currently he is Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the former President of the Belgian Orthodontic Society and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. His main research interests are in skeletal anchorage, biomechanics and orthopedics. He lectured extensively on these topics throughout the world.There are rare moments in which one can be present in a revolution, a paradigm shift or a promising discovery. If we place this fact into our professional universe, chances are even smaller. Faced with a novelty, we may note optimistic reactions by some, and skeptical by others. The optimists are avid to learn and use the novelty, desiring to offer comfort to those they can be of help. On the other hand, the skeptical, suspiciously, prefer that the optimistic try first, make their mistakes first, so that, afterwards it is worthy to leave their comfort zone ? if possible, while the new is not yet old. If you are an optimist or a skeptical, one thing I guarantee: It is impossible to read this interview without becoming a witness of orthodontic history.Bruno Furquim