President’s Message

The Academy has made excellent progress on a number of important  projects during the past six months thanks to the hard work of many members of the Executive Committee, Board of Trustees as well as key Committee Chairman. I am both pleased and grateful that so many of my AAOM colleagues have been willing to devote time, enthusiasm and creativity to AAOM related projects. I thank all of you for your efforts.

During these times, when  rapid changes in the delivery of health care and health care reimbursement are anticipated, our major goals for AAOM have  been directed towards strengthening AAOM and the clinical and academic aspects of Oral Medicine. It is apparent that the health of AAOM and the strength of the field of Oral Medicine are closely interrelated.

In order to supplement the work of AAOM standing committee’s in vital areas, ad hoc committees have been formed to recommend new proposals in:

  • Postdoctoral Education,
  • Streamlining AAOM Governance,
  • Liaison with the management company.

Dr. Mark Kutcher has agreed to Chair to Postdoctoral Education Committee which has developed a specific proposal to increase interest among dental students in a career in Oral Medicine and provide assistance to dental schools considering starting new Residency Training in Oral Medicine, particularly since these programs are now funded by GME.

Dr. Carol Stewart has kindly agreed to Chair the Ad Hoc committee which will recommend methods of updating and streamlining the governance of AAOM so the organization can more effectively respond to many the many rapid changes effecting health care in general, the practice of Oral Medicine and AAOM.

An Ad Hoc committee has also been formed to provide continuity in the ongoing relationship between AAOM and MCA our management company. Dr John Robinson is presently Chair of this committee, which is composed of the 2 most recent Presidents, President and President-Elect. Dr. Robinson has sent out a survey to Committee Chairs to evaluate their relationship to MCA and determine how we can work more effectively together.

The new Website is up and functioning thanks to the excellent efforts of  Dr. Scott DeRossi and the Website Committee working closely with MCA and MMM. Work on the Website is continuing and should be completed soon. I invite all of you to visit the new improved Website that now represents our Academy.

One method to broaden the influence and increase the strength of AAOM is to work together with other like-minded organizations.

I am pleased that that a joint meeting has been arranged for 2014 in Orlando between AAOM and EAOM in conjunction with the sixth World Workshop of Oral Medicine.

This meeting should be the largest most influential Oral Medicine Meeting ever organized and it has been finalized as a result of the efforts of Jack Appelbaum working closely with representatives of EAOM and WWOM and Jane Kantor and Eric Featherstone from MCA. I look forward to providing you with additional exciting details of this joint meeting during our annual meeting in April.

There have also been discussions between the American Academy of Oral Medicine and the American Academy of Oral Maxillofacial Pathology. These discussions centered on plans for a future joint meeting plus other areas the two related organizations could work closer together to achieve common goals to benefit both our patients and students.

There is also significant work being done by the Specialty Recognition, Publicity and Membership Committees. I will detail this work in future President’s Reports and at our annual meeting in Charleston in April.

I hope to see you there.

Have an enjoyable holiday season.

Martin S. Greenberg
President
American Academy Oral Medicine

Events