Foundation Governance Modernization

As summarized in the AAE’s January 2026 Communique article, the AAE Constitution and Bylaws Committee presents proposed revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Association of Endodontists. Some of which are being proposed due to recent governance updates from the Foundation for Endodontics which necessitate updates to the AAE’s governing documents.

Process 

These proposed revisions have undergone review by the AAE committee, AAE Legal Counsel, and the AAE Board of Directors. The General Assembly will vote on these proposed changes at its meeting on April 17, 2026 in Salt Lake City. 

The Foundation for Endodontics dedicated considerable effort to a multi-year effort to modernize its governance and update its governing documents with the goal of strengthening the Foundation. The Foundation’s special committee worked closely with the Board of Trustees, the AAE Board of Directors, Foundation Legal Counsel, and a Parliamentarian to ensure the governance changes were in accordance with Illinois law and 501c3 best practices.

Alignment with AAE Governing Documents  

Several of the Foundation’s governance updates necessitate corresponding changes to AAE governing documents. The AAE Board has reviewed and approved these changes, including removal of the requirement in the Foundation’s bylaws that the Foundation’s changes to its own bylaws undergo AAE Board review and approval, except when changes directly impact the AAE Bylaws.  

Key Updates

Key updates which require changes to the AAE Bylaws, and thus, approval by the General Assembly, include:

• Removing the Foundation mission statement from AAE bylaws to avoid future misalignment, while retaining it within the Foundation’s own governing documents.
• Updating Board of Trustees composition to reflect a new proposed structure. These changes would occur over time, through attrition, and allow a reduction in the Board size from twenty (20) to seventeen (17) trustees.  
  • Adds the Foundation's immediate past president (two-year term).  
  • Removes the AAE Vice President as an ex officio trustee.  
  • Changes the number of public sector trustees from "up to three" to two (2). 
  • Decreases the number of AAE member trustees from ten (10) to eight (8).  
  • The Executive Director would continue to serve as a trustee, but without a vote, resulting in seventeen (17) trustees with sixteen (16) voting trustees. 
• Revising term-length references to align with the Foundation’s new trustee and officer service structure. 
  • Removes the new practitioner trustee's eligibility for a successive term but allows successive nomination to the AAE member trustee role immediately following completion of the new practitioner trustee's term.  
  • Allows non-consecutive four (4)-year terms for AAE member trustees, provided that at least two (2) years have passed between terms.  
• Updating language regarding nomination, election and approval processes for Foundation trustees and officers by the AAE General Assembly. 
  • Requires the AAE Nominating Committee to approve and acknowledge new Foundation trustee and officer appointments.    

The Foundation appreciates every member—past and present—of the Special Committee on Governance and the Special Joint Committee (Foundation and AAE) for Foundation Bylaws Updates, for their diligence and dedication. The work has strengthened the Foundation’s governance and will benefit the mission for years. Members of one or both committees included: