General Assembly Minutes
Call to Order
President Patrick E. Taylor called the 2019 General Assembly of the American Association of Endodontists to order at 8:50 a.m. on April 12, 2019, at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Québec. A quorum of voting members was in attendance.
Approval of Minutes
President Taylor called for approval of the minutes of the April 27, 2018, General Assembly held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado., as published in the Communique.
GA-1 Moved: That the 2018 General Assembly Minutes be approved as published.
Motion Carried.
Reports of Officers
President Taylor announced that written reports from the AAE President, Secretary, and Treasurer were made available to members electronically via the AAE19 mobile app.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Gerald C. Dietz, Jr. reported that for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2018, the AAE had a surplus of $795,000 after investment earnings, and that the AAE received a clean audit from its independent auditors. This indicates that financial operations not only comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, but also that the association is financially sound and that the Board of Directors has operated responsibly and in the best interest of the AAE and its membership.
Dr. Dietz reviewed Revenues and Investment Earnings, Expenses, Operating Surplus, Strategic Initiatives and Total Surplus/Deficit for the years ending June 2016 through the budget of June 2020. Overall, revenues are increasing, mainly through increased membership and the success of the AAE’s meetings. Expenses have also increased as a means to generate those increased revenues.
The current fiscal year is forecasted as a surplus of $106,000 and the AAE staff continues to work on improving the projected surplus by year-end.
The AAE Net Asset/Reserve Fund balance of $8,874,000 on June 30, 2018 was at 90% of the 2018 annual expenses, which is a healthy financial position.
The Board approved a Fiscal Year 2020 budget projecting revenue of $10,854,000, expenses of $10,950,000, investment earnings of $224,000 with an operating surplus of $143,000. The focus continues to be to provide increased value to members. The Board is advancing the strategic plan which focuses on expanding the public’s awareness of endodontists, the dental profession’s value of the endodontic specialty and recognition of members within the specialty. The board approved additional funding for the strategic initiatives in the amount of $754,000. This will be funded in the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget through the use of reserve funds as needed.
Editor’s Report
Editor Kenneth M. Hargreaves reported continued advances in the Journal of Endodontics. The JOE has seen a 286% increase in the number of submitted manuscripts since 2003. The JOE’s impact factor, a measure of how often a published paper is cited, ranks the Journal as #13 out of 91 dental journals. This workload has been managed due to the efforts of the Scientific Advisory Board. In 2018, 365 scientists and endodontists from more than 25 countries served on the SAB. Dr. Hargreaves recognized reviewers for their service.
The Journal redesign will debut in 2019. The vision for the redesign is to present a new look and feel that modernizes the JOE both in print and online, and also retains its decades-earned esteem.
The JOE awards were presented at the Scientific Advisory Board Reception and recognized the best articles of 2018 in the categories of Basic Research: Biology; Basic Research: Technology; Case Reports and Clinical Techniques; Clinical Research; and Regenerative Endodontics. Dr. Hargreaves recognized the winning authors and those who received honorable mentions for their contributions, and encouraged members to submit nominations to recognize authors of 2019’s best papers.
Foundation for Endodontics Report
Foundation President Mary T. Pettiette reported on the Foundation’s continued growth. Dr. Pettiette noted that the Foundation provides funding and resources research, educational support and access to care. In 2018, the Foundation budgeted $1.5 million to provide this support.
The Foundation’s international outreach program, in partnership with the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, has saved over 350 teeth with root canal therapy. Dr. Pettiette thanked the Henry Schein Cares Foundation which provided both monetary and in-kind equipment, as well as Seiler Precision Instruments, which has provided a microscope for patient care since 2016.
The Foundation launched two domestic programs in conjunction with endodontic faculty and residents from Albert Einstein Medical Center and Boston University. The Foundation was recently recognized by the Dr. Edward B. Shil’s Entrepreneurial Fund for its support of the Philadelphia project.
Research and education continue to be funded by the Foundation at the same level; several research projects that received Foundation funding have gone on to receive higher-level governmental funding.
Dr. Pettiette recognized the Foundation’s 2018 Endodontic Educator Fellowship Award recipient, Dr. Annie Shrestha, assistant professor at University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry.
Dr. Pettiette recognized corporate donors who have increased their commitment as well as new corporate donors. She encouraged members to make a pledge to assist the Foundation in achieving their 2018-19 fundraising goal of $1 million.
American Board of Endodontics Report
American Board of Endodontics President Scott B. McClanahan reported that a record number of 78 case history portfolios were submitted in May 2018, and that 92 submissions were received for the September 2018 exam. The ABE congratulated and presented pins to a record number of 150 new Diplomates at the Grossman Ceremony. Board certification rates are a critical component of retaining endodontics’ standing as a recognized dental specialty. Dr. McClanahan recognized all new Diplomates and encouraged all eligible members to pursue board certification.
In May of 2018 the ABE moved its office from the AAE office suite in the ADA building to a new office space in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The ABE and AAE maintain a close relationship.
Dr. McClanahan thanked the Board and former directors for their contributions in administering examinations and their continued commitment to the ABE.
Presentation of ABE Nominees
Dr. McClanahan presented the slate of nominees for ABE Directors:
Brian E. Bergeron
Thomas O. Mork
Avina K. Paranjpe
Kent A. Sabey
Clara M. Spatafore
GA-2 Moved: That the slate of nominees for ABE Directors be approved.
Motion Carried.
Nominating Committee Report
AAE Nominating Committee Chair Terryl A. Propper presented the slate of nominees for AAE Officers and AAE Foundation Trustees and Public Sector Representatives.
Officers, American Association of Endodontists:
President
Keith V. Krell
President-elect
Alan H. Gluskin
Vice President
Alan S. Law
Secretary
Craig S. Hirschberg
Treasurer
Gerald C. Dietz, Jr.
Immediate Past President
Patrick E. Taylor
Trustees, Foundation for Endodontics:
Juheon Seung
Patrick E. Dahlkemper
Scott B. McClanahan
Maria C. Maranga
Mark A. Odom
Public Sector Representatives, Foundation for Endodontics:
Mark Laramore
John Ferone
Scott Fehrs
GA-3 Moved: That the slate of nominees for AAE officers and AAE Foundation Trustees and Public Sector Representatives be approved.
Motion Carried.
Election of District Directors
President Patrick E. Taylor presented the slate of nominees for AAE District Directors:
District 2 Paul A. Falcon
District 4 Michael J. Mintz
District 5 Bradley H. Gettleman, filling an unexpired term from 2019-2021
District 5 Kirk A. Coury
District 6 Kenneth B. Wiltbank
GA-4 Moved: That the slate of nominees for District Directors be approved.
Motion Carried.
Swearing-in of Elected Officers, Directors, and Trustees
New AAE officers and district directors, ABE directors, and AAE Foundation trustees took an oath to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Association of Endodontists and the Bylaws of the respective organizations to which they have been elected, and to discharge their duties and responsibilities to the best of their abilities.
Outgoing President’s Remarks and Transfer of the Gavel
President Keith V. Krell thanked Immediate Past President Patrick E. Taylor for his service to the specialty and presented him with the AAE past president’s pin. Dr. Taylor thanked the membership for the opportunity to serve as AAE President, and presented the gavel to President Krell.
Incoming President’s Remarks
President Krell spoke to the Assembly regarding the association’s accomplishments resulting from its strategic plan, the continued advancement of the specialty, and the AAE’s continued focus on communicating the importance of maintaining the natural tooth. Dr. Krell encouraged members to plan to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting in Nashville.
New Business
President Krell entertained requests for new business. No new business was raised and the meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.