June President’s Message: Looking Forward to the Year Ahead

It is a unique privilege to be able to address AAE members in our monthly Communique!  I want to take a moment to again thank our members, past leadership, and the many with whom I have worked alongside over the years for their confidence in my abilities and this opportunity to serve as your president.

It is hard to believe that AAE23 has come and gone.  It was an outstanding meeting with record attendance, including a return of many international attendees.  It is also difficult for me to realize that I have entered my second decade in AAE leadership.  The AAE presidents I have served under include Drs. Hartwell, Roda, Propper, Levin, Myers, Taylor, Krell, Gluskin, Law and Zweig.  They represent a group that distinguished themselves as outstanding clinicians, educators and/or researchers and by their long and continuous service to our specialty.  Each has a unique leadership style.  I have learned from all of them and I benefitted from each as a mentor and friend. I need to give a special “shout-out” to Dr. Gary Hartwell, who has been an incredible mentor to me with both my role in the AAE and my academic career.  I hope that I will have had similar positive influence on the development of the careers of others.

I am very excited to be working closely with the AAE Executive Committee; Drs. Flake, Katz, Noblett, Shin Perry, and Zweig and Executive Director Ken Widelka. They are a group with exceptional talent and intellect, not to mention also very good company! Our 2023-24 AAE Board of Directors is an assemblage of individuals of diverse background and experience, a strong group that bodes well for the governance of our Association for the coming year and for years to come.

It was personally satisfying to see the robust attendance at our District Caucuses at AAE23.  The efforts appear to be working to standardize the district nomination procedures and create an awareness of desirable leadership competencies, while still recognizing the districts’ internal agreements between their component affiliates. This should assure that committed, hardworking and talented individuals will be entering AAE leadership.

The AAE’s Leadership Development Program was recently reinstated and revised. The 2023 program received outstanding reviews. This should help individuals identified for their leadership potential to enter the leadership pipeline earlier in their careers and benefit our younger membership.

AAE committees, both standing and special committees are the foundation of our Association’s governance. Committee participation has served as the initial experience for many members in understanding our association culture as well as the starting point for many members who eventually grow into leadership positions.  Many of you already volunteer your time and expertise to serve on the AAE committees that work to create programs, policy, and publications for our association.  Thank you all for helping strengthen our specialty.  I would encourage anyone who has an interest in serving AAE, or who knows a talented individual they’d like to nominate to respond to the Call for Nominations in the fall.

The volunteers who serve on AAE committees and in leadership couldn’t function without the amazing AAE professional staff led by Executive Director Ken Widelka. Our Executive Office, Marketing and Communications, Meetings and Continuing Education, Member Services, Business and Finance, Information Technology, Advocacy and Professional Relations, and Foundation Teams are always working hard behind the scenes. Those of us who volunteer at AAE couldn’t function without them.  They always make us look good!

I am so much looking forward to working with everyone and to a really great year! The future of endodontics is bright!