No Breaks Here: Endo’s Summer Sprint
As we head into August, I am truly invigorated by my first 3 months as AAE President, and the year is flying by! Many people associate mid-summer with a time of R&R, but the AAE is working in full force during the summer months. This positive momentum is due to the efforts of our talented staff and the volunteerism of our dedicated members. I’d like to highlight just a few examples how our member volunteers are impacting endodontics this summer:
Our members’ volunteerism was prominent during the Minnesota Mission of Mercy (MnMOM) event in June. Thirteen AAE members participated in this year’s MnMOM event, where providers treated 780 patients with $1.2 million in dental care! Participating endodontists were led by state chair Dr. Alejandro Aguirre, local co-chair Dr. Kim Lindquist, and leads Drs. Katie Divine and Cale Straight. These endodontists are a shining example of the many AAE members who give of their time and expertise to increase access to endodontic care.
In July, I had the honor of representing our association at the 23rd World Congress on Dental Traumatology, organized by the International Association for Dental Traumatology (IADT). Leaders of the two organizations discussed opportunities for collaboration between the AAE and IADT. I was delighted to learn of the establishment of “Global Dental and Oral Trauma Day” on September 21, an initiative to promote the prevention and proper management of traumatic injuries worldwide. I was gratified to see AAE members with key roles in IADT leadership in Tokyo, including officers Drs. Fabricio Teixeira and Bill Kahler, and Directors Drs. Yuli Berlin-Broner, Cesar De Gregorio, Peter Duckmanton, Koyo Takimoto, and Geertje Van Gorp. I thank the IADT and the Japan Endodontic Association for their gracious hospitality and collaboration.
We recently had a major advocacy win in DC, thanks to the efforts of our Practice Affairs Committee and our DC members. In April, Dr. Carolina Rodriguez-Rad alerted AAE leadership to a bill that would require all dental specialists to hold a separate specialist license and be board certified to practice in DC. AAE quickly mobilized, becoming the first dental specialty to oppose the bill and support the DC Dental Society’s local advocacy efforts. The strong response from the dental community led to the bill’s withdrawal and cancellation of a planned hearing. This was the best possible outcome, because if passed, this bill would have significantly impacted AAE members’ practices in Washington DC.
Our hard-working AAE committees are the heart of the AAE. In June, the Annual Meeting Planning Committee met to continue (yes, plans started long ago…..) planning AAE25. I have the pleasure of serving on the committee that plans the annual meeting during my presidency. This creative group of volunteers dedicates countless hours to developing the premier event for endodontic education, networking, and community. In my time as a committee member with the AAE, I’ve had the privilege of working in cooperation with numerous AAE members committed to service to the profession. These volunteers come from diverse workplaces in private practice, academia, and the military. They hail from urban, suburban, rural, and international locations. They are new practitioners and members with decades of experience. The spirit of volunteerism runs deep in endodontists, and the volunteers on our committees do impactful work, while experiencing personal fulfillment and professional satisfaction.
In my opening remarks at the General Assembly in April, I invited you to further your involvement with our amazing profession in the coming year. Of the ways I suggested that day, two are highlighted by the summer’s events I’ve mentioned. One way was to use your clinical skills to increase access to care in your own community or another. The volunteers at MnMOM did just that. A second way was to become active in your state AAE component, or your local dental society. Endodontists working on legislative issues at the city and state level are a critical and effective voice, and members active in the IADT are doing this on the international level.
I wish you all a fantastic rest of the summer…..until September!