Reaching Into the Future

Posted in AAE Foundation, Leadership | August 19, 2016

With a vested interest in young practitioners, the Foundation for Endodontics created the Resident Expert Advisory Committee, REACH, in 2015. The inaugural group met for the first time in summer 2015 with goals of facilitating stronger relationships between residents and the Foundation and helping the Foundation better serve and engage a new generation of specialists. The committee provided valuable insight to develop a variety of ideas and improvements, many of which the Foundation has already put into place. When the group met prior to APICES 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they were able to look back on the past year and firm up the program's guidelines for future committee members.

Through focus groups and meetings, the 10 members of REACH discussed ideas and opinions about the Foundation's current initiatives and came up with a variety of creative strategies. After two REACH representatives presented these ideas to the Foundation's Board of Trustees, many were put into motion, including:

Access to care trial trip to Jamaica and a special committee to investigate future access to care initiatives
Investigation of new fundraising approaches
Development of the Foundation's video presence to enhance its messaging
Methods for generating awareness of current Foundation funding initiatives
Creation of a more meaningful REACH commitment

The Foundation Board took these considerations to heart and many of the initiatives were prominent in the organization's strategic planning process, which took place in early 2016. During this process, the Foundation expanded its mission to include access to care - an idea originally cited by REACH! The Board is listening and responding to the views and needs of young endodontists and donors.

The Foundation Board of Trustees is thrilled to see what this small group has accomplished in a short period of time. Thank you to the first REACH members who have been vital to the formation of the group. Their valuable input and willingness to take part in a formative committee experience has contributed to the Foundation's future successes!

Based on the group's recent discussion regarding the structure for future REACH commitments, changes are being incorporated into the number of members, dates of service and scope of work. Learn more about the criteria, selection process and composition as the group grows and moves into the future. Interested in learning more? Contact Aly Hall, development manager, at ahall@aae.org.

Thank you to the 10 residents from across the country who served in the first REACH class!

Victoria J. Ball, Medical University of South Carolina
Craig D. Bellamy, University of Toronto
Raven Allegra Drummond, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Robert J. Jensen, Loma Linda University
Sung Woo Kang, Harvard University
Matt C. LeCheminant, University of California at Los Angeles
Ryan B. McMahan, University of Michigan
Kimberly A. Morio, University of Iowa
Kian Nikdel, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Juheon Seung, University of Maryland

REACH members meet with AAE and Foundation for Endodontics leadership in 2015. Top row (left to right): Drs. Craig Bellamy, Juheon Seung, Matt LeCheminant, Resident and New Practitioner Committee Past Chair Melissa Marchesan, Kimberly Morio, Sung Woo Kang, Foundation for Endodontics President Peter Morgan. Bottom row (left to right): Drs. Raven Drummond, Foundation for Endodontics Immediate Past President Louis Rossman, AAE Immediate Past President Terryl Propper, Ryan McMahan, Kian Nikdel, Robert Jensen. Not pictured: Victoria Ball.