AAE Board Advances Strategic Plan for 2017-2020
The AAE Board of Directors held its Interim Meeting on October 19-20, in conjunction with the American Dental Association Annual Session in Atlanta.
During its strategic planning session, the Board set key performance indicators — measures which are used to evaluate the success of an objective — for each of its strategic priorities. The Board also set priorities for the next two years of the three-year plan, and reviewed operational plans to support the identified priorities.
Goal 1: The public will value saving their natural teeth and seek endodontists – the specialists in saving teeth – for their care.
Increasing the AAE’s reach to patients is a critical component of success in this area. This year’s activities focus on discovery, as well as enhancement of patient resources. A Special Committee is engaging with an outside agency to review historical data and relevant research, analyze current strategies, and identify outcome measures. Findings of this initial research and analysis stage will drive planning for a comprehensive consumer engagement initiative.
Goal 2: The dental profession will value endodontists as partners with advanced expertise in providing patient care.
Progress towards this goal will be evidenced by an increased consistency of endodontic education, increased opportunities to educate the general practitioner on treatment planning and the standard of practice, and increased partnerships with related organizations. Initial efforts are underway and include the development of white papers on the topics of diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as treatment standards. The AAE will advocate by strategically deploying the papers’ findings to target audiences, with a goal of establishing a single standard for quality endodontics and what it means to be competent in the delivery of that care.
Special Recognition
The AAE Board recognizes the importance of endodontists serving in volunteer leadership roles with the dental community and wishes to encourage AAE members to get involved, either with the AAE, or with the ADA at the national, constituent or component levels.
The AAE thanks its members who served as Delegates and Alternates to the 2017 ADA House of Delegates:
Alejandro M. Aguirre
Deborah S. Bishop
Kevin P. Bryant
Gregory Chadwick
Robert A. Coleman
Mark B. Desrosiers
Jay M. Goldberg
Jeanette P. Hall
Robert J. Hanlon
Kevin M. Keating
Mark A. Limosani
Carmine J. LoMonaco
Maria C. Maranga
Sadegh M. Namazikhah
Robin M. Nguyen
Angela P. Noguera
Timothy W. Penberthy
Robert S. Roda
Bruce R. Terry
Najia Usman
Please join the AAE in extending its sincere thanks to AAE members Michelle L. Mazur-Kary, for her service on the Council on Dental Practice and Maria C. Maranga for her service on the Council on Membership.
Goal 3: AAE and its members will be recognized as the global leaders in advocating the value and quality of endodontics.
Success in this area will be measured by increasing the number of international members, increasing the value in the benefits that the AAE provides to these members, and advancing the science of endodontics through joint initiatives with international counterparts. The AAE’s efforts in the first year of the plan will be a focus on identifying the unique needs of international members, as well as determining a plan aimed at domestic membership recruitment and retention. Activities in years two and three of the plan will focus on developing resources of value to international members, as well as promoting endodontic science through joint activities with the international endodontic community, including publications, conferences, and position papers.
In addition to focusing on the strategic plan, the AAE Board reviewed the draft Knowledge-Based Governance Paper prepared by the Membership Services Committee; the final paper will be published to the membership in advance of the 2018 General Assembly Meeting.
The Board reviewed plans for the AAE’s redesigned website, launching in late 2017. The new website will provide increased information for patients and professionals, and an enhanced user experience.
The Board reviewed the results of the June 30, 2017, audit. The AAE’s independent auditor reported that the AAE received a clean audit with no deficiencies identified, indicating that the AAE’s financial reports are in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
In addition to its business meeting, the AAE Board of Directors made the most of its presence at the ADA by networking with key leaders in the profession. The AAE hosted its annual cocktail reception, aimed at networking with key members of the dental community, including representatives of the ADA, dental specialties and state delegations.
The AAE’s annual luncheon for AAE members serving in the ADA House of Delegates provided an opportunity for Delegates and AAE Board members to discuss issues of interest to the specialty that would be brought to the House for consideration. This year’s meeting was chaired by Dr. Mark B. Desrosiers of Glastonbury, Conn. The Board was pleased to also host AAE member and ADA District 2 Trustee on the ADA Board, Dr. Chad P. Gehani, at the meeting, who shared valuable insights on the ADA Board’s position on topics of interest.
The discussion focused on a proposal before the House to establish a new commission to oversee the recognition of dental specialties. The ADA initiated the process that resulted in this proposal over a year ago in response to serious legal concerns about the viability of the existing process. The new process was developed with the goals of reducing potential bias or conflicts of interest in the decision-making process, protection of the public and improvement of quality care, as well as ensuring an avenue for appeals. The AAE was represented on the task force that developed the proposed commission and at various forums designed to obtain feedback regarding the proposed structure of a new commission. The resulting proposal was supported by the AAE and the majority of the remaining eight dental specialty organizations and passed by the House.
The new National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards will have full autonomy to make the final decision on whether a specialty applying for recognition meets the ADA Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties. Each recognized dental specialty will have a representative on the Commission. Responsibility for the requirements themselves will remain with the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure, and ultimately, the House.
Also at the interim meeting, the AAE Board of Directors approved a new position statement on Access to Care and reaffirmed several other statements that were reviewed by the Practice Affairs Committee. The AAE offers more than 20 guidelines and position statements, developed and reviewed regularly by member committees, to aid in clinical education and decision making. Review all of the resources at aae.org/guidelines.