Leadership
AAOP President, Robert Mier, DDS, MS
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be the incoming President of the AAOP”
It’s an honor and a privilege to be the incoming President of the AAOP, particularly at this time in the history of our organization. Achieving specialty is an enormous achievement, and we all clearly owe a great deal to the many individuals, some of whom are in this room today, who volunteered their time and energy to make it a reality. We are all indebted to you and offer our gratitude for your efforts. As we progress from this point our mission and strategic plan remain the same, but our intent must be different. Our energy must not be only about promoting the evidence-based knowledge of orofacial pain, but also for advocating to improve the access-to-care for patients, for the ability to practice orofacial pain as a specialist, for appropriate reimbursement for our services and equal recognition of our specialty, to increase the number of future specialists who enroll in the academic programs, and primarily to increase the recognition both professionally and publicly of the specialty of orofacial pain.
These are lofty goals, but each of them is crucial in order for us to progress as a specialty organization.
The ability to achieve them is dependent on each of us contributing in some way every day, whether it is one-on-one with a patient or a colleague, at a dental meeting, giving a lecture, writing letters to state boards or congressmen, and generally advocating for our field. The AAOP is an organization run by volunteers, and we are not individuals in this regard, but rather greater as a group that functions with common goals. I encourage each of you to find a way to give of your time and energy and contribute to our specialty, whether it is serving on AAOP committees and councils, in your local dental organizations, or just in your own offices. We are all here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life. Being involved in the AAOP allows you to make a difference, to increase your professional network, and to have input in the direction we take. In the words of Sir William Osler, “The very first step towards success in any occupation, is to become interested in it”. Your education is what enabled you to be in a position to contribute to your chosen profession, and the best way to become interested in that is to volunteer your time and passion for the field.
Our goals for the coming year are primarily to focus on increasing recognition of the specialty in any way possible, and to significantly increase our online educational offerings for both the public and professionals. This can only happen through contributions from all members. Thus we look forward to collaborating with affiliate members whose contributions are so valuable, and with the academic programs and their residents and faculties, without whom the future of our specialty would be much more difficult.
We should all be excited as we continue down the road that has opened up to us with achieving specialty
As we look ahead we must all focus on creating an Academy that benefits and advocates for our field and the patients we are fortunate to treat. Maintaining a community based on integrity, professionalism, advocacy, and collegiality is the basis of achieving that. We should all be excited as we continue down the road that has opened up to us with achieving specialty, and fortunate to have such a capable and motivated group to carry us forward.
AAOP Council
The Council includes all of the elected officers of the Academy and has full power to act on behalf of the Academy in the interim between meetings of the Academy and shall transact all business of the Academy, except the election of officers. The Council shall report its proceedings to the Academy’s General Membership at each annual meeting for approval.
Subcommittee:
Executive Committee (View Members)
Continuing Education Oversight Committee
The Continuing Education Committee will coordinate with the central office to ensure that the AAOP maintains it status as an approved continuing education provider. o The Continuing Education Workgroup will meet at least semi-annually including in person at the annual scientific meeting. All other meeting may be electronic or coincide with other meetings as opportunities arise. o The Continuing Education Committee will review the annual scientific meeting evaluation summary within five (5) months of the completed meeting. o The Continuing Education Committee will explore and implement options for modernizing the AAOP annual meeting by utilizing current technology to enhance the attendee experience. o Will coordinate with the program chairs and poster chair to develop and present a continuing education program at each year’s annual scientific meeting.
Subcommittees:
Program 2022 (View Members)
Program 2023 (View Members)
Access To Care
Provide members with insurance coding information on a yearly basis, broken down into ICD-10 and CPT format. o Continue to improve relations with patient advocate groups and explore exactly how the Academy can help and also benefit from these alliances o Continue with work on using the medical model for provision of OFP care and the training of our members.
Subcommittees:
Specialty (Only certain members can view this committee)
Budget
The Budget Committee is responsible for developing a detailed budget proposal for the Academy’s ensuing year. The Committee is to present their proposed itemized budget for Council approval, 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Constitution and Bylaws
(1) The Committee shall study the Constitution and Bylaws and recommend to the Council any changes which appear desirable at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Council Meeting.
(2) Upon approval by the Council, the Committee Chair shall present the Committee’s recommended Bylaws changes to the General Membership for approval. For ratification see Chapter XIII section 2.
(3) The Chair shall be responsible to verify that Bylaws changes ratified by the General Membership have been duly added to the most current Official copy of the Bylaws, as kept by the Secretary at the Academy Central Office, no later than thirty (30) days after each General Membership Meeting.
(4) The Committee is authorized to correct article and section designation, punctuation, spelling, gender reference, and cross references as may be necessary to reflect the intent of the Academy without Membership approval. o Ensure that all officers and chairs review and revise their sections of the P&P o Review the documents for errors and omissions, update as per new bylaws
Ethics & Grievances
Continually review Academy mission statement and suggest any changes, in particular emphasizing the Academy’s ideal of evidence-based care. o Review any ethical charges brought to the attention of the committee or the council. o The Committee is charged with disclosure overview as well as evaluating potential conflicts of interest for all members in a leadership position for AAOP.
Only certain members can view this committee
Guidelines
The Guidelines Committee is responsible for revision of each edition of the Academy Guidelines publications on Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders.
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Committee, author of the Conflict of Interest Guidelines, interfaces with Industry in a four-fold manner: – Protect the Public Trust. – Protect Orofacial Pain’s scientific integrity. – Protect AAOP’s professional integrity. – Provide guidance to AAOP members regarding conflict of interest issues. It is through the Industry Relations Committee that potential AAOP meeting sponsors engage AAOP initially.
Membership Committee
Review all applicants for membership in the academy and notify Council and Ethics/Grievances committee of any discrepancies or possible reasons for denying membership to an applicant. o Review the applications for Fellow Status in the Academy and make recommendations for approval to Council. o Review the applications for Life Member Status in the Academy and make recommendations for approval to Council. o Develop and implement a marketing plan or work directly with any ad-hoc committee or task force in order to do same o Review and revise as needed the AAOP membership application. o Attempt to contact all expired members within by June 30th of each year. o Conduct the annual new member and new fellow orientation at the annual meeting
Nominating
(1) To conduct balloting procedures for the nomination and election of candidates for Officers of the Academy and at-large Council and committee representatives as specified in the Bylaws for the upcoming fiscal year at the annual business meeting of the General Membership.
Only certain members can view this committee
Past Presidents
Only certain members can view this committee
Physical Therapy
Develop PT membership in AAOP and certification in OFP. Provide CE to PTs concurrent with AAOP annual meeting.
Professional Relations
Oversee professional relations with other organizations.
Subcommittee: Ambassador (View Members)
Publications
Responsible for editing and distributing AAOP news, production of patient brochures and liaison with journal publisher.
Research
Encourage research in the area of OFP in undergraduate and post graduate programs. Review and choose research projects to be funded by the Academy. Develop fund raising strategies.
Resident/Academic Training Committee
The Pre-Doctoral Subcommittee shall be responsible for monitoring and recommending pre-doctoral dental school curricula pertaining to orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders. The Post-Doctoral Subcommittee shall be responsible for monitoring and recommending post-doctoral dental school curricula pertaining to orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders and shall develop and operate an accreditation protocol for such programs. The Review Course Coordinator shall be responsible for developing, arranging and holding continuing education review courses on orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders on behalf of the Academy. Contact all members of Graduate and CE OFP programs in the United States. Represent to council the specific interests of new members, recent graduates and participants of OFP programs.
Subcommittees
Sub Committee of OFP Program Directors (View Members)
Resident/Academic Training Committee
The Pre-Doctoral Subcommittee shall be responsible for monitoring and recommending pre-doctoral dental school curricula pertaining to orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders. The Post-Doctoral Subcommittee shall be responsible for monitoring and recommending post-doctoral dental school curricula pertaining to orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders and shall develop and operate an accreditation protocol for such programs. The Review Course Coordinator shall be responsible for developing, arranging and holding continuing education review courses on orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders on behalf of the Academy. Contact all members of Graduate and CE OFP programs in the United States. Represent to council the specific interests of new members, recent graduates and participants of OFP programs.
Subcommittees
Sub Committee of OFP Program Directors (View Members)
Sleep Medicine
1) The Education Subcommittee will function to promote the education of sleep and sleep related issues germane to the academy membership, both in an advisory and cooperative manner with the academy’s program committee.
2) The Practice Parameters Subcommittee will establish evidence-based guidelines as they apply to the dentist’s role in sleep medicine.
Strategic Planning Committee
Develop and monitor a strategic plan for AAOP.
Web & Marketing Committee
The Website Committee shall oversee and edit the Official Academy Website and as deemed appropriate by Council.
Mentorship – Ad Hoc
To match new members with mentors.