Trustee Report – Spring 2023

I am writing you from home this time. Many of you already know I suffered multiple broken vertebrae and ribs, lacerations and a concussion after a tree broke and fell on my head. At least I have a hard head and the Good Lord was watching over me. I am doing remarkably well and even though there is a lot of pain, at least I can feel it and be thankful for life. My new joke is the tree smoked me, but I’m gonna smoke it next.

The AAPD Board of Trustees met in California in January. The Winter meeting includes all of the various Councils and Committees and is the meeting where the strategic plan and committee charges are evaluated and submitted.

https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/2023-01-13-board-minutes.pdf

These are the items of importance to our members.

• The issue of Affiliate Members was brought back up to the board and the board considerd the issue that had been tabled last meeting. The board did vote on the issue in order to bring closure on the issue. The Constitution and Bylaws committee was asked to consider allowing Affiliate Members to state and write that they are “General Dentist Members of the AAPD”
  • Discussion points:
    • The Affiliate Advisory Committee made no request that non-pediatric dentist members be able to use the AAPD logo.
  • The Constitution and Bylaws Committee will bring a draft to the board in Winter. Where the board will vote whether or not to continue the process of amending the Constitution and Bylaws of the AAPD. If the board approves the draft amendment, it will be published for the membership to consider and vote at the General Assembly in May 2023.
  • There is further request that if the C&B change is approved that the term “Affiliate Member” will be changed to “General Dentist Member” within all documents.

As before, if this is an issue that is important to you, please plan to be at the General Assembly in Florida. The process is in the current Constitution of how to make amendments. It requires a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote by the members present and entitled to vote. This is a high threshold that provides a vehicle for the most passionate proponents or opponents of an issue to get something changed. That being said, it is imperative to show up to this meeting if this is an issue (or for any issue) you feel strongly about. If only 30 people attend, and the room is stacked with people that want this issue to be passed (or defeated) it will happen.

https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/2022-23-constitution-and-bylaws-approved-but-unformatted.pdf

See lines 96-112

• Dr Harlyn Susarla was appointed to the Council of Scientific Affairs, Consumer Review Committee and Dr Vineet Dhar was appointed as Interim Chair of the Frenectomy Workgroup.
• There is a focus to increase the capability of the organization to increase its capacity for creating evidence-based information. The Evidence-Based Dentistry Committee will create pipeline of experts and a Evidence-Based Dentistry Fellowship was created.
• CCA was directed to work with the Safety Committee to explore to the possibility of expanding the policy on child saftey. The board directed the Safety Committee to limit it’s scope to issues found within the dental setting. It was felt that we need to advocate for issues specific to pediatric dentistry and the environment we work within and not address other issues related to child safety in society. To reinforce this, there is a request to the Scientific Program Committee to have a topic at the Annual Session biennially.
• The AAPD is exploring having a joint session with the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh for next year. The meeting in Ireland was a great success this year.
• The majority of the other issues have to do with the Reference Manual and some clarifications to that. I refer you to the minutes for those details.

The 2023 Advocacy Conference was March 12-15 in Washington, DC. Asking for money to repay student loans of people who are choosing a career in academics (DSLRP), requesting that Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services approve paying hospital time for dental services in ambulatory service centers and passing the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (allowing people with congenital facial anomalies to get the necessary services they need throughout their life) with the things on the advocacy list. The ask for money for the DSLRP program has been an ongoing concern, and there are 48 openings for academic pedos this year, as opposed to 12 ten years ago.

The Annual Session in 2023 will be in Orlando, FL. The opening ceremony will be at Sea World. There have been some questions about this and there are two important facts to know.

1. We have outgrown all of the Disney spaces
2. SeaWorld has transformed itself into a world-leader in animal rescue and ocean conservation and is accredited by the Humane Society of the US.

Lastly, the CMS has approved a code for dental procedures in hospital settings!! I presume the next battle is getting it funded at the state level.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dr Jeff Rhodes
AAPD Southwestern District Trustee
SWSPD Past President