American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

Important message from president Harold A. Smith, DDS

I am writing today to inform you of some exciting developments from the AADSM. Over the last year, the AADSM Board of Directors has engaged in a strategic planning process. The process concluded in December with the approval of three strategic goals for the AADSM:

      Strategic Goal 1: Define the field of dental sleep medicine.

      Strategic Goal 2: Increase the number of providers to treat patients with oral appliances.

      Strategic Goal 3: Strengthen the value of the AADSM to dentists practicing dental sleep
      medicine.

I am pleased to report that we have already begun to implement some initiatives to meet these strategic goals. As a step to achieving the goal of defining the field of dental sleep medicine, Dr. Mitchell Levine is leading a writing group to develop a standard for the practice of dental sleep medicine that includes screening, assessment, treatment, and follow-up care. It is anticipated that the paper will be published in the April issue of the Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine and will be discussed at this year’s annual meeting.

The AADSM is very much of the opinion that dentists need specific training to deliver knowledgeable care to patients with sleep-disordered breathing. This was highlighted in our recently published Policy Statement on a Dentist's Role in Treating Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders. In October, we hired Dr. Patricia Braga to serve as the AADSM’s first-ever Director of Education. Dr. Braga has been challenged with developing a comprehensive, standardized educational program that will be known as the AADSM Mastery Program. The program is divided into three phases comprising 65 hours of progressive learning, which will be primarily classroom-based with pre-course internet-based and clinical assignments. You will hear more about this program in the coming weeks.

As the AADSM implements other initiatives of the strategic plan, it will expand its footprint in the dental community through educational, health policy, and research initiatives and pursue collaborations with physicians that will expand our referral bases.

For the past 15 years, staff support has been provided by the AASM through a management agreement. The AADSM has been greatly enhanced through our management relationship with the AASM, for which we are grateful. Our membership and finances have grown at a steady pace, and our leadership has enjoyed and benefited from the stewardship and guidance of the AASM leadership and staff.

Through the strategic planning process, the AADSM Board of Directors recognized that it needs to invest in the resources necessary to successfully meet our strategic goals. This means that we need our own dedicated, full-time staff to focus solely on the initiatives of the AADSM. We decided not to renew our existing management agreement with the AASM, and they will no longer be providing management services after March 29.

Not renewing a management agreement is simply that. The AASM will no longer provide staff support. The AADSM Board of Directors has made it very clear to the AASM that we appreciate the close collaboration that the two organizations have enjoyed and have every hope that the collaboration will continue. For you, our members, this means that your membership dollars will pay for a staff that is solely dedicated to improving and advancing the field of dental sleep medicine.

I am pleased to report that we have already hired two full-time staff. Becky Roberts will serve as our Executive Director. For the last 15 years, Becky has worked at the AASM most recently as Assistant Executive Director. The AADSM has enjoyed working with Becky since 2003 when she started working on the AADSM annual meeting. She has extensive management experience in education, certification, publications and board management.

Randi Prince will serve as our Assistant Executive Director. For the last seven years, Randi has provided day-to-day management of the AADSM. She has significant institutional knowledge and has successfully launched a multitude of new education and membership programs that have been instrumental in the growth of our organization. Over the next year, we anticipate growing the full-time staff to 8-10.

As the transition occurs over the next several months, please look for further communications. The AADSM will be moving to new office space, so our address and telephone will change after March 29th.  We will keep our members updated as our new contact information becomes available. If you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to renew your membership now, so you do not miss out on any important information during this transition.

Rest assured that the AADSM will continue to provide a high level of service to its members. There will be no change to this year’s annual meeting. It will be held June 1-3 in Baltimore, Maryland. Registration will open in the next few days. Be sure to attend to hear the latest advances in the field and the AADSM. The Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine will continue to have a streamlined manuscript submission process and free access. The AADSM will continue to support important research in our field.

The future of dental sleep medicine is bright, and I am honored and privileged to serve as your President during this poignant time.

Sincerely,
Harold A. Smith, DDS
President