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AAO Confronts Crisis in Education

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Investments Begin to Yield Returns
Posted: September 10, 2008

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS CONFRONTS CRISIS IN EDUCATION
 
Investments Begin to Yield Returns

 
ST. LOUIS—The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has been at the forefront of seeking long-term, sustainable solutions to the crisis in orthodontic education.  Through its Task Force on Recruitment and Retention of Faculty, progress is being made.

The Task Force draws on the expertise, experience and imagination of its accomplished membership: leading orthodontic educators, members of the AAO Board of Trustees and dental school deans.  It was formed in 2006.

 “We are beginning to realize our goal of putting realistic and lasting solutions in place to address orthodontic faculty recruitment and retention, a crisis we share with dentistry as a whole.  We know many are called to teach, and we are laying the groundwork to help these important educators answer that call,” Task Force chair and AAO past president Donald R. Joondeph, DDS, MS, said.  

“We cannot expect the government or those outside of the profession to solve the crisis for us.  This is a multi-faceted problem which requires continued study and commitment of resources.  We encourage others to examine our initiatives,” Raymond George, Sr., DMD, AAO president, said.

First Steps

The Task Force’s first initiative, implemented in the AAO’s 2006-07 fiscal year, was disbursement of $2 million to augment salaries of full-time faculty at accredited postdoctoral orthodontic programs in the U.S. and Canada. One-time awards of up to $30,000 were distributed to 142 orthodontic faculty members in recognition of their contributions to the specialty and as an incentive to remain in orthodontic education.

More Measures Implemented

AAO efforts during its 2007-08 fiscal year secured commitments for more than 60 years of teaching through a new initiative:  Full-Time Faculty Teaching Fellowships. Eleven faculty members received two- or three-year fellowships.  Fellows are to receive $30,000 for each year of the fellowship and must commit to teaching a number of years equal to the length of the fellowship.  Two-year fellows must teach a total of four years.  Three-year fellows must teach a total of six years.  This initiative was extended by the 2008 AAO House of Delegates for new fellowships that will range from two years to five years, yielding four to ten years of teaching per fellow.

The Task Force is launching a clearinghouse on faculty job opportunities on the AAO’s member Web site, AAOmembers.org, to make these positions known to a wide audience of orthodontists.  A presentation on academic careers was developed for orthodontic students and residents as they consider their post-graduation professional options.   Entrance and exit surveys were created and distributed to those coming into or leaving orthodontic education to identify trends and understand their implications.

The Task Force identified other strategies to support orthodontic education and educators.  Mentoring was recognized as an important component of attracting and nurturing of junior faculty.  Accordingly, a Mentor Guide was published in the April 2008 issue of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.  It encouraged all faculty, whether part- or full-time, to consider mentoring a junior faculty member.  The goal is to have a mentor for every faculty member below the rank of professor.  

A repository of distance learning materials for use by orthodontic programs is being collected.  The first sequence of seminars is in review.

The Task Force has developed two white papers.  One details government grants and fellowship opportunities.  The other explores proactive alumni development. Both are posted on the AAO’s Web site for members.

Current Initiatives, Further Study, AAO Foundation

Four orthodontic faculty members were awarded fellowships to attend the Academy for Academic Leadership’s summer 2008 session, an intensive two-week program that develops teaching skills for dental educators.  Each faculty member attending committed to one year of teaching in return, a gain of four more years of teaching.

In 2008-09, ten $30,000 Faulty First Awards will be given to newly hired faculty members. In return, recipients must pledge to teach for two years.

The Task Force recognizes the importance of retention of seasoned orthodontic faculty.  A subcommittee is now studying approaches that would support mid-level and senior faculty members.

The AAO Foundation (AAOF) has made significant contributions to orthodontic education for more than a decade.  Since 1994, $6.9 million in endowment earnings from the AAOF’s A CASE FOR THE FUTURE campaign have been awarded to support orthodontic faculty, teaching fellowships and research.  The AAOF has made it possible for many educators to remain in the classroom.

 “Progress is being made, and we are encouraged.  The future of the orthodontic specialty is at stake.  We are dedicated to its preservation through attracting and retaining gifted educators who have so much to offer as orthodontic faculty,” Dr. Joondeph said.

About the AAO

The AAO is recognized by the American Dental Association as the specialty association for orthodontists.  Founded in 1900, the AAO has 15,500 members in the U.S., Canada and abroad.  The purposes of the AAO are to advance the art and science of orthodontics; to encourage and sponsor research; to strive for and maintain the highest standards of excellence in orthodontic education and practice; and to make significant contributions to the health of the public.

The AAO’s public Web site is http://www.braces.org/ and its member Web site is http://www.aaomembers.org/.
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