Council on Orthodontic Education Report
Dr. P. Emile Rossouw
The objective of this report is to ensure that the membership of the SWSO is fully informed of the activities of the COE. This report includes items submitted to the 2007 AAO HOD. The COE met at the AAO Central Office in St. Louis on October 21, 2006 and again during the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session on March 18, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The COE also held conference calls on August 1, 2006 and January 18, 2007.
The 2007 Melvin Moss Education Leadership Conference took place Friday, May 18, in conjunction with the 107th AAO Annual Session. Presentation topics included: AAOF update on opportunities for financial support; accreditation standards review; open hearing on standards of accreditation of clinical fellowship training programs in craniofacial anomalies and special care orthodontics; Internet 2; resident selection techniques; faculty retention and recruitment; AAO feedback on faculty financial support; and ABO Board certification process. The COE reviewed the AAO’s Strategic Plan and confirmed compliance with the goals and objectives of the plan.
International accreditation of dental programs was approved for implementation by the ADA in July 2006. It is recommended that dental programs outside the U.S. and Canada interested in becoming accredited should visit the ADA website. There is a growing interest in accrediting international orthodontic programs. Accreditation areas of concern were discussed and it was concluded that orthodontic accreditation standards need to be updated. The COE encourages the AAO to remain active in all areas of dental accreditation, by working with the ADA and Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Drs. Robert Binder and Emile Rossouw were nominated by COE as AAO representatives to the ADA CODA Consultants, for appointments to commence in October 2007.
At the request of the Board of Trustees, COE developed a survey to assess the need for training orthodontic residents in the treatment of special needs patients. In addition, a survey regarding craniofacial anomalies has been developed for orthodontic program Chairs. Based on findings and the Board of Trustees approval, an application was submitted for approval of a Fellowship in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics, for post-residency program graduates of CODA-accredited orthodontic programs, which will focus on areas including, but not limited, to: cleft lip/palate patient care, syndromic patient care, orthognathic surgery, craniofacial surgery, and special care orthodontics. A final decision is scheduled in January 2008.
A listserve has been established for orthodontic educators. Subscribers will be able to communicate with others as any message submitted to the listserve will go to all the subscribers of that list. Distance learning technology options were discussed, including a question and answer segment via conference call by Dr. William Engilman from the Internet 2 pilot project at the University of Louisville. He is also a member of the Council on Information Technology (COIT). Support on a two-to-one basis (Ortho Program/Dental School provides one, AAO provides two) was approved:
- funds will allow ADA/CODA-accredited orthodontic programs to purchase equipment that will support the utilization of the Internet 2 for sharing faculty resources; and
- further, upon evaluation of the Internet 2 program’s success and interest of the schools, the program of financial support for Internet 2 will be given consideration for additional fiscal funding.
The Faculty Development Awards Committee report indicated that 63 orthodontic graduate programs, serving 153 recipients, were awarded faculty development funds to encourage the recruitment and retention of faculty members. Award criteria included AAO membership, U.S.or Canadian citizenship, and full-time faculty status. A sub-committee has been appointed to focus on faculty recruitment and retention ideas to assist the AAO Task Force of the same mission.
COE members expressed interest in conducting a survey of all orthodontic programs on the number of hours of pre-doctoral orthodontic instruction. It was suggested to replicate the previous survey done in October 1990, as much as possible, for longitudinal comparisons.
The Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH) program continues to provide a beneficial service to the schools. At the request of the Board of Trustees, improvement recommendations are being generated, including a letter to be sent to the non-participating U.S. programs to encourage them to join the National Match Service.
Dr. Jerry English reported that the new format of ABO Phase II computer exams is successful, and that availability of the exam at various secure centers facilitates the examination process. Dr. Peter Greco shared the results of the ABO Pilot Study. This study involved 15 orthodontic residency programs from an experimental period spanning 2002 to 2006. The quality of cases treated in residencies of 28-36 months’ duration was compared to cases of traditional ABO Phase III clinical examinees. There wa san overall 2.38-point difference between the residents and traditional examinees for the mean total scores of the cases that passed. The conclusion of the study was that although the traditional, experienced examinees produced better quality of treatment, residents can treat cases to sufficient quality to satisfy ABO standards.
Aspects were discussed on how to enhance involvement of young orthodontic graduates through alumni organizations or accommodation of recent graduates in AAO volunteer capacities.In addition, a motion was approved to request that the Board of Trustees consider an addition to the Strategic Plan, with a goal to encourage orthodontic residents to enter orthodontic academic careers.
The Southern, Northeastern, Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountain, and Southwestern Societies of Orthodontists have all been approved as ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP)-recognized providers through April 2008. All constituent and component organizations are encouraged to apply for CERP recognition.The AAO ADA CERP re-certification application to award CE credits has been awarded continued recognition by the ADA CERP for another four years.
The 2007 Deans’ Luncheon was held in conjunction with the ADEA conference, March 29 – April 2, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Presentations included faculty retention and recruitment. COE members discussed financial needs for the coming fiscal year, 2007-2008. The budget will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval, when the expense estimates are completed. In future meetings,discussions will continue on accreditation standards for orthodontic programs,and the transportability and security of electronic health records.
[Editor’s note: The author of the COE report in the Summer 2006 newsletter was misidentified as Dr. Jeryl English. In fact, Dr. P. Emile Rossouw was and is your COE representative. We greatly appreciate his contributions and regret this error.—KES/cjs]