Council on Membership, Ethics, and Judicial Concerns
Dr. Clark Colville
The AAO Council on Membership, Ethics, and Judicial Concerns worked on a number of issues recently. In the past year, three separate surveys of former members, non-members and international members were completed and AAO staff closely examined results of these surveys. Areas of concern are 1) the application process, 2) dues structure, and 3) availability and access to continuing education. The council plans to make further recommendations based on the information gleaned from the surveys. Of particular interest are the international members. Nineteen percent of AAO members are international members. The consensus of the Council was to actively recruit the international orthodontists, especially the students, to become a part of the AAO so that the AAO remains the premier orthodontic group worldwide. This will require some allocation of funds to develop the material necessary for such a campaign.
The Council recommended the AAO allow reinstatement of former members one time only without paying back dues and assessments. Subsequent lapses will revert to the current policy, which requires repayment for all dues and assessments for a period of time, up to 3 years prior. This will allow former members that allowed their membership to lapse, for whatever reason, to come back without a monetary penalty. Adoption of this policy is intended to prevent members from intermittent membership based on the location of the annual meeting.
AAO membership categories, as well as the membership process, have been given a close look, and the Council recommended the following:
- Eliminate the Associate membership category. This will require a rework of the bylaws and will affect each constituent's current application process.
- Student members become active members automatically upon verification of completion of their orthodontic program.
- First time applicants will pay a $35 application fee (students excepted).
- Examine the addition of a Student International classification that will automatically become an International classification upon completion of their orthodontic program.
- Grant free student membership to dentists upon acceptance into their orthodontic residency program. Students will be billed $20 annually once their program begins, to cover the cost of the AJO/DO subscription.
- The affiliate category (55 total AAO members) may be modified.
The membership directory is going to have a new look for 2007. The content and format will be revamped to make the directory less bulky and more user friendly. Some content will be moved to the AAO website and retired members will be listed in a separate section from active members. Current techniques were added, and outdated techniques were removed. However, on the AAO website, members will be allowed to elaborate on any techniques currently used in their practice. Additionally, a motion was made that directs the AAO to develop a stand-alone website for consumer information. The sole purpose of a stand-alone website would to advertise the services of member orthodontists. Consumers would not have to navigate the AAO website to find orthodontists in their area. Additionally, orthodontists could, for a fee, link consumers to their own websites. The AAO would pay for sponsored website status on the major search engines.
Revisions to the AAO logo usage in advertising were discussed. The consensus strongly advocated more liberal usage in this day and age. Several provisions of the Logo Standards Manual will need to be revised, and motions have been made accordingly.
The AAO requirement of maintaining concurrent ADA membership will be debated at the House of Delegates this May. This issue was hotly debated and there were strong feelings on both sides of this issue. In the end, a motion passed which states: ADA membership is highly encouraged, but not mandatory as an AAO membership requirement.
The number of ethics violations coming before the Council is increasing. Of particular note is the increasing number of complaints concerning advertising by member orthodontists. Displaying the National Board of Orthodontists logo in a manner that implies equal diplomate status as the ABO certification is a clear violation with long-lasting consequences. The Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct has a number of advisory opinions that can provide guidance and further explanation of the principles. Members are encouraged to review the Principles to make sure that all advertising complies with our high standards.