NEWS Message From Our President

Endodontics at the Crossroads

"1 shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood and I - - I took the one less traveled by And that has made all the di f ference."

(Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken")

Forty-two years after the founding of the AAE and twenty-two years after the official recognition of endodontics as a dental specialty, we find ourselves at the crossroads. Advanced edu- cational programs have developed a large cadre of skilled endodontists armed with knowledge and techniques to render outstanding clinical service. Yet, at the same time, major epi- demiological, economic, and political realities threaten to deflect us from our course. We will not be deflected. But our

ability to resist deflection will come from realistic understanding of basic issues and not from euphemisms and platitudes about the nature of man, goodwill and good cheer, or our own rights to exist.

The Report on the Future of Dentistry developed by the American Dental Associ- ation over a three-year period was completed in 1983. The content of that report and the process of its development initiated thinking and forced discussion of issues vastly more significant than individual items in the report or even the original recommendations of the report itself. The AAE was asked to, and did, play an im- portant role in the presentation of the position of endodontics and the role of en- dodontists regarding the future of dentistry as viewed from the perspective of the early nineteen eighties. It became clear from our own AAE workshop and from our own detailed report in response to the ADA's Future of Dentistry Committee that major changes were occurring which would demand attention and leadership from all of us in the AAE, officers and grassroots membership alike.

A basic assumption was made at that time. If long-range solutions were neces- sary to meet long-range problems, the leadership of the AAE would be required to develop continuity in identifying, analyzing, and meeting effectively the major is- sues before us. Consensus building has become a crucial tool in the leadership and management of your Association. The time commitment of your officers, directors, committee chairpersons, and committee members has increased dramatically. The process of reaching deeply into the general membership for input and guid- ance has been established. Periodic surveys, regional visitations by officers, and incredibly increased personal correspondence contribute to the process.

None of this is easy. Happily, it seems to be working. Much remains to be done. Don Arens and Steve Schwartz have identified in this column many of the issues

your officers felt were critical during the past two years and have brought you up-to-date on how we were dealing with them. It is my intention to do likewise. The delicate balance between generalists and specialists as to who will do which endo- dontic cases, the public awareness program, our relations with the ADA in all its aspects, and the very continued existence of endodontics as a specialty are the serious issues identified today. We will address these matters in more detail in future messages.

We are at the crossroads. We will not be turned from our course. We will not do what is easy; we will do what is best--for the patients we serve and for this Associ- ation. We need, more than ever, your help and good will. We have the team spi r i t - - we need the team work, in 1985 and in the years ahead.

Herbert Schilder, DDS President

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Notes From Here and There Congratulations go to AAE member Dr. Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr. who was se- lected by Southern Illinois University as chairman of their Department of Surgi- cal Specialties. The Department in- cludes the sections on endodontics, periodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. In addition to his new responsi- bilities, Dr. Ferrillo continues his duties as associate professor, head of the Section on Endodontics and Director of Curricular Af fa i rs . . .Dr. Manuel I. Weisman was a recent Trident-Warner Lambert lecturer for the Trident Contin- uing Education Seminars in Puerto Val- larta, Mexico. Dr. Weisman presented two lectures entitled "Conquering pain is the name of the game" and "The es- sence of endodontic patient care." Over 120 dentists from the US were in attendance. In February, Dr. Weisman also traveled to Fort Lauderdale, FL where he presented a seminar on "Treating trauma, conquering pain, and total endodontic emergency care" to the South Florida Institute for Postgrad- uate Health Education. Dr. Weisman is currently a clinical professor of endo- dontics at the Medical College of Georgia...On February 4 and 5 Dr. Raymond G. Luebke of New Orleans, LA, presented a two-day seminar on endodontic surgery to postgraduate students and faculty members at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Dr. Luebke is pro- fessor and head of the Department of Endodontics at the Louisiana State Uni- versity School of Dentistry. He is also a Director of the American Board of Eno dodontics. (Cont. on p. 2)

Dr. Charles L. Siroky