Bill Klaproth (Host): This is an AAOMS On The Go podcast. I'm Bill Klaproth. AAOMS has more than 9,000 members across the country and serves as the national organization representing the specialty. A board of trustee subcommittee was appointed two years ago to examine the associations' member benefits.

So today with me is Dr. Martin Eichner who presented the highlights of the subcommittee's work to the reference committee at the 2023 house of delegates. Dr. Eichner, thank you.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Thank you very much.

Host: Good to see you. Looking forward to talking about this and all of the great member benefits that are out there. So as mentioned, you were a member of the board of trustees member engagement subcommittee, and you crafted a comprehensive list of more than 200 AAOMS member benefits. Oh my goodness. So what was your reaction when you read the complete list?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well I'll tell you Bill, it was crazy. The members of the subcommittee had about 30 years average experience of working with AAOMS. Nnoe of us had any idea that there were over 200 member benefits. Each of us were surprised by many of them that the senior management team pointed out to us.

Host: So from your perspective, I know we can't go through all 200 of them. But from your perspective, what do you think are some of the top highlights?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well, we really we're focusing on three that we found that I'd like to delve into a little bit, if I could, Bill. One is collaborating with other dental, medical specialties and sister organizations. For example, the Board of Trustees and their representatives meets with multiple sister organizations to make sure they advance the interest and protect the interests of the specialty. If I could mention a few. For example, Bill; the Board of Trustees and other members met with the Academy of General Dentistry the past year, the American Association of Dental Boards, the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Association, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists. There's a few more. yet, Bill. The American Academy of Periodontology, the OMS Foundation, OMSNC, OMSPAC, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Association of Orthodontists.

They all have their own agendas. And it's imperative that the AAOMS Board of Trustees, as a member benefit has a seat at the table when decisions are being made by all these sister organizations.

Host: That's a lot of organizations.

Martin Eichner, DDS: And it's a lot of effort, a lot of time, but it really reaps a lot of benefits for our members.

Host: I was going to say, when do you have time to practice the OMS specialty? My goodness meeting with all of these different organizations.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well we do it for our members and I know they appreciate it, Bill.

Host: But you're right. I think what's important to remember, is it is important to have a seat at the table. All of these different organizations and have that collaborative environment. So that makes sense. So then what does AAOMS do to advocate on behalf of the OMS specialty at the federal and state level?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well on the federal level, we have a quite large presence at our Day On the Hill. It happens every spring. Either May or April, sometimes March, depending on how the calendar works up on the hill. It's attended by many practicing OMS's, by residents and we have quite a robust discussion with our members, both on the house side and on the Senate side. Additionally on the state level, we have what's called a State Advocacy Grant where AAOMS helps states deal with issues at their level by providing financial assistance to state OMS societies for advancement of their health policy initiatives, including lobbying expenses.

So the members benefit by AAOMS having a presence at the national level and helping them in their backyards on the state and local level.

Host: So it's good to get to know your local and federal politicians so they understand what you do, so they can advocate on behalf of the specialty. Is that right?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Exactly. The old saying goes, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. So we have to be present and they have to know what AAOMS stands for both nationally and locally, in order to have our objectives discussed and hopefully met.

Host: And at the state level, we're talking about all 50 states, right? You have identified the politicians and made those relationships and connections?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Right. AAOMS this doesn't necessarily advocate at the state level. We help the state societies advocate, both with guidance and financial guidance through the state advocacy grants.

Host: But you will take members in individual states and urge them to get involved.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Exactly meeting their local and state representatives and politicians as well as their national representatives and senators. So both levels AAOMS helps advocate for our members, which is a member benefit, Bill.

Host: Absolutely. So AAOMS is always expanding its outreach to members and the public. And in the last year launched two podcasts, this being one of them. Can you tell us about AAOMS On the Go, which this is the AAOMS On the Go podcast. And OMS voices. So AAOMS On the Go is for members and OMS Voices for the public. Can you share more about that?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Exactly, exactly. AAOMS On the Go podcasts are for members of which this is one. But additional ones that have been done, which are exceptionally beneficial as a member benefit, there has been some on ergonomics, on cyber security, on insurance, participation, as well as clinical issues. This has all been funded through the Informational Campaign over the years; which has been a tremendous member benefit. Patients have access to OMS Voices podcast, which can talk on topics such as wisdom teeth, TMJ disorders, what do I do if I find a bump in my mouth, mouth guards, et cetera, et cetera. So this is a tremendous member benefit, Bill that we hopefully have our members use for their patients, to educate their patients. And also help in getting referrals to their practice.

Host: Yeah. The more the public knows about the specialty, the better. We just did a podcast this morning on the broad scope of the specialty and many things, the general public probably wouldn't associate with an OMS as you were talking about TMJ, sleep apnea. You don't often think of an OMS first about that, but these are the types of things the specialty can and does handle expertly.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Right. And, and since we're talking about member benefits; it's a tremendous member benefit, to help them both personally and professionally, Bill.

Host: Absolutely. Well, we love doing the podcast and it's great to be a part of this. So AAOMS receives a lot of inquiries every year. Can you talk about that?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Sure AAOMS is available for members at many levels. Last year, the AAOMS phone rang 78,000 times. The staff answered questions from members, concerns from members, sister organizations, vendors. This is all dealing with helping AAOMS members both in their career and in their practices, any questions that they have or any issues that arise; the AAOMS staff is there for them at headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois.

Host: When you heard that number, 78,000; were you surprised by that?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Yes. And no. I'm surprised by the volume, but I'm not surprised that our wonderful AAOMS staff can handle all those inquiries. They work exceptionally hard for the members and, I'm very very happy that they're on our side, Bill.

Host: Yeah, absolutely. AAOMS has an Informational Campaign to raise awareness of the specialty for the public. What are some of the ways AAOMS does that?

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well, I'd like to discuss a few, Bill. One is my oms.org website which has a find a surgeon feature. That's on the patient side. And once again, we tell the practitioners, tell your patients to go to my oms.org. It helps them learn about things that we do. It's informational. And we try to get out to the public to go to my oms.org, because it does have a find a surgeon feature. Which is definitely a benefit to our members. It's going to help drive patients into their practice. We have a Web MD page, Bill. We have digital ads, videos on YouTube, Infographics, a fairly robust social media presence in TV and radio public service announcements, or PSA's. And we actually know through AAOMS Bill, that the campaign is effective because the percentage keeps going up of respondents who say that they have heard or seen promotions about consulting an OMS.

In fact, our most recent survey showed 34% of respondents had seen OMS promotions or ads. The survey has also revealed that OMS's are the provider of choice for wisdom teeth removal, and dental implants. This is definitely a benefit to our members, all this information to get out to the public is helping drive patients into their practice, Bill.

Host: Yeah. So you're basically flooding the zone, if you will, with information.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Exactly, So many, many ways print, digital, online. It's been a very effective campaign for our members and a great benefit.

Host: Yeah, well, Dr. Eichner, this has been fascinating hearing about all of this. As we wrap up, any final thoughts on why membership matters.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Well, I really think that we are stronger together. And I think that an OMS out there on his own cannot advocate to their state and local and federal governments. They cannot get the information out there to patients. They don't have access to the Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. They have no access to interacting with these sister agencies. So a member benefit of AAOMS is just that we're all stronger together, Bill.

Host: Absolutely. And we're at the conference right now, recording this. What a great way to network, and to learn, and get more education as well.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Exactly. So that's quite a benefit of AAOMS, Bill.

Host: Dr. Eichner. Thank you so much for your time. This has been great.

Martin Eichner, DDS: Thank you for having me.

Host: Once again, that is Dr. Martin Eichner and for more information in the full podcast library, please visit aaoms.org. And if you enjoyed this podcast, please share it on your social channels and make sure to subscribe, so, you don't miss an episode. Thanks for listening.