American Association of Oral Biologists Newsletter

Birth of a Scientific Society: Initial Milestones of the American Association of Oral Biologists. (R.P. Suddick) 1991
(Excerpted from the Minutes of the AAOB Business Meeting, March 16, 1991)

"I have learned that the birth of such an organization is not a sudden event. I suggest that the first milestone was the call for formation of a scientific society of oral biologists. The need for a society of oral biologists became evident in the mid-1980's after many years of effort by individuals within the dental research and academic communities to develop and oral biology identity and academic and organizational structures that reflected and responded to the needs of oral biology as a distinct health science discipline. A call for the formation of such a society was published in an editorial in the Journal of Dental Education, entitled "Commitment to Oral Biology: Prescription for Dental Education" (Suddick, R.P.,J. Dental Educ., 48: 291-297, 1984).

"The first step to form a society of Oral Biologists took place in March of 1988 sponsored by the Oral Biology Chairperson's group of the AADR. It was held during the IADR/AADR meeting and listed in the IADR/AADR program as "Oral Biology Chairperson's Business Meeting."

"At this meeting, Israel Kleinberg and Richard Suddick were empowered to appoint additional members of a Pro-Tem Governing Committee from a list of Founders prepared with the aid of the Oral Biology Chairpersons, and to develop By-laws and legal articles required for doing business as a non-profit society".

"The first formal Annual Meeting of the American Association of Oral Biologists was held on Thursday, March 16, 1989 in San Francisco. This meeting was also included in the IADR/AADR program, this time under the title "Business Meeting of the AAOB'."

"At this meeting, the 34 members present discussed and suggested minor revisions to the By-Laws as drawn up by the Pro-Tem Governing Committee (John Drach, Mary Ellen Druyen, Israel Kleinberg, Braz Macedo, Michael Reed, Murray Robinovitch, Leo Sreebny and Richard Suddick). The members present also authorized the Pro-Tem Governing Committee to guide the Association during the remainder of 1989 and until March of 1990, at which time a formal election of the Officers and Directors of the Association was to be held."

"The next milestone was the AAOB meeting held in Cincinnati in March, of 1990, also in conjunction with the IADR/AADR meeting. At this meeting the By-Laws were formally ratified by unanimous vote of the 32 members present, and the first full slate of officers of the Association was elected, as follows:

President: Richard Suddick; President Elect: Israel Kleinberg; Secretary Treasurer: Jerry Pollock; Program Officer: Lorne Golub; Elected Director: Mary Ellen Druyen and Stanley Holt; The Director-At-Large, subsequently appointed by the President and President-Elect were: Kenneth Etzel and Joseph Kanapka"

"The most recent milestone in this event, the First Scientific Symposium of the Association. Most of the credit for arranging this Symposium rests with Dr. Lorne Golub. The theme, the speakers and topic, and the relevance of this Symposium regarding the larger vision that we all share of the place of oral biology in the education of dentists, physicians and other health professionals, are a tribute to Larry's charm and persistence to bring these distinguished speakers to us today. Thank you Larry!"

"Finally, let me offer my personal thank you to this outstanding panel of speakers and the distinguished audience of oral biologists who are sharing this historic event".

FIRST SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL BIOLOGISTS
MARCH 16, 1991
ACAPULCO, MEXICO

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