Expanding Our Reach

Abstract

Thank you, IADR/AMER General Session delegates for the warm welcome. I am honored to stand here before you as the president of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), the third one from IADR’s Japanese Division, which is the third largest division. As the pre-eminent voice for dental, oral, and craniofacial research, IADR’s mission is to advance research and improve knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide; to support and represent the oral health research community; and to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. As IADR continues to serve the needs of the dental, oral, and craniofacial research community, we are expanding our reach to also serve the needs of clinicians who have an interest in research. As many of you know, this year IADR launched its Affiliate Membership category, designed especially for clinicians, advocates, and educators. This new membership category was created for people who are not primarily involved in research but have an interest in keeping up with the latest research, including practicing healthcare professionals, dental professionals involved in practice-based research networks or evidence-based dentistry, patient advocates, or healthcare educators with primary teaching responsibility. Through Affiliate Membership in IADR, clinicians, advocates, and educators have access to the research published in the Journal of Dental Research, discounted registration for professional development, opportunities to earn continuing education credits through the IADR Knowledge Community, a platform to network with a global community of dentists and researchers, and much more! When I was on the ballot for IADR vice-president, I mentioned in my personal statement that it was a dream of mine that IADR would be a place where clinicians with common interests or in similar industries could get together to share information and network. The new Affiliate Membership category helps bring that dream to fruition, and I thank the IADR Board of Directors and Council Members for working together to make this a reality. I encourage all IADR members to help “grow” the Association. In addition to bringing clinicians to IADR, we need to make sure to keep basic scientists as the backbone of IADR. As a multidisciplinary organization, IADR serves a diverse population of researchers, educators, and clinicians. However, it is encouraged that all members join at least one of the 30 IADR Scientific Groups and Networks in their field to stay current on science specific to their discipline. The IADR General Sessions provide a platform for the Scientific Groups and Networks to have business meetings. I hope everyone takes advantage of those opportunities afforded through these meetings to interact with people in your Scientific Group or Network. If you have colleagues who aren’t IADR members, explain to them why they should join, and if they aren’t primarily involved in research, invite them to become Affiliate Members. Bringing together researchers, clinicians, educators, and others in the field will help us work toward IADR’s core mission of advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide. As we strengthen our mission and work to grow the Association, let us also remember students and junior scientists. We all should give back to science and education by serving as mentors to the younger generation and pouring knowledge into them. In addition, we should encourage them to join the newly developed IADR Student Training and Research Network, also known as the STAR Network. This will give them a platform for networking among other budding researchers involved in the IADR community. In closing, I hope you all will hold on to the words I have shared today and put them into action. I look forward to serving this great organization and working with you all to increase our membership. Thank you.