NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

J Oral Maxillofac Surg

71:826-827, 2013

APRIL’S 2 IMPORTANT HEALTH OBSERVANCES

NATIONAL FACIAL PROTECTION MONTH

National Facial Protection Month, sponsored by theAAOMS, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,

the American Association of Orthodontists, and the

Academy for Sports Dentistry, campaigns to protect

children from sports injuries to the head and face by

promoting the wearing of safety equipment. The

month-long event strives to educate adults about the

risks related to youth sports and the safety measures

that can protect the children who participate in them.It is estimated that up to 75% of sports injuries affect

the head and neck region. We encourage you to advo-

cate for the use of protective sports gear during this

month-long celebration. Contact your local news out-

lets, speak at school functions, participate inhealth fairs,

andmake it a point to carry the message to each of your

patients. Visit the association’s Web site (http://www.

aaoms.org) for useful downloadable materials and tipsfor spreading theword in your area. Special offers on re-

lated products are available at http://www.aaomsstore.

com, the online AAOMS resource center.

ORAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

The annual Oral Cancer Awareness Month obser-

vance offers oral and maxillofacial surgeons an oppor-

tunity to educate their communities about the causes,

symptoms, and treatments for oral and head and neck

cancer and to heighten national media attention on the

importance of screening and early detection.Oral Cancer Awareness Month is promoted by the

Oral Cancer Foundation, which encourages free oral

cancer screenings nationwide throughout the month.

The Foundation’s Web site (http://www.ocf.org) offers

advice on arranging and publicizing screenings. In addi-

tion, the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (http://www.

headandneck.org/site/c.8hKNI0MEImI4E/b.6334391/

k.561F/OHANCAW174_2012.htm) has designatedApril 14 to 20 asOral andHead andNeck Cancer Aware-

nessWeek. This annual event encourages practitioners,

patientswith cancer and survivors, and other interested

individuals or groups to promote head and neck cancer

awareness through the use of news releases, public ser-

vice announcements, talks at middle and high schools,

free cancer screenings, cancer survivor banquets, walk-

athons, and other community-based activities. As youprepare to promote these events to your patients, re-

member that the AAOMS has resource materials avail-

able at http://www.aaoms.org and at http://www.

aaomsstore.com for your use.

826

AAOMSANNUALMEETINGREGISTRATIONOPENSLATER THIS MONTH

Registration for the AAOMS 2013 Annual Meeting,

Scientific Sessions and Exhibition will open later thismonth. The meeting, held in conjunction with the

British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons,

will convene October 7 to 12 in Orlando, FL.

The earlier you register, the greater your selection of

courses and the lower your registration fee. Those

who register by June 30 save $200 over the onsite

fee! Registration forms and information on meeting

sessions and activities can be found on the annualmeeting page at http://www.aaoms.org. AAOMSmem-

bers and their staff can also register online. The hard-

copy advance program, which will also contain

registration forms, will be available by early May.

Annual meeting housing and travel arrangements can

also be made online. To view hotel descriptions and

make your housing reservations, visit http://www.

aaoms.org/AMhousing or call 800-724-0968. From out-side the United States, call 312-527-7300. Also visit the

Travel Information section of the page for details on the

discounts offered to annual meeting attendees by Ameri-

can Airlines and United Airlines and for information on

AmTrav, the AAOMS official travel agency (http://www.

aaoms.org/annual_meeting/2012/travel_info.php).

2013 RESEARCH AWARDS FUNDED BY THE OMSFOUNDATION

In 2013, the OMS Foundation (OMSF) will provide

$400,000 to fund research support grants and studentresearch training awards. The OMSF Board also

approved funding for the support of Faculty Educator

Development Awards (FEDAs) and Resident Research

Scholarships, the recipients of which will be named

later in 2013. Support for research awards would not

be possible without the generous individual gifts

from oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Listed below

are research support grants and student research train-ing awards approved by the OMSF Board of Directors

at its November 2012 meeting.

Stephen B. Milam Research Support Grant

Novel Approaches to Treat Head and Neck Cancer

Pain and Prevent Opioid Tolerance

New York University

PI: Chi Viet, DDS, PhDCo-PI: Brian L. Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD

$75,000

Research Support Grants

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 827

A Novel Therapeutic Vaccine for Oral Squamous

Cell Carcinoma

Providence Portland Medical Center

PI: Hong-Ming Hu, PhD

Co-PI: R. Byran Bell, MD, DDS, FACS

$75,000

StemCell Therapy for Craniofacial Reconstruction:

A Clinical Trial

University of Michigan

PI: Darnell Kaigler Jr, MS, PhD, DDS

Co-PI: Sean P. Edwards, MD, DDS, BSc

$75,000

PET/CT for the Diagnosis of TMJ Osteoarthritis

University of Pennsylvania

PI: Eric J. Granquist, DMD, MD

Co-PI: Beth A. Winkelstein, PhD

$75,000

Use of GFP Reporter Mice to Study Oral

Wound Healing

University of Connecticut

PI: David Rowe, MD

Co-PI: Regina Landesberg, DMD, PhD

$75,000

Student Research Training Award—$12,500 each

� University of California, Los Angeles

� Massachusetts General Hospital

For a summary of each research award, please visit

http://www.omsfoundation.org/resandfellinfo.

IN MEMORIAM

Dennis Block, DDS, retired member,Edwards, CO

1952-2013Dr. Block graduated with honors from Indiana Uni-

versity Dental School and completed his oral and max-

illofacial surgical training at Indiana University. He

operated a private practice in Valparaiso, IN for 19

years. Dr Block is survived by his wife, mother, sister,

and brother.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2013

April 11-14Southwestern and Texas Societies of Oral andMaxillofacial SurgeonsLocation: San Diego, CA

April 13-14

Virginia Society of Oral and MaxillofacialSurgeons Annual MeetingLocation: Hilton Richmond & Spa, Richmond, VA

Contact: Virginia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial

Surgeons, 3460 Mayland Ct, Ste 110, Richmond,

VA 23233; phone: 804-523-2185; fax: 804-

288-1880

April 24-29

Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillo-facial SurgeonsLocation: Bermuda

May 3-5

CALAOMS 13th Annual MeetingLocation: The Westin, San Francisco, CA

May 3: Board Meeting and Hospitality Reception

May 4-5: Scientific Sessions

May 22-25

Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillo-facial SurgeonsLocation: Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, IL

July 10-12

British Association of Oral and MaxillofacialSurgeons Annual MeetingLocation: Dublin, Ireland

July 20-21

Ohio Society of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsAnnual MeetingLocation: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cleveland, OH

Contact: Donna Farley, executive director, OSOMS;

e-mail: DFarley976@aol.com

October 7-12

AAOMS 95th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessionsand Exhibition, in Conjunction With the BritishAssociation of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsLocation: Orange County Convention Center and The

Peabody Orlando, Orlando, FL

October 7-10: Business Sessions

October 8: Preconference Maxillofacial Oncology

and Reconstructive Surgery

October 8-9: Preconference Anesthesia Update forthe OMS

October 9-12: Scientific Sessions

October 10-12: Exhibition

October 20-24

International Conference on Oral andMaxillofacial SurgeryLocation: Barcelona, Spain

December 5-8

AAOMS Dental Implant ConferenceLocation: SheratonChicagoHotel&Towers, Chicago, IL