Dear SSOMS Member,
 
We regret to inform you that our friend and an icon in the specialty, Dr. Jeff Schultz, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 22, 2026.  We are still trying to process this loss to all of us and particularly to the specialty.
 
Jeff never refused to serve when asked. A past president of GSOMS, long time chair of our Legislative Committee, longtime Legislative Chair for SSOMS who rarely missed a meeting, a member of the GA Board of Dentistry, loyal servant to the GA Dental Association, AAOMS Delegate for over 20 years, Chair of the AAOMS Committee on Professional Conduct and member of the Committee on Anesthesia and many more positions I cannot recall right now. The pain is palpable.
 
Jeff and Sharon are blessed with four daughters (Anna, Emily, Mary Ellen, and Lydia) and two sons (John and Jordan).
 
Below are the funeral arrangements. The obituary will follow as soon as it’s available.
 
Hank Holderfield
Executive Director

Obituary information for Jeffrey Daniel Schultz
 

Join us as we bring together leading scientists and clinicians to share their knowledge and insights regarding bone grafting, bone regeneration, implant healing, and patient optimization.

Register now for Day on the Hill — Funding Opportunities Available!

WHEN: March 17-18
WHERE: Washington, D.C.
WHY: To protect and advance the OMS specialty!

Please support AAOMS advocacy efforts and the specialty by joining OMS colleagues from across the country in Washington D.C. on March 17 and 18 as AAOMS celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Day on the Hill, the Association’s premier grassroots advocacy day.

Watch what OMSPAC Board member John J. Rydlewicz, DDS has to say about the benefits of participating in this federal advocacy event.

**To ensure our state is well represented at this event, let’s turn out in numbers. Please **register today and encourage a colleague to join you! 

AAOMS will cover roundtrip airfare and one night’s hotel accommodations on a first-come, first-served basis for a limited number of AAOMS fellows and members who have not attended an in-person Day on the Hill within the past five years.

No advocacy or political experience is required. AAOMS Staff will ensure you are well-equipped to meet with members of Congress and their staff.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Kantas at pkantas@aaoms.org or 847-233-4392. Visit AAOMS.org/DayontheHill for more information.

SSOMS Member Dr. Bob Clark Elected President

Robert S. Clark, DMD, was introduced as the 2025-26 President of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) during its Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in September. 

With AAOMS’s other officers and Board of Trustees, Dr. Clark assumes leadership of the professional organization representing more than 9,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Dr. Clark, of Lexington, Ky., served as President-Elect and Vice President, each for a year, as well as AAOMS Treasurer for four years and District III Trustee for four years. An ABOMS Diplomate, he served on the board’s Oral Examination Committee for seven years and is a past President of the Kentucky Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a partner at the Kentucky Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Lexington and a founding partner and board member of OMS360, based in Cumming, Ga. 

Dr. Clark received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry – graduating with high distinction. He received the Alpha Omega Award and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital.  

“I am honored to present my theme for this year as your AAOMS President: Together We Thrive – Celebrating Family and Our AAOMS Community,” Dr. Clark said in his Inaugural Address to the AAOMS House of Delegates. “Together, we have the power to thrive and shape the future of our specialty. Let’s move forward as one united community, embracing the diversity within our ranks and celebrating the strength that comes from our shared commitment to excellence.”

Dr. Clark succeeds J. David Morrison, DMD, of Loveland, Ohio, who will serve as Immediate Past President. Other 2025-26 officers elected by the House of Delegates are President-Elect Charles A. Crago, DMD, MD, FACS; Vice President Debra M. Sacco, DMD, MD; Treasurer Jeffrey H. Wallen, DDS; and Speaker of the House Steven R. Nelson, DDS, MS. 
 
In addition, Pushkar Mehra, DMD, BDS, FACS, and Daniel J. Gesek Jr., DMD, join the Board as Trustees in District I and District III, respectively. They replace Edward J. Miller, DMD, and Dr. Sacco, whose two-year terms expired. W. Frederick Stephens, DDS, District VI, was re-elected to his second two-year term.
 
Dr. Crago, of Deep River, Conn., served six years as District V Trustee and in the AAOMS House of Delegates for over 25 years. In addition, he was District V Caucus Chair and has served on a variety of AAOMS committees. He retired in 2024 after 40 years of private practice as the managing partner of a seven-doctor, five-office oral and maxillofacial surgery practice that served most of North Dakota. He also served as President of the state societies of New Mexico and North Dakota, was President of the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and has been an ABOMS Diplomate since 1988.
 
Dr. Sacco, of Chapel Hill, N.C., served six years as Trustee for District III. Before her time as Trustee, she served as a Delegate for North Carolina, was a member and Chair of numerous AAOMS committees and was a member of the first ROAAOMS executive committee. In addition to her service with AAOMS, Dr. Sacco was an examiner for ABOMS, a member of the claims committee for OMSNIC and a mentor with the Osteo Science Foundation.

Dr. Nelson, of Denver, Colo., was elected to his 24th term as Speaker of the House and received AAOMS’s Presidential Achievement Award in 2022. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children’s Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center team and in private practice at Nelson & Wells Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Denver. He served on the board of the Colorado Dental Association and for many years was President for the Colorado Dental Lifeline Network where he remains an active volunteer. 

Dr. Wallen, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., was first elected treasurer in 2023 and has served the profession in numerous capacities, including past President of the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the South Carolina Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Alternate Delegate and Secretary of the District III Caucus and a member of the Committee on Public and Professional Communications. In addition, he is past Chair of OMSPAC and has served on the Committee on Governmental Affairs. Dr. Wallen started a private practice in Myrtle Beach, and has practiced there for the past 30 years.
 
Dr. Mehra, of Boston, Mass., is Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Boston Medical Center and Professor and Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He has represented Massachusetts as an AAOMS Delegate since 2009 and serves as a Consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation. A past president of both the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Massachusetts Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dr. Mehra has authored three textbooks, published extensively in medical and dental literature and is a frequent invited speaker at international professional meetings. 

Dr. Gesek, of Jacksonville, Fla., has served in the AAOMS House of Delegates for over 20 years, including as caucus chair for District 3. He spent eight years on the AAOMS Committee on Anesthesia, chairing it in 2011–12, and contributed to the Simulation Committee from 2012–15. He currently serves on the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, the Committee on Governmental Affairs and the ADA Liaison Committee. In 2019, he was President of the Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. His leadership roles also include Chair of the Florida Board of Dentistry (2012–13), service on the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure, and membership on the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Exam Committee. He is President-Elect of the Florida Dental Association and sits on the Board of Directors for the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Foundation.

Other Trustees are Martin E. Eichner, DDS, District II, of Monroeville, Pa.; Gregory M. Ness, DDS, FACS, District IV, of Worthington, Ohio; and Julia R. Plevnia, DDS, FACS, District V, of Parker, Colo. The Board also includes Secretary/Executive Director Karin Wittich, CAE.

*SSOMS members appear in bold text.

George “Buzzy” Matthews, one of the most iconic and loyal SSOMS members, passed away peacefully on August 29. Buzzy was a true character who probably attended more SSOMS meetings than any other member, serving as President in 1981. His infectious smile and never-ending fund of colorful stories will be sorely missed. Our love and condolences go out to his devoted wife of 70 years, Jeanie.

Following is the link to the obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/homewood-al/george-matthews-12505742

A message from AAOMS District III Trustee Dr. Debra Sacco:
As you may know, the development of new anesthesia regulations in North Carolina has encountered several obstacles over the past four years and involved the engagement of the entire NCSOMS society. As your District III Trustee and NCOMS member I am pleased to announce a favorable outcome: the adoption of new anesthesia regulations on June 17, which will bolster safety and standards in anesthesia administration.

Notable provisions include limits on moderate sedation agents to manufacturer-recommended dosages, prohibiting moderate sedation permit holders from using such agents for general anesthesia or deep sedation. Permit holders administering sedation must maintain specific equipment in alignment with current AAOMS guidelines and undergo emergency training with their staff at least once every six months. Strengthened adverse event reporting requirements mandate notification to the Board within 72 hours of any patient experiencing permanent brain dysfunction post-anesthesia, alongside the existing obligation to report patient deaths. Additionally, any patient admitted to a hospital within 24 hours after receiving anesthesia must be reported within 30 days.

While largely conforming to AAOMS standards, all NCSOMS members are advised to review the regulations thoroughly to ensure adherence.

Thank you to all of the members who offered their time and support in this effort.
‌
Debra Sacco, DMD, MD
AAOMS District III Trustee