title: Oral and maxillofacial pathology: quality diagnostics for the present and the future.
abstract: The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP) has 619 members and 276 fellows. Oral and maxillofacial pathologists are uniquely qualified by training to combine expertise in histo-pathologic diagnosis, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. The majority of oral and maxillofacial pathologists are academicians, and optimal education of students of all types is a major focus of the specialty. Oral pathology is an important bridging specialty between dentistry and medicine, and strong links exist between it and pathology, otolaryngology, and dermatology, among others. Patient education is also important to the specialty, and information to assist patients is a critical part of the AAOMP Web site. In research and patient care, the main focus has been on oral cancer, and the specialty continues to emphasize that dentistry not lose sight of its role in combating malignancy. The organization has worked most recently to increase liaisons among both medical and dental sister organizations to improve the healthcare climate for all.
authors.affiliation: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, USA. valerie_murrah@dentistry.unc.edu
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Murrah
mesh_terms: D003945:Diagnosis, Oral; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D010339:Pathology, Oral / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012953:Societies, Dental; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D014481:United States