president’s message

President’s Message

 

July 1, 2025

 

Mid-Year Update from the President

June 2025

 

Dear Diplomates,

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, I want to take a moment to update you on some important

developments within the ABFO. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee have been

hard at work on several initiatives to ensure the continued advancement and integrity of our

organization. I’m pleased to share the highlights with you below.

 

Proposed Changes to the Diplomates Reference Manual

At the direction of the Strategic Planning Committee and in coordination with the Articles and

Bylaws Committee, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee have reviewed and

approved proposed updates to the Diplomates Reference Manual (Section II: Bylaws and Code of

Ethics). These revisions are intended to provide clearer definitions, improved alignment with

ABFO policy, and additional flexibility for diplomates under hardship circumstances.

Key updates include:

 

• Clarified exceptions for recertification and annual dues obligations under

certain physical, mental, or financial hardships (Section II, Articles I and VI).

• Updated committee names and descriptions, including the transition of the Research

Committee to the Research and Publication Review Committee, and formalization of

the Public Relations Committee (Section II, Article V).

• Language revisions to strengthen committee duties and support effective governance

across ABFO activities.

 

The full text of proposed deletions and additions has been color-coded—red for

deletions and green for additions—to assist you in reviewing the changes. These proposed

updates will be brought forward for a vote by the full membership at our next annual meeting in

New Orleans.

 

I encourage you to review these documents ahead of time so that you are well-informed when

casting your vote in February.Save the Date: Diplomates Dinner at the WWII Museum

I’m also delighted to announce that our Annual Diplomates Dinner will be held at the National

WWII Museum in New Orleans on

🗓 Sunday, February 8, 2026

🕒 6:00–9:00 PM

 

The evening will feature a buffet-style dinner and exclusive access to the museum’s exhibits,

offering a unique opportunity for us to connect, reflect, and celebrate our shared commitment to

forensic odontology in a truly historic setting.

 

More details regarding RSVP and registration will be circulated and posted on our website –

ABFO.org – as the date approaches.

 

Website Modernization Initiative

In response to concerns brought forth by the membership, we are also in the process of reviewing

the ABFO website. We will be working closely with Dane, our webmaster, to modernize the

site’s design, navigation, and functionality. Our goal is to create a more intuitive, professional,

and useful resource that better supports the needs of our diplomates and reflects the excellence of

our organization.

 

Annual Dues

As a reminder, annual dues for active diplomates are $300, as outlined in our Bylaws. Our

Treasurer, Dr. David Wold, will email the official dues invoice on or before July 1st. Payment is

due within ninety (90) days of the invoice date to maintain your diplomate status in the ABFO.

You may pay your dues conveniently via the Members Shop under the Store tab

labeled “ANNUAL DUES” on the ABFO website.

 

Thank you for your continued dedication to the mission and values of the ABFO. Your work

ensures the credibility and strength of our discipline. I look forward to seeing many of you in

New Orleans this coming February.

 

With warm regards,

Derek Draft, DDS, D-ABFO

President, American Board of Forensic Odontology

 

 

March 1st, 2025

 

Hello Fellow ABFO Diplomates,

 

I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of our recent meeting in Baltimore. For those who couldn’t attend, we missed you and look forward to seeing you at future events.

 

I’m also deeply thankful to those who have supported me throughout my journey as a forensic dentist. It’s truly an honor to be a part of this distinguished discipline. I appreciate the trust you’ve placed in me as the next President of the ABFO.

 

A special congratulations to our two new Diplomates, Candice Johnson and Elif Eksoylu, who successfully challenged the board examination. Welcome to the ABFO!

 

As we look ahead, I’m excited to share that preparations are already underway for the February 2026 ABFO meeting in New Orleans. This will coincide with the AASF meeting, where we will also host the Pattern Injury and Dental ID workshops. Please stay tuned for more details on registration, and feel free to pass the information along to any aspiring forensic dentists who might be interested.

 

One important initiative your Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Directors (BOD) have been working on is the formation of a new Ad Hoc Committee on Computational Dentistry and AI. As we all know, AI is advancing rapidly, and we are already seeing its potential in forensic dentistry. This new committee will be tasked with monitoring these advancements, researching new software, and providing recommendations on how they may impact our field and the best practices for our Diplomates.

 

Additionally, we discussed the importance of becoming more involved in standards organizations to ensure we help shape the future of forensic dentistry. The ABFO has agreed to join the International Organization for Forensic Odontostomatology (IOFOS), and we are committed to increasing our participation in other relevant standards organizations. We will be encouraging our members to take active roles in these groups to further elevate the visibility and influence of forensic odontology on the global stage.

 

Another key area we’re focusing on is mentoring and developing new Diplomates. I’m pleased to announce that Shanetha Collier will serve as the chair of the Diplomate Development Committee. Shanetha brings a fresh perspective, having recently navigated the journey to board certification, and she is excited to help guide others on this path.

 

I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead as your President. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. Together, we can continue to advance our field and support one another in this important work.

 

Warm regards, Derek Draft

 

President, ABFO