10/16/2026

2026 President's Letter

Dear OSOMS Colleague,

On behalf of the Executive Council of OSOMS, I would like to thank you, our members, for your continued support of our specialty in the great state of Ohio. Your commitment helps sustain our efforts to advocate for oral and maxillofacial surgery and the patients we serve.

Our 2026 annual meeting was a success, with record attendance. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Executive Council for the time and effort they devote to meeting, discussing the issues facing our specialty, and advancing the work of our society.

We are fortunate to have individuals from our state who go above and beyond in advocating for oral and maxillofacial surgery. I would especially like to recognize:

• Dr. Deepak Krishnan, who received the William J. Giles Award in oral and maxillofacial surgery for his commitment to education and longstanding service at the University of Cincinnati since 2008.
• Dr. Greg Ness, a longstanding AAOMS District IV Trustee, for his continued leadership and dedication to our specialty.
• Dr. David Morrison, who currently serves on the AAOMS Board of Trustees and is a past president of AAOMS.

As I reflect on this past year, several areas remain a concern:

• Continued national scrutiny of the single-practitioner, office-based anesthesia model.
• Concerns about specialty designation in Ohio and nonspecialists presenting themselves as experts in procedures within our specialty.
• Limited applications to, and interest in, oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs.

I view these challenges as opportunities for us to become more involved. Through advocacy, patient education, and mentorship, each of us can contribute to the strength and future of our specialty. I urge you to take an active role in shaping that future.

At the state level, there are several ways to participate:

• Attend OSOMS membership meetings and board meetings, which are open to all members.
• Consider serving on the OSOMS Executive Council. We are always looking for new voices and ideas.
• Attend Ohio State Dental Board meetings, which are open to everyone, including the public.

At the national level, I encourage you to attend the annual AAOMS meeting and connect with fellow oral and maxillofacial surgeons from across the country. These interactions build a sense of community within our specialty. We face many of the same challenges, and there is strength in numbers.

I recently attended the AAOMS annual meeting in Seattle, where I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Krishnan receive his award and connecting with some of the outstanding leaders in our specialty. On the bus ride to the Museum of Flight, I happened to sit next to Dr. Anthony Spina, chair of the OMSNIC Board of Directors. I also reconnected with my good friend of 26 years, Dr. Katherine Keeley, a longstanding AAOMS delegate. These individuals are true inspirations, and spending time with them reinforced the value of staying connected and involved.  

Looking ahead, our next OSOMS annual meeting will take place in Westerville on April 10, 2027, and is being organized by incoming president Dr. Petra Olivieri. This meeting will fulfill Ohio’s anesthesia continuing education requirement, and we look forward to seeing all our members attend.

A strong and engaged membership is essential to our work. Thank you for your continued support, participation, and commitment to oral and maxillofacial surgery in Ohio. Your voice and involvement help shape the future of our profession.

Sincerely,

Ashoo Khanuja, DDS, MD
President, Ohio Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons