­­­­­­Milton and Renée are thrilled to share with you one of the most exciting developments in their quarter century as TMJ patient advocates BREAKTHROUGH TMJD FELLOWSHIP HONORING AMERICA’S PIONEER PATIENT ADVOCATES INITIATED AT LEADING RESEARCH INSTITUTE The Forsyth Institute has formally announced the launch of the Milton and Renée Glass Family Fellowship in Jaw Joints & Allied Musculo-Skeletal Research, a Post-Doctoral Fellowship for the scientific study of Temporomandibular Joints [TMJ] and related musculo-skeletal disorders [TMJD]. The Glass’ initial donation to The Forsyth Health Foundation, in the amount of $80,000 will serve as the cornerstone gift, providing the core funding to underwrite the Fellowship, and stimulating additional contributions to fund the Fellowship in perpetuity. Forsyth is America’s foremost independent research institute focusing on oral craniofacial diseases. The Fellowship honors Milton and Renée for the work they have done over a quarter of a century to promote advocacy, awareness, and education of TMJD to the American Public, and hope and help to this large disadvantaged patient population Forsyth’s world-class scientists, already heavily engaged in genetic and molecular science, will provide mentoring of the postgraduate fellows. This will assure quality, independent, innovative, and peer-reviewed research. This is a major breakthrough, and an opportunity to break the logjam of heretofore unproven scientific research. Only appropriate scientific research will, once and for all, create an understanding of TMJD as a whole-body medical problem. Co-joined within the dental and craniofacial complex system, TMJD is an important component in an array of co-morbid disorders, and a disorder that can possibly be effectively prevented and managed once scientific knowledge is attained. The Mission and Procedural document for the Fellowship was completed under the leadership of Richard Pharo, ScD as Chair, and the participation of Paul Solomon, MD; Ralph Kent, PhD; and Ronald Lamont-Havers M.D. Dr. Pharo addressed the Fellowship at the joint meeting of the Forsyth Board of Trustees/Directors in late April. The announcement received an ovation. Dominick Depaola D.D.S., PhD, President and CEO of Forsyth, informed the attendees that this research is unique and presents a much needed scientific opportunity. Donations to this Fellowship can be made to The Glass Fellowship Fund, The Forsyth Research Institute, 140 the Fenway, Boston MA 02115-3799. A gift reply form for your use follows this message. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of law. To communicate with the Glasses by e-mail, go to TMJoints@aol.com JJAMD’S web site www.TMJoints.org contains information on TMJ/TMJD and the work of this advocacy, educational, and research organization. FACTS ABOUT THE MILTON AND RENÉE GLASS FAMILY FELLOWSHIP IN JAW JOINTS & ALLIED MUSCULO-SKELETAL RESEARCH The purpose of the Fellowship is to support the research efforts of postdoctoral fellows at The Forsyth Institute for the study of the Temporomandibular Joints [TMJ] and related musculo-skeletal disorders. [TMJD] with the ultimate goal of: Providing the scientific data to definitively establish TMJD as a legitimate medical whole body disorder and to co-join the Jaw Joints with all other joints in the body. Promoting awareness and prevention of TMJD, and identifying effective therapies and treatment for the millions of Americans already suffering from the disorder. Enabling patients to obtain fair and appropriate access to medical and dental health care and health insurance coverage. Placing special emphasis on prevention, and education related to Jaw Joints and TMJ Disorders in children, the youngest, most vulnerable population, by studying the growth and development of the jaw joints in utero and post-natally. Creating a nationwide, medical/dental TMJD Natural History Patient Registry - a comprehensive survey instrument to collect necessary and unexplored data, including all signs and symptoms of TMJ and co-morbid, related or overlapping disorders--to establish a basis for excellence in scientific research. This research will place Forsyth in a pioneering position to help resolve the TMJD health dilemma through valid scientific research. The Fellowship honors Milton Glass, who has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees of the Institute since 1983, including his exceptional leadership as President/Chairman of the Board from 1993 to 2000. The Fellowship also recognizes and honors his wife, Renée Glass, for her dedication to Forsyth and to the issue of TemporoMandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders and Diseases (TMJ/TMJD). For more information please visit JJAMD’s website www.TMJoints.org. FACTS ABOUT THE Jaw Joints & Allied Musculo-Skeletal Disorders Foundation, Inc. [JJAMD] Milton and Renée Glass founded JJAMD in 1982 as a 501[c][3] non-profit organization, with a primary mission to advocate for appropriate awareness, prevention, education, and research into the Temporomandibular Joints [TMJ] and the disorders affecting these joints now called Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders [TMJD]. TMJD, one of the nation’s most pervasive and perplexing health disorders, affects millions of our fellow Americans of all ages, races, and genders Milton and Renée have served in the trenches with TMJD patients for a quarter of a century, advocating for their rights, dignity, and entitlements with government and public health agencies, academia, the insurance industry, and the media. They have raised public awareness worldwide through support groups, educational materials, seminars, conferences, and a dedicated website. Their passion and dedication, in the absence of any true acceptance or understanding of the disorder, has helped fill the void through advocacy, hope, and help to this desperate population in the face of overwhelming obstacles. JJAMD was invited into Forsyth in 1983 to fill this void and fulfill this mission. Much more needs to be done: At this time... TMJD is still not universally recognized or acknowledged as a legitimate medical clinical entity, continuing to make this disorder the “stepchild of the healing arts.” Patients are denied access to health entitlements because of a lack of definitive, scientific understanding of this disorder, which falls between the cracks of medicine and dentistry. There is still no universally accepted cause, cure, or treatment There is still no universally accepted or accredited Medical or Dental Specialty to deal with the disorder. Medical/Dental and other medical disciplines, as well as the Public Health groups need to be joined in a multi-specialty approach to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of TMJD Children’s dental health programs need to be expanded to include the TMJ within the examination parameters and new programs for TMJD screening must be implemented. There is an enormous burden placed on the healthcare system, and society as a whole, wrestling with this misunderstood issue and its disadvantaged patient population. There is an avalanche of research being done in the U.S. and Abroad but much of it is from an entrenched and limited perspective, is usually not scientifically valid, tends to be often flawed, and is sometimes biased against women who present with the symptoms by a wide majority over men. JJAMD will attempt to fill this void by promoting the Milton and Renée Glass Family Fellowship In Jaw Joints & Allied Musculo- Skeletal Research, a joint project with the Forsyth Research Institute in Boston For more information please visit JJAMD’s website www.TMJoints.org.