Dr. Gerard (Rod) Creagh, Jr, died June 14, 2018 at the age of 81, following a long, courageous battle against Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Rod was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Rear Admiral Gerard Bugg Creagh, MC USN, and Margaret Ehemann Creagh. He graduated from Columbia Military Academy and Vanderbilt University. After graduation from Vanderbilt, he completed flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and Kingsville, Texas, and received a commission in the U.S. Navy.

He served for five years as an all-weather fighter pilot aboard the USS Shangri-La. After completing his military service, he attended the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry, where he received a DDS degree and completed a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Rod’s generosity and concern for others is legendary. He was a person who lived life fully-an advocate for wildlife and stray dogs, a bicyclist, country music composer,
and an ardent fan of boats and sports cars.

After he retired from his surgery practice, Rod was able to enjoy his lifelong love of country music and founded his own music publishing company, 3 Wire Music. One of Rod’s country music compositions, “I’m Nobody Today, But I Was Somebody Last Night,” was recorded by both Mickey Gilley and Mose Allison.

Rod is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ellen Lacher Creagh, his sister Mary Margaret (Peg) Wood and husband Norman of Athens, brothers-in-law Michael Lacher of Athens, Georgia, Christopher Lacher and wife Kathy of Tallahassee, Florida, and sister-in-law Lisa Lacher Bryan and husband Stephen of Walpole, New Hampshire. He leaves behind an extended family of much loved nieces and nephews.

To celebrate Rod’s life, a gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, July 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. at his sister’s home on Milledge Circle in Athens, Georgia.

In memory of Rod, donations may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT, 84741

2019 Annual Meeting

Information coming soon.

May 23, 2018

Dear Colleagues:

Over three days this month, 74 attendees – including 30 residents – gathered in Rosemont, Ill., to attend the AAOMS Clinical Trials Methods Course to learn from speakers about such topics as data management and patient selection and then break out into small groups to develop actual studies.

Since 2008, the biennial course has brought together a mix of residents, fellows, faculty and private practitioners to learn an overview of clinical trial design with a focus on Phase III studies.

On the final day, the four groups – which centered on craniofacial trauma / orthognathic / facial deformities, dentoalveolar / anesthesia, pathology / reconstruction, and TMD / facial pain – presented their study designs, potential impact, budgets and possible funding sources for randomized controlled trials. The groups fielded questions from faculty and course participants about those proposals, defended them and were scored in a tight competition.

The winner was the TMD/facial pain group led by Dr. Gary Bouloux with the proposal, “Does Liposomal Bupivacaine Reduce Postoperative Opiate Requirements Compared to Placebo Following Unilateral Custom TMJ TJR?” The project impact could include intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine reducing post-operative opioid use after custom total joint replacement as well as opioid-related adverse events and behaviors in addition to improving patient experience. Group members were Drs. Mohamed Abdelhakim, David Ahn, Zachary Brown, Bridget Ferguson, Louis Mercuri, Yuko Nakamura, Daniel Reece, Anthony Urbanek and Payal Verma.

With its move to Rosemont (the course was previously held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.), attendance was up 25 percent over 2016. AAOMS and the OMS Foundation sponsored the course, with travel scholarships provided by the Foundation (14) and the Osteo Science Foundation (five).

The four groups will present their study designs, potential impact, budgets and possible funding sources for randomized controlled trials during the 2018 AAOMS Annual Meeting research open forum. Congratulations to the winning group, and thank you to the participants and leaders for their hard work and a stimulating and rewarding program.

The Georgia Rural Physicians’ Workforce Board is still taking applications for 2 open slots for the Rural Dental Student Loan Repayment Program.  It is imperative that we get dentists to fill all 12 slots, otherwise the legislature will cut our funding next year.

Here is an overview of the program and details for submitting applications:

The Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAA) provides service-cancelable loans of up to $25,000 per year in return for dental practice in an underserved, rural county in Georgia. Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable three times for a maximum of four years.  Funding for this program is provided by the State of Georgia.

Download DRAA information flyer.

Please click on the link below for the DRAA program requirements and application materials.

Download Dentist RAA Loan Repayment Program Application

If you have questions please let contact Scott Lofranco, GDA General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, Georgia Dental Association at scott@gadental.org or 404-636-7553