A two-day, evidence-based program integrating foundational principles with the latest research in TMD and orofacial pain management. This course fulfills the state licensure requirement for pain management.
Keynote address by Dr. Jeffery Okeson, followed by multidisciplinary panel of experts.
One of the main reasons why patients seek dental care is pain in the face, jaws and mouth. Orofacial pain can present in many forms, and there are a variety of treatment options, many of which are not evidence-based. One pain condition of the craniofacial complex is collectively termed temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). To manage TMDs effectively, clinicians must not only have a strong understanding of the mechanisms and the nature of pain but also be able to diagnose and treat these disorders using approaches supported by evidence-based research.
The 53rd Annual Moyers Symposium will provide the latest insights and treatment approaches, integrating foundational principles with the most recent research in TMD and pain management. This important event is essential for anyone interested in gaining or maintaining a comprehensive understanding of TMDs and orofacial pain for the diagnosis and rationale for contemporary management strategies.
The symposium will take place in Ann Arbor on March 7–8, 2026, immediately following the 50th International Conference on Craniofacial Research (the Presymposium) on March 6, 2026.
Whether you are an early-career or experienced clinician, you will benefit from a rich program that explores the historical foundations and current advancements in TMD and orofacial pain. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Jeffery Okeson, widely regarded by many as the father of orofacial pain, who will set the stage with an overview of the field’s evolution. Subsequently, Dr. Ambra Michelotti, a leading figure in TMD and orthodontics, will present clinical perspectives for TMD management. Throughout the weekend, a multidisciplinary panel of orofacial pain specialists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and other experts will deliver an engaging, evidence-based program focused on the management and treatment of patients with TMD and pain.
As always, the Moyers Symposium honors Dr. Robert E. Moyers, the former chair of the Department of Orthodontics and founding director of the Center for Human Growth and Development, an interdisciplinary research unit on the Ann Arbor campus.
| 8:15 am | Registration — Rackham Auditorium, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, The University of Michigan |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am |
Introductory Remarks: Dr. Nan Hatch, Chair, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Jacques Nor, Dean, School of Dentistry Dr. James A. McNamara, History and Culture of the Moyers Symposium |
| 9:20 am |
The Evolution of Orofacial Pain: Where Does Orthodontics Fit? Keynote: Jeffery P. Okeson, DMD DABOP, FAAOP, FACD, FICD, FADI Founder, Orofacial Pain Program University of Kentucky College of Dentistry |
| 10:30 am | Break |
| 11:00 am |
What Every Clinician Should Know about TMD. Ambra Michelotti, DDS Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology University of Naples Federico II, Italy |
| 11:50 am |
“Stand up for Moyers” Dr. James A. McNamara |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch (on your own) |
| 1:30 pm |
Advances in TMJ Imaging Erika Benavides, DDS, PhD, Dip. ABOMR Clinical Professor, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry |
| 2:15 pm |
Facial Phenotypes and Mandibular Growth: Risk Factors for Development of
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder? Laura Iwasaki, DDS, PhD, MSc Professor and Chair, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry |
| 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:30 pm |
Mechanisms of Pain and the Role of the BioPsychoSocial Model for TMD and Other Chronic
Overlapping Pain Conditions David A. Williams, PhD Professor of Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine/Rheumatology and Psychiatry Associate Director, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Co-Director of Research Development, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research |
| 4:15 pm | Panel Discussion |
| 4:45 pm | Adjournment |
| 5:00 pm | Reception (The Vanguard Ann Arbor) |
| 8:30 am |
Understanding the Diagnostic Pathway and Clinical Workflow in TMD Management Elizabeth Hatfield, DDS Clinical Assistant Professor, Hospital Dentistry and TMD and Orofacial Pain Program Director, TMD and Orofacial Pain Residency University of Michigan School of Dentistry |
|---|---|
| 9:25 am | Short Break |
| 9:35 am |
Mapping the Mechanisms of Myofascial Orofacial Pain: Insights from Integrated
Multimodal Research Iacopo Cioffi, PhD Associate Professor, Discipline of Orthodontics, Centre for Multimodal Sensorimotor and Pain Research, University of Toronto |
| 10:20 am |
Is There a Role for Orthopedic TMJ Surgery in the Present or Future? Sharon “Ron” Aronovich, DMD, FRCD(C) Clinical Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan Health System |
| 11:05 am | Panel discussion |
| 11:30 am | Adjournment |
Location: Rackham Amphitheatre, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan
Learn from internationally recognized experts in TMD, orofacial pain, orthodontics, and craniofacial research.
Dr. Nan Hatch received her DMD from Harvard and her orthodontic certificate and PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Washington. She completed post-doctoral training at the University of Michigan, where she is now a tenured Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. Certified by the American Board of Orthodontists, she focuses on patient-centered care and research in bone biology and craniofacial anomalies.
Dr. Nor is the Donald A. Kerr Endowed Professor of Dentistry and serves as the Dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is a past president of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR). He has served as a chair of the Section on Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences of the Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) and chair and member of the Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS) study section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and has been the principal investigator for several NIH grants.
Dr. James A. McNamara, a UC Berkeley and University of Michigan graduate, is a renowned orthodontist and researcher. He serves as Professor of Dentistry and Cell Biology at the University of Michigan and has authored more than 240 publications, receiving numerous awards, including the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award. He leads the Craniofacial Growth Monograph Series and co-authored the textbook Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Dr. McNamara also maintains a private practice in Ann Arbor with his daughter.
Dr. Okeson is Professor and Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He founded the College's Orofacial Pain Program in 1977 and has authored more than 265 publications in addition to two classic textbooks. A highly sought-after lecturer on TMD and orofacial pain, he has presented more than 1,350 invited lectures across all 50 U.S. states and in 61 countries.
Dr. Michelotti is a full professor of Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology and Director of the post-graduate School in Orthodontics, as well as the head of the Master course on Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders at the University of Naples Federico II. She is Editor-in-Chief of Orthodontic and Craniofacial Research, has held numerous leadership roles in orthodontics, TMD, and orofacial pain, and has authored more than 170 papers and several book chapters.
Dr. Iwasaki is a Professor in the Division of Orthodontics and Chair of the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry and an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the University at Buffalo. A Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of the Northwest Component of the Angle Society, her research focuses on the human craniomandibular complex, biomechanics, and temporomandibular joint growth and degeneration.
Dr. Benavides is a Clinical Professor and Associate Chair of the Division of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Radiology, and Director of the CBCT Service at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. A Diplomate and Past President of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, she has served in leadership roles in AAOMR and has published extensively on multidisciplinary aspects of diagnostic imaging.
Dr. Williams is a Professor of Anesthesiology, Medicine (Rheumatology), Psychiatry, and Psychology at the University of Michigan, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. A clinician-scientist, his work spans chronic illness management, digital health, patient-reported outcomes, and mechanisms of pain perception and modulation. He has held leadership roles with the American Pain Society and on national and international scientific review and editorial boards.
Dr. Hatfield is a board-certified orofacial pain specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director of the TMD & Orofacial Pain Residency at the University of Michigan. Her clinical and academic interests include temporomandibular joint disorders, neuropathic facial pain, headache disorders, and sleep-related breathing conditions, with a strong focus on education.
Dr. Cioffi is a clinician-scientist and Associate Professor in the Discipline of Orthodontics at the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry, where he serves as Graduate Coordinator and Co-Director of the Centre for Multimodal Sensorimotor and Pain Research. His research integrates neuroimaging, behavioural, and electrophysiological methods to study jaw motor control, dental occlusion, and biopsychosocial pain mechanisms in TMD and orofacial pain, and he maintains a clinical practice focused on orthodontics and TMD management.
Dr. Aronovich is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fellowship Director for TMJ and Orthognathic Surgery. He treats pediatric and adult patients with a range of oral and maxillofacial conditions, including congenital or traumatic jaw disorders, sleep disorders such as OSA, and craniofacial anomalies like cleft lip and palate. He has specialized expertise in TMJ replacement for complex jaw conditions, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosis, and ablative defects.
The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies is located at 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 .
A block of rooms has been secured at the Graduate Hotel. Use the link above to book your room, or call 800-666-8963 and mention you are part of “Moyers Symposium.” Please book your stay before January 29, 2025.
The trip between the Detroit Metro Airport and Ann Arbor takes about 20–30 minutes. A taxi costs around US$ 50 and usually takes up to 3 people. The most economical option is to take a shuttle:
Another alternative (a bit more expensive) is Metrocar Services, whose driver will meet you at baggage claim and bring you to Ann Arbor.
Due to the effect of the Great Lakes, the weather in Ann Arbor can vary widely in March. Temperatures can range from 30°F at night to 65°F midday. The 5-year daily high average is 52°F. Precipitation can range from light snow to thunderstorms. It is best to come prepared for cold nights and cool-to-mild days.
The Symposium, which began in 1974, honors Dr. Robert E. Moyers. Dr. Moyers chaired the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Department of Orthodontics (1953–1966) and later was the Founding Director of the UM Center for Human Growth and Development (1964–1980). The Center was established as a university-wide interdisciplinary unit to better understand childhood growth and development.
Under his leadership, the Center gained international prominence not only for interdisciplinary research in craniofacial biology, but also in developmental biology, nutrition, public health, morphometrics, anthropology, linguistics, and pediatrics.
Author of the textbook Handbook of Orthodontics, Moyers was elected to the Royal College of Surgeons in London (1955). He received the profession’s highest award, the Albert H. Ketcham Award (1988), and was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Hall of Honor (2004).
Explore the 49th Annual Moyers Symposium video to see the spirit of this long-standing event.