• in 1982 we became the pioneer TMJ patient advocacy organization
• first to form and personally facilitate TMJ self-help support groups
• first to provide free diverse professional TMJ lectures and conferences
• first to conduct, sponsor, and to continue to publish independent comprehensive TMJ research from the Patients’ Perspective
• first TMJ Patient newsletter
• first to attract appropriate attention from local and national sources
• first to use the term "Jaw Joints" as a household descriptor of TM Joints
• first to get representatives of the Medical and Dental Profession to lecture together at JJAMD’s sponsored public seminars
• first to produce patient-friendly materials:
• educational booklet in layperson’s terms
• booklet of self-help tips on how to prevent TMJ
• in-depth video with professionals & TMJ patients
• first to attempt to organize the TMJ Patients into a national grassroots movement
• first to meet and network with leaders of different advocacy organizations and participate in their programs, including Endometriosis; Ehlers-Danlos; Face First; Fibromyalgia; Milwaukee, Chicago, and California TMJ Support Groups; Sjogrens Syndrome
• joined NORD and NAOH thereby including TMJ as an allied disorder
• visits with Dental & Medical Schools & their Societies, and Public Health and Prevention Sectors in the United States and abroad
• visits with NIH, NIDR, Alternative Medicine, CDC, World Health Organization, Legislators, insurance companies, Arthritis Foundation, Women’s Health Organizations, United Way
• first Proclamations by local and national government to celebrate November as: "Jaw Joints - TMJ Awareness Month"® in Massachusetts as of 1986; nationally since 1997 in perpetuity
• first to attract and participate in media coverage in radio, print, local and national TV
• attend and participate in many professional conferences
• sponsor 1st JJAMD TMJ National Conference with 35 disparate lecturers, primarily from the Medical Profession, to examine the ethics, policies, costs, insurance, diagnoses and treatments. - Proceedings published by Mass. Dept. of Public Health.
• worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield MA. Medical Policy Director, which produced specific coverage for TMJ under a Medical health plan
• exclusive source of TMJ materials for use in Healthtouch® website and kiosks, with hundreds of thousands of hits
• Published 60-page "Analysis of TMJ Patient Survey & Checklist" from JJAMD’s Patient Survey
• Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health establishes a liaison with JJAMD
• Acknowledged in "Who’s Who" for our pioneering efforts
• Letter of praise from Director Harold Slavkin of NIDCR
• And many other efforts and activities

• wrote proposal with NERI for a TMJ Registry
• prepared second TMJ Patient Survey & Checklist
• dedicated JJAMD website- www.TMJoints.org
• designed an illustrated Fork-in-the-Road Map of The TMJ Dilemma
• major PR campaign to launch "Jaw Joints - TMJ Awareness Month"®
• planning stage with Tufts TMJ Clinic for multi-specialty conference in November 2000
• a promising new liaison with a U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy’s office, resulting in letters to NIH and CDC
• Despite all these efforts and accomplishments, we have experienced "failures" along the way, which are reminders that we still have a very long journey ahead. For instance:
• we have not succeeded in mobilizing a proactive, visible TMJ grassroots movement or formed a dynamic National TMJ alliance with other organizations
• or been able to work with The TMJ Association, Ltd. [ see section on "forming alliances with other organizations".]
• or convince the Arthritis Foundation to embrace TMJ within their paradigm, although the March 2000 issue of "Arthritis Today" listing of the Jaw Joints is a promising start
• or get the TMJ Registry project underway sooner
• or to gain the cooperation of the new Commissioner of Public Health as we did with the former Commissioner David Mulligan

So, while we celebrate our important incremental victories, they are just a proverbial "drop in the bucket" compared to what is needed. We are impatient for immediate progress for the benefit of all.

In retrospect, whether it was at the beginning, the present, or plans for the future, we could not have accomplished what we did without the help, encouragement, moral and financial support and volunteer efforts of many people -- often behind the scenes. The support of the TMJ patients and members has been invaluable for research, feedback, and self-help. This journey has been difficult, but the collective energy and wisdom shared with us by all those others, sustained us and allowed us to carry on with our mission. While the future is uncertain and growing more complex and mean-spirited, we hope that this type of support is available to those who will pick up the flag and continue to move the TMJ cause forward.