The 2026 AAO House of Delegates (HOD) met April 30 and May 3 in Orlando, in conjunction with the 2026 Annual Session. The meeting was under the leadership of House Speaker Dr. Luis Toro, with volunteer leaders present including 64 voting delegates representing each constituent society.  
 
The House adopted numerous resolutions to ensure that AAO policies and resources meet member needs and provide responsible governance of the Association. Highlights include: 
 
2026-27 Member Dues to Increase by 3.5% 
To help keep pace with inflation and rising operational costs, AAO membership dues will increase from $840 to $870 in 2026-27 for full dues-paying active members in the United States. Dues reductions are automatically applied to Canadian active members, active members in their first four years, international members, full-time faculty and (military) service members.  Service (military or government employee) members will now pay 40% of active member dues, a change from the previous flat rate. 
 
Bylaws Addition Details Plan for Severe, Extended National Emergencies 
The HOD added Emergency Bylaws to the AAO Bylaws, intending to ensure the continuity of governance and operations of the AAO in the face of a catastrophic event. In such a situation, it may not be possible to assemble a quorum of the Association’s Trustees, or circumstances may make compliance with the regular Bylaws impractical or impossible. The Bylaws addition outlines specific steps for communications and decision-making, if such an event occurs. 

Innovation & Transformation Fund Refunding Policy Set 
The AAO Innovation & Transformation Fund was established in 2019 to create non-dues revenue generating programs and revitalize member benefits. The fund can be used to  cover start-up costs of new program offerings for members like the Wharton-AAO Mastering the Business of Orthodontics program, and support innovation in the specialty with investments in promising start-ups aligned with the AAO mission. The 2026 HOD adopted a resolution outlining how proceeds from I&T funded programs would refund the fund and support operations.

Specialized Orthodontic Assistant Program (SOA) to Sunset 
The AAO will discontinue the Specialized Orthodontic Assistant Program (SOA), an educational and certification program for AAO member employees. Following a comprehensive review of the program, including content, assessment methods, stakeholder feedback, and alignment with evolving professional credentialing standards, COOP determined that the program would require significant redesign to meet the changing needs of the profession and current best practices. 
 
The AAO remains committed to supporting orthodontic team education offerings such as  On-Demand CE, introductory-level online training for new orthodontic staff, and discounted team training through AAO Endorsed Program, Trapezio.  COOP also plans to explore future credentialing initiatives that better align with the needs of practice owners and today’s orthodontic workforce. 

Resident Membership in AAO Constituents to be Explored 
The AAO Council on Membership, Ethics and Judicial Concerns (COMEJC) will investigate the necessary steps to make AAO student members – including residents at ADA/CODA-accredited orthodontic programs – members of their respective AAO constituent and component organizations based on the locations of their respective residency programs. COMEJC will report back to the 2027 House of Delegates with their findings and recommendations.  
 
Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham Elected 2027-30 Speaker of the House 
The HOD also held  an election for a key AAO governance role. Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham was elected as the 2027-30 Speaker of the House of Delegates. 
 
Dr. Featheringham will spend the next year observing the work of current HOD Speaker Dr. Luis Toro before being inducted as Speaker at the end of the 2027 HOD meeting. She will lead the 2028, 2029, and 2030 HOD meetings. A past AAO Trustee At-Large, Dr. Featheringham is a past president of the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists and served as the GLAO delegation chair to the AAO House of Delegates. She is a past president of the Ohio Association of Orthodontists and a past Chair of the AAO Council on Government Advocacy (COGA). 

View the Complete 2026 House of Delegates Report