TMJ Association, Ltd.

We envision a future where individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders and chronic overlapping pain conditions will receive a timely and accurate diagnosis, followed by high-quality comprehensive medical care, and safe and effective treatment, that is informed by the latest and most rigorous scientific evidence.

We achieve our mission by advocating for the needs of TMJ patients, promoting awareness of temporomandibular disorders among the public, policy makers, research and health care communities, connecting TMJ patients with those who can provide knowledgeable support and empathetic understanding, encouraging basic and clinical research, periodically convening international scientific meetings, serving as a resource for the collection and dissemination of information on advances of research, treatment, insurance practices, patient's rights, and legal and ethical issues, and communicating with elected officials, government agencies, professional organizations, community leaders and other policy makers concerning TMD issues.

The TMJ Association is led by Terrie Cowley, a TMJ patient and co-founder. Terrie's enduring work and dedication has been instrumental in increasing awareness of the needs of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) patients among key groups, including the public, patients, health care providers, policy makers, Congress, the NIH and media. Through her leadership the Association works toward its goal to establish safe and effective means of diagnosis, treatment and ultimately, prevention of TMD.

Christin Veasley is the Director and Co-Founder of the TMJ Association's Chronic Pain Research Alliance Initiative. Chris has spent her career advocating for rigorous multidisciplinary pain research. She currently serves as a member of several other collaborative alliances, federal committees/initiatives, and public-private partnerships working to promote pain research, education, treatment and prevention. She is the former Executive Director of the National Vulvodynia Association.

The TMJ Association (TMJA) has co-sponsored eight scientific meetings with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) resulting in recommendations that set the direction for future Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) research and NIH funding opportunities. These meetings have been critical to leading the paradigm shift in research from TMD as solely as a localized orofacial pain condition to a complex multisystem disorder with overlapping comorbidities.

The TMJA has had over 30 consecutive years of advocacy efforts which have resulted in report language for TMD and chronic overlapping pain conditions. We will continue our efforts until individuals with TMD and chronic overlapping pain conditions receive timely and accurate diagnosis, followed by high-quality comprehensive medical care, and safe and effective treatment, that is informed by the latest and most rigorous scientific evidence.