Reflection
2024 was a banner year for the College and Foundation. Fueled by our new strategic plan with specific goals and metrics, the ACD Board of Regents and its committees began work on making both large and small changes in what the College and Foundation do to support our Fellows and the dental profession.
The revision and republication of the cornerstone of our ethics outreach, the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry, was completed in early 2024. Already, we have created new leadership training opportunities for our Fellows and future dentist leaders outside of the College. We have begun the Section Leadership Initiative so that we bring the most that the College has to offer to the local level. We’ve also increased our communications by creating a separate Annual Report so the fourth issue of the JACD is rich with professional content, adding an extra issue of the ACD News, and increasing our outreach through social media. Looking ahead, we will soon begin refreshing our dental ethics website with an eye toward creating new online training courses and resources on a website that will be easier to access and navigate.
As you know, it takes money to do all these things and I’m happy to report that the ACD Foundation raised over $200,000 in 2024, in part through our new End of the Year Giving Campaign. Through your support we raised both large and small donations from an increasing number of our Fellows, more than we have seen in years. This level of giving exceeded our projections by more than 12%.
We are building excitement and engagement within the College and it is our successes in 2024 that provide us with a very solid foundation to have an even greater year in 2025… thanks to you!
2024 ACD Highlights
The College Welcomes its 9th Executive Director
Mr. Michael Graham was appointed by the Board of Regents in February and began his tenure in March of 2024. He brings with him 30 years of experience in organized dentistry and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in 2017. He is the ninth Executive Director, originally referred to as the Secretary, of the ACD since its inception in 1920.
New Bylaws
Led by Dr. Tom Raimann, the ACD Board of Regents Bylaws Committee revised our Bylaws to reflect contemporary practices. The Fellowship overwhelmingly approved
this major revision in a special Fellowship-wide election in the summer of 2024. The new bylaws can be found at https:// www.acd.org/fellowship/governance/.
College Cornerstone, the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry, Revised and Updated
The College is often referred to as “the conscience of dentistry.” Perhaps no other project exemplifies this sentiment as much as the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry. Although the handbook has been updated to reflect a more contemporary tone and reflect 21st century issues, it remains rooted in the College and Profession’s timeless values. It is a
tangible reminder of our mission and purpose—to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare.
2024 Ethics Summit: Breaking Down the Silos: Dentistry’s Ethical Responsibility as a Partner in Healthcare
The Summit was held September 12-13, 2024, with over 45 participants gathered in Rockville, Maryland. Participants included five SPEA students who assisted the breakout session leaders.
This event aimed to advance strategies for integrating dental care with mainstream
healthcare through interdisciplinary collaboration driven by dentistry’s ethical responsibility to improve overall health outcomes through integration. The Ethics Summit workgroup will continue to work on this issue throughout 2025.
The SHIFT3/ACD Leadership Experience
At SHIFT3/ACD, 22 Fellows who are leaders in their Sections, or aspire to be, were enlightened by lectures on leadership, different leadership styles, and different paths to leadership. All of the lectures were insightful, and all approached the subject of leadership in different ways.
ACD Fellowship
3039
Active Fellows
Active Fellows are under 70 years of age and are working full time.
349
Nominations for Fellowship
An increase of 78 from 2023. Of those nominations, 311 were approved.
270
New Fellows Inducted
The ACD Annual Meeting and Convocation welcomed 270 new Fellows at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, Loiusiana.
259
Retired Fellows
Retired Fellows are under 70 years of age and work fewer than 40 hours a month.
4033
Life Fellows
Life Fellows are over 70 and have earned the privilege of paying dues voluntarily. In 2024, 539 Life Fellows paid a self-selected amount in voluntary dues.
83
Honorary Fellows
Honorary Fellows are those who have made significant contributions to the profession of oral healthcare and society but are not dentists. We added three new Honorary Fellows in 2024.
52
Average Age of New Fellows
The oldest is 93 and the three youngest are 30. More of the new Fellows were born in the 1980s than any other decade.
1214
LinkedIn Followers
Up from 300 in 2023. Communications
1432
Instagram Followers
Up from 1138 in 2023.
609
YouTube Subscribers
Up from 532 in 2023.
20,368
Video Views
Down 11% from 2023.
1854
Facebook Subscribers
Up from 1779 in 2023.
60%
Average Open Rate
For all Fellowship-wide emails in 2024.
In the U.S. the average open rate for membership email blasts is 43%.
Thank you for engaging!
3
Issues of ACD News
“The Stage is Set!” “Opportunity Abounds”
“Rooted in History, Advancing the Mission”
2
Issues of the JACD
“2023 Review, 2024 Preview”
“Advancing Education in Dentistry: Innovations and Insights”
ACD Foundation
The American College of Dentists Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable 501(c)3 organization supporting educational and programmatic efforts of the American College of Dentists. Since 1972, Foundation funds have supported initiatives that include thought-provoking speakers and educators at the Annual Meeting, impactful continuing education, educational materials for dental students, and scholarships for advanced studies in ethics and leadership.
For more information about the ACD Foundation and how you can make an impact, visit acd.org/foundation.
“Your support of the American College of Dentists Foundation will directly help the College strengthen its efforts to keep our profession strong, vibrant, relevant, effective, and ethical— not resting on our reputation or past accomplishments but working tirelessly to improve the profession and its impact.”
– Stephen A. Ralls, Past President and former Executive Director
2
$200k+
Donations
Received, with the majority contributed to the ACDF’s first Giving Tuesday campaign.
511 Life Fellows
Voluntarily paid dues to the ACD and/ or their Sections.
1100 Fellows
Active, Retired, and Life—donated to the ACDF while paying their 2024 dues totaling over $80,000.
9 Bricks
Added to the Legacy Walkway in 2024.
New Programs Ethics Summit
Breaking Down the Silos: Dentistry’s Ethical Responsibility as a Partner in Healthcare
Dr. Natalia Chalmers from the Centers of Medicare and Madicaid Services and Dr. Lisa Simon of Harvard served as Keynote speakers for the Summit.
The Ethics Summit steering group will continue their work in 2025 with a new Summit topic planned for 2026.
The Ethics Summit was underwritten by the ACDF with a generous gift from the Santa Fe Group.
SHIFT Leadership Training
SHIFT was initiated through the efforts of Dr. Paula K. Friedman and her establishment of the Section Leadership Development initiative.
Through the generosity of Dr. Steven Chan, the ACD’s ability to extend leadership development opportunities to the Fellowship and profession will expand.
Ethics Handbook for Dentistry
Distributed handbooks since March 2024.
61 Outstanding Student Leader Awards
Given, with $14,750 in award money given in matching funds by the national organization to recognize emerging leaders in oral healthcare.
Courses Online in Dental Ethics
Course completion fell by half in 2024. The courses are long overdue for a refresh, and the College and Foundation are making a significant investment in updating this vital resource. The American Society for Dental Ethics is partnering with the ACD to achieve this essential milestone of our strategic plan.
Members
Our Circle Members have made a commitment to sustaining the Foundation well into the future. The ACD extends deep appreciation to our most ardent supporters, whose generosity will continue to advance our mission for generations to come.
Centennial Circle
$1,000,000
Founder’s Circle
$500,000
President’s Circle
$250,000
Platinum Circle
$100,000
Gold Circle
$50,000
Silver Circle
$25,000
Bronze Circle
$10,000 Circle
2024 Gold Circle Contributor
Steven
D.
Chan
2024 Bronze Circle Contributors
Pamela A. Alston
Lance M. Rucker
The Santa Fe Group
Gies Donors
Gies Donors are recognized for annual contributions to the Foundation, furthering to our shared mission— to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare.
Gies Fellow:
$1,000 donation in a calendar year.
Gies Medallion:
$2,500 donation in a calendar year.
Gies Benefactor:
$5,000 donation in a calendar year.
2024 Gies Benefactor
Daniel and Adaline Klemmedson
2024 Gies Medallion Contributors
William Calnon
Robert G. Plage
Jane Segal
Michael A. Graham
2024
Gies Fellows
Richard F. Andolina
Donna M. Brode
Marco Chiarot
Alma Clark
Michael J. Connolly
Joseph Crowley
William Davis
Teresa Dolan
Robert Faiella
Egidio A. Farone
Cheryl Fryer
LaJuan Hall
Robin Henderson
Brian Hunt
Sree Koka
Krista Jones
Robert Lamb
Barry L. Langley
Philip W. Madden
Sean Meehan
Fotinos S. Panagakos
Saida Rasul
Robert E. Roesch
George Shepley
Robert Smith
Charles F. Squire
Henri Treadwell
All Circle Contributers
Our Circle Donors have made a commitment to sustain the Foundation well into the future. The ACD extends deep appreciation to our most ardent supporters, whose generosity will continue to advance our mission for generations to come.
Centennial Circle Members
Anonymous Donor
Jerome B. Miller*
Founders Circle Members
Patricia L. Blanton
Juliann S. Bluitt-Foster*
Cecelia L. Dows*
Platinum Circle Members
David W. Chambers
Thomas J. Connolly
Thomas J. Wickliffe
Gold Circle Members
Marcia A. Boyd
Geraldine M. Ferris
Jean Hopeman
Thomas F. Winkler III*
Delta Dental of Missouri
Dentsply Sirona
Silver Circle Members
Robert A. Faiella
Kenneth E. Follmar*
Samuel D. Harris*
Krista M. Jones
Max M. Martin, Jr.
Alston J. McCaslin V*
John M. Scarola*
Richard F. Stilwill
Roger W. Triftshauser
Gary S. Yonemoto
American Association of Orthodontists
Delta Dental of Oklahoma
Delta Dental of South Carolina
France Stone Foundation
GC America
W. J. Gies Foundation
Robert M. Anderton*
Bronze Circle Members
Mark A. Bauman*
Ralph A. Boelsche*
Richard E. Bradley*
Charles D. Dietrich
Arlet R. Dunsworth
Coleman* & Jane Gertler
Theresa S. Gonzales
James A. Harrell, Sr.*
Kenneth L. Kalkwarf
B. Charles Kerkhove, Jr.
H. Raymond Klein*
Robert M. Lamb
Barry L. Langley
S. Jerry Long
Harvey E. Matheny
Norman H. Olsen
Lee P. Oneacre
Robert T. Ragan
Stephen A. Ralls
Richard J. Reynolds
Gordon H. Rovelstad*
Chester J. Schultz*
Richard J. Simeone*
Charles F. Squire
Richard C. Vinci
R. Gilbert Triplett
W. Scott Waugh
Alice Rosenwald Fund
American Dental Association
Delta Dental Plan of New Hampshire
New York Section
Indiana Section
Texas Section
Southern California Section
Western New York Section
*=Deceased
Leadership, Trust, and the Legacy You Build
Dr. Robert A. Faiella, 2025 President of the ACD
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and honored inductees,
It is a great privilege to stand before you today as we celebrate your remarkable achievements and welcome the new Fellows into the College. Today is not just about honoring the work you have done to get here, but rather about embracing the new responsibilities that come with this distinction.
You are stepping into a role that demands leadership, not just in your own careers, but within the entire healthcare profession.
We find ourselves in a time where healthcare is undergoing rapid transformation. Rising student debt, corporate production pressures, and economic uncertainties present unique challenges to clinicians.
Yet, within these challenges lie opportunities for all of us—opportunities to lead, to shape the future of our profession, and to build a lasting legacy grounded in excellence, ethics, and service.
Technology is not an industry; it is an underpinning…a part of every industry. It is intended to increase productivity at scale, and to make our lives better.
The expanding use of AI in the profession has absolute potential to be transformative and significant...but is it consequential? Potentially, which is why there must be Standards and regulatory oversight.
Artificial Intelligence has the likelihood of greatest impact on Medical-Dental Integration, to comb through the figurative haystack
At the heart of leadership in healthcare is one indispensable element: trust. Whether it’s the trust between clinician and patient, or the trust among colleagues and teams, it is the foundation upon which everything else is built. It is easy to take for granted, but once lost, trust is exceedingly difficult to regain.
of metrics gathered on systemic noncommunicable diseases (such as cardiovascular, diabetes, and pulmonary disease) to tease out the relevant influences related to the most common oral diseases (such as caries and periodontal disease) by logistic regression and predictive analytics.
We need to develop leaders in this area.
Clinicians with a measure of emotional intelligence and self-awareness, bring a set of credible things that can create exceptional leaders:
• we do most everything in teams.
• we value process and hold ourselves accountable.
• and we make difficult decisions…with sometimes incomplete information.
At the heart of leadership in healthcare is one indispensable element: trust. Whether it’s the trust between clinician and patient, or the trust among colleagues and teams, it is the foundation upon which everything else is built. It is easy to take for granted, but once lost, trust is exceedingly difficult to regain.
This is why ethical leadership is so vital to our profession—it protects that trust.
As leaders, we are responsible not only for maintaining that trust, but for nurturing it and reinforcing it with every patient interaction and every decision we make.
The Silent Importance of Mentorship
But leadership is not just about the visible acts of decision-making and policy-setting. It’s about
the quiet, powerful role of mentorship. Mentorship brought each one of you to this place.
Mentorship is not simply about passing on knowledge. It is about shaping mindsets. Through mentorship, you are not just teaching clinical skills or explaining protocols—you are instilling values.
We are showing others how to remain ethical under pressure, how to balance competing priorities, and how to prioritize the well-being of patients above all else.
The silent importance of mentorship lies in its ability to cultivate future leaders who will uphold the same values that brought you to this moment today.
As Fellows of this College, we all have the opportunity to mentor those who come after us, and this responsibility cannot be overstated. Mentorship may often go unspoken, but its influence is profound.
It is through mentorship that we guide the next generation, helping them navigate the same challenges we faced, and empowering them to lead with integrity, resilience, and compassion.
The Power of Followership
In addition to mentorship, it is equally critical to recognize the power of followership developed by Robert Kelley of Carnegie Mellon University.
Often, leadership is glorified as the pinnacle of success, but Kelley’s work reminds us that followership is about more than compliance—it is about active, engaged participation.
Trust is the glue that holds together every aspect of healthcare. Patients entrust us with their lives, often at their most vulnerable. They trust us not only to be experts in our fields but to act with integrity, to communicate openly, and to place their well-being above all else.
Effective followers are critical thinkers who bring their full selves to their roles, supporting their leaders with loyalty, but also with feedback and accountability.
As patient outcomes rely on team-based approaches, the power of followership becomes even more apparent. The best leaders are those who recognize and value the contributions of their teams.
They understand that success is not achieved by one person at the top, but through the collective efforts of others, where each member plays a crucial role.
This relationship between leadership and followership creates an environment where innovation can thrive, and where trust between all team members can be cultivated and sustained.
Ethically Driven Leadership with Integrative Thinking
As you step into this role as leaders and mentors, I urge you to embrace a model of ethically driven leadership, one that Roger Martin refers to as integrative thinking.
Integrative thinking is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in your mind and still find a way to resolve them in a way that creates value.
In the complex world of healthcare, this skill is invaluable. Every day, we face decisions that demand we balance patient care with financial realities, clinical efficacy with personal empathy, or organizational goals with ethical standards.
Integrative thinkers don’t settle for either-or choices. Instead, they look for creative solutions that transcend these dilemmas. It means finding solutions that are not only clinically sound but also ethically robust solutions that enhance trust with patients, staff, and the healthcare system.
As leaders, our ability to adopt this approach will set you apart, allowing us to not only make better decisions but also to model a style of leadership that others will want to follow.
The Fragility of Trust
And this brings us back to the central theme— trust.
Trust is the glue that holds together every aspect of healthcare. Patients entrust us with their lives, often at their most vulnerable. They trust us not only to be experts in our fields but to act with integrity, to communicate openly, and to place their well-being above all else.
Our ability to make decisions guided by ethics and integrative thinking strengthens that trust.
But trust is fragile. A single lapse in judgment, a moment of miscommunication, or an ethical compromise can break the bond that took years to build. Once lost, trust is incredibly difficult to regain.
When patients feel that their trust has been violated, they disengage, sometimes delaying care or refusing it altogether. The same is true within teams—when trust breaks down among col-
leagues, collaboration falters, innovation slows, and the overall quality of care diminishes.
It is our responsibility to protect this trust. Every decision we make, every action we take, must reinforce the trust your patients and our teams place in us. This is not just about avoiding mistakes; it is about actively nurturing a culture of trust, where transparency, honesty, and ethical behavior are the norm.
The Role of Honorary Society Members
As Fellows the College, we are the stewards of these principles.
To our new Fellows, you are not only being recognized for your past achievements but entrusted with the future of our profession.
You have the opportunity—and the obligation—to lead with integrity, to mentor others, to foster strong followership, and to think in ways that protect the delicate fabric of trust that is essential to healthcare.
I encourage you to embrace the pillars of this society—ethics, excellence, professionalism and leadership—as not only guideposts but as tools to empower others.
As you mentor the next generation of clinicians, remember that your influence extends far beyond your individual actions.
You are shaping the future leaders of healthcare, and through them, you will have a lasting impact on our profession.
As you lead your teams, value their contributions and recognize the importance of followership. Cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued, where their voices are heard, and where trust is built through mutual respect and shared goals.
Remember that strong leaders are also strong followers, willing to listen, to learn, and to adapt.
And as you face the inevitable challenges of healthcare—whether they be economic pressures, ethical dilemmas, or complex decision-making—embrace the power of integrative thinking.
Find solutions that align with your values, that strengthen the trust between you and your patients, and that elevate the standard of care for everyone.
Conclusion
In closing, I want to leave you with this thought: Leadership is not about the position you hold, but the influence you have.
It’s about the trust you build, the mentorship you offer, and the ethical decisions you make when no one is watching.
You have earned your place in the College through hard work and dedication, but your journey is far from over. In fact, it is just beginning.
As you move forward from this moment, remember that you are now the standardbearers of our profession.
You are the ones who will set the tone for what it means to lead with excellence, to serve with integrity, and to inspire trust in those around you.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. May you continue to lead with purpose, inspire others with your actions, and build a legacy of trust, ethics, and excellence in all that you do.
Thank you.
2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
“I am grateful for such engaged and active board members, and for each Fellow’s commitment to the vision and mission of the American College of Dentists. We are all volunteer leaders. Thank you for the generous donation of your time, talent, and treasure! We have much to celebrate, and I am so glad we can all gather in this beautiful location. A special welcome to our Fellowship Candidates. We look forward to many years of working alongside you in service to our mission—to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare. The Annual Meeting is a special time for Fellows to celebrate our history while working together to create a dynamic future.”
– Teresa A. Dolan, 2024 President of the American College of Dentists
Gather and Inform: Annual Business Meeting of the ACD
The ACD held its Annual Meeting on October 16, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Officers and Executive Director reported on the progress made on the strategic plan, the financial standing of the College and Foundation, and on the accomplishments since the last meeting. The new officers and regents for 2025 were introduced and officially welcomed to the Board. A recording of the proceedings is linked below.
Click Button for Annual Business Meeting
Gather and Celebrate: Induction Ceremony and National Awards
The Fellows of the College gathered to welcome new members and celebrated with a traditional New Orleans second line band and a champaign toast.
In addition to awarding Fellowship, the ACD recognizes excellence in others through its national awards program. Nominations are thoughtfully considered and awarded through the Board of Regents.
The recording of the induction and award ceremony is linked below.
Click Button for Induction and Award Ceremony
“Fellowship is an honor that should not be accepted lightly. I charge you to preserve untarnished your ideals, even though temporary gains may tempt you; to keep alive your enthusiasm for service to dentistry and to your fellow man; to preserve and keep burning brightly this symbolic torch of knowledge as the light that beckons us ever onward. May the generations yet to come rejoice that your efforts have made a difference.”
– Charge to the Fellowship, read by 2024 Orator Pamela Zarkowski
2024 Fellowship Class
REGENCY 1
ATLANTIC PROVINCES
Chad Avery
Paul Cameron
Marco Chiarot
Dana Coles
Jennifer MacLellan
Tamara Wright
HUDSON-MOHAWK
Christopher Arena
Adrienne Korkosz
Kendra Zappia
NEW ENGLAND
Roger Achong
Arifa Bakerywala
Matthew Cielinski
Jobren M. Dingle
Meghann Dombroski
Margaret Errante
Laurie Fleisher
Deb Fuller
Frederick A. Hartman
Mark Hartzler
Nicole Kimmes
Rajesh Lalla
Peixi Liao
Jeffrey Lowenstein
Patrick Mangan
Pamela M. Maragliano-Muniz
Julie McNeish
Kaz Rafia
Michael Safian
Adam Saltz
Sara Sheikh
Marcelo Suzuki
Paul Trombly
Ernest P. Votolato
NEW YORK
Bijan Anvar
Monica Bebawy
Ying Gu
Aleksander Iofin
Sophia Jelke
Sookyung Kim
Keri Logan
Arianita Mulahu
Aaron Myers
Steven Saltzman
QUEBEC
Deborah Iera
WESTERN NEW YORK
Lauren Vitkus
REGENCY 2
FEDERAL SERVICES
Henry Foerster
Benjamin Gray
Jaren May
Benjamin J. McGovern
Michael McQuinn
Tadros Tadros
MARYLAND
Thomas a’Becket
Natalia Chalmers
Nicole Cheek
Joanne Rief
METRO WASHINGTON
Jonelle Anamelechi
Jill Bruno
Dena Fischer
Cheryl Fryer
Patricia Higgins
Rowland Holsinger
Reginald Salter
Peter Tan Jr. NEW JERSEY
Maria Ambrosio
Scott Dubowsky
Giancarlo Ghisalberti
Darwin Hayes
Michal Herman
PHILADELPHIA
DEL VALLEY
Salwa Mekled
VIRGINIA
Willie Beasley
Sarah Friend
Evan Garrison
Michael King
Jeffrey Leidy
Sujit Mohanty
David Stafford
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Joanne Prasad
REGENCY 3
ALABAMA
Christa Spann
Cassandra Winterrowd
CAROLINAS
Hannibal Crisp
Jennifer Crisp
Deidre Crockett
Catherine Cunningham
William Gierie
Joseph Hendrick Jr.
Jim Howell
Mark Johnson
Meredith Papadea
John Poole III
James Purvis
Harold Rogers
William Ryals Jr
Ronnetta Sartor
Julia Snyder
Sangita Vakharia
Millard Wester III
Graham Wilson
FLORIDA
Joseph Abbate
Scott Denton
James DiMarino
Bertram Hughes
ElÃas Moran
Frank Pink
Alan Stern
GEORGIA
Reagan Bonner
Brian Bragassa
Justin Young
REGENCY 4
INDIANA
Gina Boatright
Tamara Button
Oriana Capin
Lisa Lang
Michael E. Sovanich
KENTUCKY
Sean Aiken
Gina Davis
Madeline Hicks
Alma Ljaljevic-Tucakovic
Matthew Milliner
MICHIGAN
Colonya Calhoun
Marie Fluent
Richard Frenchi
John Hackenberger
Brian Hunt
Ana Janic
Katherine Kelly-Alberdi
Richard Klein
Elizabeth Knudsen
Lois Kovalchick
Daniel Miller
Robert Stewart
Tamika Thompson
Elizabeth White
OHIO
Kyle Bogan
ONTARIO
Amelia Chan
Cecilia Dong
Tammy Herzog
Laurel Linetsky-Fleisher
Jonathan Mayer
Christine Ng
2024 Fellowship Class
Saira Paredes
Eunice Park
Jacklyn Pivovarov
Todd Plexman
Joel Schacher
Andrea Silverman
Chris Swayze
Nada Tabbara
WEST VIRGINIA
Gina Graziani
Warren Wilcox III
REGENCY 5
ILLINOIS
Gordon Barkley III
Stephen Benjamin
Edward Karateew
Bryce Larson
David Rosenbaum
IOWA
Sukirth Ganesan
Brian Kim
Sherry Timmons
KANSAS
Ashley Humlicek
Taylor Merklein
Keith Van Horn
NEBRASKA
Stephani Dale
Natalie Frost
Scott Radniecki
UPPER MIDWEST
Juliane Winters
Edward Chiera
WISCONSIN
David Meade VI
REGENCY 6
ARKANSAS
Burke Soffe
Garrett Taylor
LOUISIANA
Aubrey Baudean Jr.
James Burns Sr.
James Farrar
Byron Ganucheau
George Gottsegen
Leslie Gottsegen
Gregory Guerra
Jeffrey Kerst
Sherrod Quin
MISSISSIPPI
Sara McCrary
OKLAHOMA
Samantha Collins
Sydney C. Rogers
Roberta Wright
TENNESSEE
Leela Subhashini Alluri
Taylor Bolland
Robin Daniel
Gerald Davis II
Julie Gray
Jeffrey Kalmowicz
TEXAS
Nancy Andree
Justin Bonner
Kerin Burdette
Stephen Chan
Moshtagh Farokhi
Nazgol Gharbi
Alex Gonzalez
Matthew Heck
Lawrence Morris
Simmi Patel
Gary Pillers
Susan Putthoff
Ryan Quock
R. Snead Jr.
REGENCY 7
ARIZONA
George Blue Spruce
Steven Call
Satish Kumar
Alexandra Pierre-Bez
M. Teresa Pulido
Tatiyana Trowbridge
NEVADA
Daniel Moore
Amanda Okundaye
NEW MEXICO
Tamana Begay
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Amandeep Bhullar
John Boghoosian
Marianela Carter
Shika Gupta
Taewon Jung
Guo-Hao (Alex) Lin
Michael J. Lopez Sr.
Aaron Noordmans
Viren Patel
Abhi Thakkar
Benson Wong
Grace Yum
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Elizabeth Andrews
Kim Austin
Beatriz Bezerra
Esteban Bonilla
TIng-Ling Chang
Zachary Diamond
Mark Estey
Joni Forge
Yusuke Hamada
Zina Johnston
Alireza Moshaverinia
Sandra Schmidt
Santosh Sundaresan
Brent Tucker
Jettie Uyanne
REGENCY 8
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Ben Balevi
Mark Forgie
Michelle Lauwers
Ryan Lauwers
Scott Martyna
James Singer
Evan Wiens
COLORADO
Rachel Barone
Monique Phipps
MONTANA
Michael J. Booth
OREGON
Cyrus Lee
Eddie Ramirez
Julie Spaniel
Josephine Stokes
Jeremy Suess
UTAH
Val Cheever
Marc Collman
Paul Hoeft
David Howard
David Julian
Ruediger Tillmann
WASHINGTON
Mandeep Alamwala
Stephen Davis
Peter Kim
Wells Labberton
Liselotte Mannion-Black
Brett Miller
Kim Nordberg
Melissa Ramsey
Stephen Rupert
Hong-Chun Kim
Sheri McKinstry
2025 Board of Regents
ACD Leadership – Officers
The ACD Board of Regents is an all-volunteer Board comprised of highly committed Fellows. The Officers and Regents lead the College’s efforts to advance the mission, providing vision and leadership on behalf of the Fellows. Elections for members of the Board of Regents take place each spring, and the new Officers and Regents are seated at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
Robert A. Faiella, DMD, MMSc, MBA
ACD President, Osterville, Massachusetts
Dr. Faiella is the President of the American College of Dentists and a Past President of the American Dental Association. He currently serves as Director and Past President of the American Board of Periodontology, Chair of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Board of Fellows, and an appointed member of the MIT Sloan School of Management Alumni Board.
Dr. Faiella is the Chief Dental Officer and Co-Founder of 32Health, Inc., as well as the former Chief Dental Officer and current Advisor for Overjet, Inc. He maintains a private practice specializing in Periodontics and Dental Implant Surgery in Osterville and Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Dr. Faiella completed his graduate training in Periodontology as an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and earned a Master of Medical Science (M.M.Sc.) degree from Harvard Medical School. He has been recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.
As a leader in dental informatics, Dr. Faiella serves as Chair of the ADA Standards Consensus Body 12.7 on Artificial and Augmented Intelligence. He is also the Editor of the JADA+ website focused on AI applications in dentistry and the U.S. Lead Designated Expert for ISO TC 106/13 on Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry.
Dr. Faiella has held key leadership roles, including serving as Chairman and President of ADA Business Enterprises, Inc., the for-profit subsidiary of the American Dental Association.
Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH
ACD Foundation President, Longboat Key, Florida
Dr. Teresa (Terri) Dolan is the Chief Dental Officer at Overjet. She previously served as Dentsply Sirona’s Chief Clinical Officer, leading the global Clinical Affairs function. Dr. Dolan is also professor and dean emeritus of the University of Florida College of Dentistry, where she served as dean and chief academic officer from 2003 until 2013. She is recognized for her contributions to dental public health, geriatric dentistry and as a champion for diversity and women in dentistry. Dr. Dolan is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers University; she earned a DDS degree from the University of Texas and a MPH degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Dental Health Services Research Scholar, completed a Veterans Administration Fellowship in Geriatric Dentistry, and is board certified in Dental Public Health. As a recognized leader in the dental profession, she currently serves as pastpresident of the Santa Fe Group, past-president of the American College of Dentists, president of the ACD Foundation, and previously served on the board of directors of the ADA Forsyth and the ADEA Gies Foundation.
Terry L. Norris, DMD President Elect, Owensboro, Kentucky
Dr. Norris is a general dentist in private practice. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and serves on both the Daviess County Board of Health and the Green River District Board of Health. He is also a past president of the Kentucky Dental Association. He continues to serve as the editor for the Kentucky Section of the College.
After competing on the varsity men’s soccer team and earning a dual degree in biology and chemistry from Geneva College in Pennsylvania, Dr. Norris attained his DMD from University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He has served on the Council on Annual Sessions for the Kentucky Dental Association since 1992.
Terry is married to Ginger, who began working as patient coordinator at the office after her retirement from the Owensboro Public Schools as a speech and language pathologist. Together they have three grown sons and five grandchildren.
Peter H. Guevara, DMD
Vice President, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colonel (Dr.) Pete Guevara currently serves as Commander of the Fort Carson Dental Health Activity in Colorado. Colonel Guevara has been active in the US military for over 28 years. He has combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq to his credit. Pete is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a 1992 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine. He completed a 1-year GPR in 1993, a 1-year hospital dentistry fellowship in1994 and a 2-year comprehensive dentistry program in 2001. He has been actively involved in dental education since 2005. He and his wife, Karyn, have a daughter, Maya. In his spare time Pete is an avid ice hockey and roller hockey player.
Joseph P. Crowley, DDS
Treasurer, Cincinnati, Ohio
Dr. Crowley is a general dentist practicing in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a past president of the American Dental Association. In 2013, Crowley earned the Ohio Dental Association Distinguished Dentist Award. He also received the Ohio Dental Association Achievement Award in 2001, the Cincinnati Dental Society Meritorious Service Award in 2007, and the Ohio Pierre Fauchard Distinguished Dentist Award. After finishing dental school at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1976, Crowley returned to his hometown of Cincinnati, where he has practiced general dentistry for more than three decades.
He’s been involved in the community, and has been particularly active at LaSalle High School, his alma mater. He was named to the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2009. Crowley and his wife, Pauletta, have been married 43 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.
2025 Board of Regents
ACD Leadership – Regents
Regents are elected directly by the Section Leaders of their Regency and provide leadership to the sections in thier regencies. They are engaged in working directly with section leaders to ensure the College’s resources are readily available to make the Mission actionable.
Julie Connolly, DDS
Regent, Regency 1, New York, New York
Dr. Connolly is a Board-certified Periodontist in private practice in New York City. She is a graduate of the Columbia School of Dental and Oral Surgery with a joint DDSMPH degree with the Mailman School of Public Health. She then completed her GPR at Mt Sinai Hospital in Manhattan prior to completing her post-graduate training in Periodontist at Columbia.
Dr Connolly is a volunteer Faculty at the Columbia College of Dental Medicine where she directs the Dental Ethics Courses for the Dental Students and Periodontics Residents. She also teaches in the post-Graduate Periodontal clinic and is the Faculty Advisor for SPEA.
Dr Connolly is a Past-President of the New York Academy of Dentistry, a Past-Chair of the ACD New York Section, a Past-President of the Columbia College of Dental Medicine’s Alumni Association and a Past-Chair of the Ethics Committee of the New York County Dental Society (NYCDS). She currently serves on the New York State Dental Association’s Ethics Council representing NYCDS. Dr Connolly was part of the first cohort of ACD Fellows to participate in the AAPD/AAPDF/Ultradent Leadership Institute at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
Sean Meehan, DMD
Regent, Regency 2, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dr. Sean Meehan is the Chief Dental Officer and Assistant Dean in the Office of Clinical Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and also holds an academic appointment as Professor of Clinical Oral Medicine. A retired Navy Captain, he held numerous educational leadership roles in the United States Navy Dental Corps culminating in his service as Dean of the Naval Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland. He is the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences where he holds an Emeritus appointment. Other military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal, as well as several unit, campaign and service awards.
Robert G. Plage, DDS
Regent, Regency 3, Wilmington, North Carolina
Dr. Plage is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Georgetown University School of Dentistry. After graduation he joined the U.S. Public Health Service and completed a GPR program in Lexington Kentucky. He was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and spent five years as a USCG dental officer, attaining the rank of LCDR and was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal. He has been in private practice in Wilmington since 1985. Bob has served as past president of the Wilmington Dental Society, the North Carolina Dental Society’s Fifth District, and the North Carolina Dental Society. He was awarded the NCDS Meritorious Achievement Award in 2014. He served as a delegate to the ADA for the 16th District for twenty years. While an ADA delegate, he served on the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs as Vice-Chair and the ADA Audit Committee as a representative from the ADA House of Delegates. He is a past caucus chair of the ADA 16th District Delegation. He is a past Carolinas Section Chair and helped initiate and currently participates in the ACD Ethics Dilemmas Workshops at both UNC School of Dentistry and East Carolina School of Dental Medicine.
He and his wife, Anne, chaired the Wilmington Mission of Mercy program for many years. The first MOM program in Wilmington was the Eagle Scout Project of their son Michael, who is now a dentist and has been a partner in Plage Dentistry since 2016. Michael is married to Nataleigh, also a dentist, and they are new parents of a daughter. The Plages’ daughter, Cait Robertson and her husband live in Franklin, Tennessee and are the parents of two young boys.
Brenda Thomson, DDS
Regent, Regency 4, Blue Mountains, Ontario
Brenda Thomson received her BSc Hon. Zool. 1978 and her DDS from the University of Western Ontario in 1984.
She purchased a small, two operatory dental office in 1985, where she ran a dental practice for over three decades. Brenda was very proud of this general family dental clinic, which blossomed to six operatories with fabulous staff and patients.
During these years, she became very involved in organized dentistry, being the president of the Women’s Dental Association of Ontario on two occasions, the president of the largest component society in Ontario and a member of several Ontario Dental Association committees. Brenda is also the recipient of multiple awards, including the 2016 Alumni of Distinction Award from her alma mater. She is a fellow of the AGD, ICD, and PFA.
In 2018, Brenda became the ACD Ontario section chair and was elected in 2023 as Ontario’s first ACD Regent for Regency 4. The latter encompasses MI, IN, WV, KY, OH and Ontario. Brenda is honoured to serve on the ACD Board of Regents, and the ACD Finance Committee. In November 2024, Brenda became the College’s Chair of Communications. ,
Nancy Larson, DDS
Regent, Regency 5, Mequon,
Wisconsin
Dr. Larson has been involved with the American College of Dentists since her induction in 2007. She has been in a private general dentistry practice with two partners since 1990, and still thoroughly enjoys it.
After graduating from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 1987, Dr. Larson completed an advanced training residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Wisconsin Dental Association, and the Washington-Ozaukee Dental Society. She is a native of Wisconsin, and lives with her family in Mequon.
2025 Board of Regents
ACD Leadership – Regents
Kristi M. Soileau, DDS, MEd, MSHCE
Regent, Regency 6, New Orleans, Louisiana
Dr. Soileau graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in 1985, received a Certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry in 1986 and a Certificate in Periodontics in 1988, also from LSU. She obtained a Master’s in Education from the University of New Orleans in 1987 and a Master’s of Science in Health Care Ethics from Creighton University in 2017. She is a Board-certified periodontist and has maintained a private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana, for 34 years. Dr. Soileau has been Editor for the New Orleans Dental Association since 1988, is a Past-President of the New Orleans Dental Association, the Louisiana Dental Association, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors of LSUHSD, and was voted Alumna of the Year in 2016 for the Dental School, where she is a Clinical Associate Professor for the Periodontal Postdoctoral Program. She is Secretary of the LSU Health Foundation Board, served on the Greater New Orleans Advisory Board and is the volunteer dentist for Notre Dame Hospice, and has worked in nursing home dentistry for 33 years. She lectured on Hospice Oral Care at the 2018 ADA meeting in Honolulu. She was President of the Southwest Society of Periodontists and has served on the SRACC of the American Academy of Periodontology. She now serves as Secretary/Treasurer on the AAP Board of Trustees. She served on the Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs and the Council on Dental Education and Licensure for the American Dental Association from 2016-2020 and on the ADA House of Delegates for the past ten years. She is the Louisiana Deputy Regent of the International College of Dentists, is a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and is Area 6 Regent for the American College of Dentists. She is also a member of The Louisiana Museum Foundation. She is married to Dr. David DeGenova, an orthodontist, and they have three sons.
Ned L. Nix, DDS, MA
Regent, Regency 7, San Jose, California
Dr. Ned Nix is from San Jose, California and is a graduate of University of California Davis and the Dugoni School of Dentistry at University of the Pacific. He earned his GPR and OMS specialty certificates at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. He has a Master’s in Education from the Benerd School of Education at UOP. Dr. Nix is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology. He practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery and is an Associate Professor at UOP. Ned has served as the President of the California Association of OMS, Chairman of the Northern California Section of the ACD, President of the Santa Clara County Dental Society, and President of the Delta Delta chapter of the OKU Dental Honor Society. He, his wife, Kelly A. Nix, DPM, and son, Ryan Nix, are San Francisco Giants and GS Warriors fans, and like to golf and travel.
Robin Henderson, DDS
Regent, Regency 8, Clarkston, Washington
Dr. Henderson is a general dentist and she has owned her rural hometown practice since she graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She has always been very passionate about the profession and has worked to grow herself and to create and strengthen collaborative relationships for the best possible patient outcomes. She embraces technology in her practice and holds herself accountable to leadership within her profession. Early in her career she was recognized by the ACD Washington Section with the Outstanding Young Dentist Award. Another of her favorite recognitions was receiving the American Dental Association’s Design Innovation Award, as voted the top dental office remodel in the country. In addition to volunteering in her local and state dental association and ACD Section leadership, she is affiliate faculty at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and considers it a great honor to serve as the ACD Regent of Regency 8.
ACD Leadership – At Large Regents
At Large Regents are appointed by the Officers of the ACD Board of Regents with approval by the full Board. They serve for four years and bring a variety of perspectives to the work of the College.
Toni M. Roucka, DDS, RN, MA
At Large Regent, Editor of the JACD, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Dr. Roucka is Professor Emerita and former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry (UIC COD). Her undergraduate degree is in nursing, and she still maintains an active RN license. She received her DDS from the UIC COD and an MA in Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Immediately upon graduation from UIC, Dr. Roucka served as a Naval Dental Officer during Operation Desert Storm. Following her naval career, Dr. Roucka was the first dentist to staff the Spang Center for Oral Health, a clinic dedicated exclusively to the treatment of HIV+ / AIDS patients in Chicago. In her leisure time, Toni enjoys family, the outdoors, playing her flute with the Milwaukee American Legion Band, and creative writing.
Pamela Alston, DDS, MPP, FACD
At Large Regent, Oakland, California
Dr. Pam Alston is the ACD Audit Committee Vice-Chairperson and Awards Committee Chairperson. Dr. Alston is the Lead Oral Health Specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps Program Health Support Contractor. She serves on the University of California San Francisco Dental Alumni Association Board of Directors and chairs the Medal of Honor Committee. She is a Berkeley Fellow at the University of California Berkeley. Dr. Alston serves on the California Dental Association Foundation Audit Committee. Dr. Alston is a National Dental Association life member, a Hispanic Dental Association member, and a Society of American Indian Dentists affiliate member.
2025 Board of Regents
ACD Leadership – At Large Regents
Krista M. Jones, DDS
At Large Regent, Edmond, Oklahoma
Dr. Jones is a retired General Dentist from Edmond, Oklahoma and currently Secretary/ Member of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, representing District 5. She is also the current Grading Examiner for the Western Regional Examining Board and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments. Dr. Jones is a former Delegate to the ADA House of Delegates, former Member of the ADA Council on Communications and as such, liaison to the ADA Council on Membership, Treasurer of the Gillette Hayden Memorial Foundation, Past President, Speaker of the House, and Trustee of the Oklahoma Dental Association, the Past President and current Board Member of the Oklahoma County Dental Society, the Past Chair of the Oklahoma Dental Association Mediation Review Council and the Council on Bylaws, Policy, and Ethics, the past Chair of the Oklahoma Section of the ACD, and the Past President of the Oklahoma Association of Women Dentists.
Dr. Jones has received much recognition in her career, including recipient of the James A. Saddoris Lifetime Achievement Award, Dentist of the Year Award, Dan Brannin Award for Ethics and Professionalism, and the Richard T. Oliver Legislative Award from the ODA. She was also the recipient of the Regents Award for Outstanding Distinguished Alumni from the University of Oklahoma, as well as an O.U. College of Dentistry Outstanding Alumni.
Dr. Jones is married to Craig Stinson, a retired Methodist minister, and together they have been on 13 Medical/Dental Mission Trips and enjoy following total solar eclipses.
Sreenivas Koka
At Large Regent, Jackson, Mississippi
Sreenivas Koka received DDS and MS (prosthodontics) degrees from the University of Michigan. He joined the University of Nebraska faculty in 1992, became a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics in 1995, and received his PhD in Oral Biology from the University of Nebraska in 1999. He is former Consultant and Chairman of the Department of Dental Specialties at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Koka received an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management in 2013 and moved to Zurich, Switzerland to be Executive Director of the Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation. Dr. Koka moved back to the US to focus on patient care and student education and open Koka Dental Clinic, focusing on implant and removable prosthodontics in San Diego.
Dr. Koka served as Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry from April 2021-May 2024. He is past interim Chair of Restorative Dentistry at UCLA School of Dentistry and is also Clinical Professor in Advanced Prosthodontics at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. He is a Fellow and Past-President of the Academy of Prosthodontics, President of the International College of Prosthodontists, and was Chair of MIT’s Sloan School of Management Alumni Board.
In addition, Dr. Koka is the co-founder of the Future Leaders in Prosthodontics (FLIP) and Shaping the Future of Implant Dentistry (SHIFT) workshop series.
ACD Leadership – Regent Intern
The Regent Intern program was established through a generous gift from Dr. David Chambers in 2010. This position is held by a dentist within the first several year of practice and gives voice to younger professionals.
Joshua Bussard, DDS Westfield, Indiana
Joshua Bussard received his DDS from the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program through NYU Langone in Hawaii. Dr. Bussard is a fellow of the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He serves as the Regent Intern of the ACD, is a member of the American Society of Dental Ethics, Journal of the American College of Dentists
Editorial Board and a member of the ACD Ethics Handbook Committee who developed the new Ethics Handbook for Dentistry. He completed an Orthodontics Fellowship at IUSD and practices as a general dentist in Indiana. Dr. Bussard was recognized as one of Ten Dentists to Watch by the Academy of General Dentistry.
Liasons to the Board
Affiliated Organizations independently elect one of their members to the Board of Regents. Although these positions are ex-officio, the liaisons bring different perspectives to the board and play a crucial role in ensuring a broad and inclusive approach to our mission.
Pamela Zarkowski, JD, MPH
American Society for Dental Ethics, Detroit Michigan
Professor Pamela Zarkowski is provost and vice president for Academic Affairs of University of Detroit Mercy. She is chief academic officer for the University, which includes a School of Architecture, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering & Science, College of Liberal Arts & Education, School of Dentistry, School of Law and College of Health Professions. She has held various leadership roles in national organizations, including President of the American Dental Education Association, 2001-2002; Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, 2007-2008; and the American Society for Dental Ethics, 2003-2006 and 2016-2018. She was also chairperson of the ADEA GIES Foundation from 2002-2007. She received a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Public Health in Dental Public Health and a Teaching Certificate for Special Purpose Program for Teachers of Community Dentistry from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University, where she was the articles editor for the Wayne Law Review. She was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1989 and holds an active law license.
Daniel Carney, DDS SPEA, New York, New York
Dr. Carney graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. As a student, he served for two years as National Vice President of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association (SPEA). Following graduation he began serving as Executive CoDirector of SPEA. Dr. Carney is currently completing a General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Association of Endodontists.
2024 National Awards
Each year, the Board of Regents carefully considers nominations for some of the highest awards in dentistry.
For more information about ACD National Awards, please visit acd.org/awards
WILLIAM JOHN GIES AWARD
The William John Gies Award recognizes the broad, exceptional, and distinguished contributions of a fellow to the profession and society. Nominees must demonstrate the qualities detailed below while upholding a level of leadership and professionalism that exemplifies the College.
Dr. Nader Nadershahi
ETHICS & PROFESSIONALISM AWARD
The Ethics and Professionalism Award recognizes exceptional contributions of individuals or organizations in the promotion of ethics or professionalism in dentistry. This award is made possible by a gift from The Jerome B. Miller Family Foundation.
Dr. Barry Schwartz
DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes individuals having a record of significant and distinguished leadership in dentistry, public health, or national health policy while in a position of national or international responsibility.
Dr. Janet Lynn Tomkins
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes an exceptional, lifetime commitment to service. Nominees must demonstrate the qualities below while upholding a level of leadership and professionalism that exemplifies the College.
Dr. Lance Rucker
Dr. Thomas Harle
HONORARY FELLOWSHIP
Honorary Fellows are non-dentists who have made exceptional contributions to the profession and society.
Dr. Elizabeth Carr
Mr. Thomas Elliott
Ms. Nancy Miller
William John Gies Award
Presented to Dr. Nader Nadershahi
Read by Dr. Ned Nix
“[Dr. Nadershahi’s] capacity to be an effective organizational leader, his professionalism and well demonstrated integrity, and his promotion of humanism and ethical behavior by setting an example in the positions he has held have contributed to and lifted the profession of dentistry.”
–Dr. Homayon Asadi
Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi serves as the ninth Dean of University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and Vice Provost of the San Francisco campus, bringing to the role nearly 30 years of leadership experience in dental education, organized dentistry, and clinical practice. He earned his DDS, and earned MBA and EdD degrees, from University of the Pacific.
Dr. Nadershahi is a leader in organized dentistry and dental education. He served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Dental Education Association, serves as delegate to the ADEA and American Dental Association houses, and is currently Vice Chair of the ADA Foundation. He also serves as a member of the California Dental Association Board of Directors. Dr. Nadershahi is a member of the Santa Fe Group and has been actively involved in leadership
development, accreditation, national licensure, and the evolution of oral health education and collaborative care.
He is highly regarded as a servant-leaser who builds leadership capacity in others and has advanced oral healthcare and education through a substantial body of academic publications and presentations. He has more than 140 presentations, 30 publications, five book chapters, and numerous abstracts and other publications.
Dr. Nadershahi serves as a Board member for the Bay Area Council and San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and was appointed by the Governor and serves as Vice Chair of the California Health Workforce Education and Training Council.
Ethics and Professionalism Award
Presented to Dr. Barry Schwartz
Read by Dr. Robert Lamb
“I feel that I have been most fortunate to work in a field that I enjoyed so much and has been so rewarding to me. This Ethics and Professionalism award has been the cherry on the ice cream Sunday for me. I am truly humbled by this incredible honor.”’
– Dr. Barry Schwartz, DDS, MHSc (bioethics), FACD, FPFA
Dr. Barry Schwartz recently retired, after 16 years, as Assistant Professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London Ontario and Course Director for Practice Administration. Previously, he was in clinical practice for 25 years. He received his DDS and MHSc in Bioethics from the University of Toronto. While Assistant Professor at Schulich, he developed a four-year program in ethics and professionalism with a focus on critical thinking, interpersonal-communications, and applied ethics. He also developed a clinical skills program utilizing standardized patients in small group settings for the third and fourth year undergraduate dental programs to provide students with opportunities to develop better interpersonal communications skills while managing complex ethical situations. Dr. Schwartz assisted the University of
Saskatchewan in adding this same Clinical Skills program to their curriculum.
He was awarded the Fellowship in Teaching Innovation Research Award at the University of Western Ontario with a project entitled “A Patient’s Voice: An Innovative Approach Towards Teaching Ethics and Professionalism.” Integrating a patient’s voice in the undergraduate healthcare curriculum elevated student awareness of patient-centered care and resulted in an increase of empathy shown by dental students for patients’ concerns. This is one of many examples of his persistent work on increasing ethics and professionalism in oral healthcare and education.
Dr. Schwartz’s long career in oral healthcare with a patient-centered focus is exemplary.
Distinguished Leadership Award
Presented to Dr. Janet Lynn Tomkins
Read by Dr. Robin Henderson
“The Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes individuals having a record of significant leadership in dentistry, public health, or national policy while in a position of national or international responsibility. I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award from the American College Dentists and especially as the first Canadian so honoured.”
– Lynn Tomkins, 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award Winner
Dr. Janet Lynn Tomkins holds a DDS from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, receiving the Dean’s Gold Medal and the top academic and leadership awards in all four years of dental school. As a dental student Governor, she was the first female to sit on the Canadian Dental Association’s Board of Governors and has remained actively involved as a leader in organized dentistry throughout her professional career.
Dr. Tompkins became the Ontario Dental Association’s third female President and Chair in 2010 after serving in a variety of other capacities. She became president of the Canadian Dental Association in 2022.
She was a member of the clinical teaching staff at the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry in the De-
partments of Oral Diagnosis and Medicine, Periodontics, and the Qualifying Program for Internationally Trained Dentists for over 30 years. She has served on the Disciplines Committee of the Dental Regulator, is a member of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and was an invigilator and examiner for the National Dental Examining Board of Canada.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Tomkins is a founding member of the organization, Women for Nature, which supports education and leadership development in young women for environmental issues and is an Associate Member of the Senate of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Canada’s oldest continuously serving infantry regiment and the first Allied regiment to take their objective on D-Day.
Outstanding Service Award
Presented to Dr. Lance Rucker
Read by Dr. Thomas Raimann
“I consider myself blessed to have had the opportunity to work on several fundamentally important matters central to the American College of Dentists and its mission. The support of the B.C. Section and some of the extraordinary members of the B.C. Fellowship have been key to both energy and perspective during these challenging times.”
– Lance Rucker, 2024 Outstanding Service Award Winner
Dr. Lance Rucker is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Oral Health Sciences at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry. He holds a DDS from the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Rucker is internationally known for his work in clinical dental ergonomics and has published and lectured extensively in the field. He pioneered ergonomic use of dental surgical loupes and designed educational equipment and formats to improve ergonomic safety for dentists and dental hygienists. He also developed an Ergonomic Practice Assessment protocol to review the ergonomic practices of dentists and hygienists. His participation in international collaborative efforts with universities and the World Health Organization has served the profession globally.
Dr. Rucker’s service to the American College of Dentists, as Chair of the Board of Regents Communications Committee, was notable for innovation and expansion of the College’s communications platforms to include enhanced digital and social media. As Chair of the independent Audit Task Force, Dr. Rucker led an expert committee, which included elected Regents and appointed Fellows with significant financial experience. He guided the committee with extraordinary diligence, working collaboratively to develop contemporary best practices for the College and Foundation. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Rucker holds a US patent for a rotating plane computer keyboard and has authored several books, as well as an award-winning film screenplay.
Outstanding Service Award
Presented to Dr. Thomas Harle
Read by Dr. Krista Jones
“[Dr. Harle] is a fellow of far-sighted vision and has demonstrated a proven commitment to the needs of society. He is truly the pride of the dental profession, an asset to the collective Dentistry Mission and a superb humanitarian role model.”
–Dr. Sonia Slawuta-Shulakewych
Dr. Thomas Harle is a military veteran, a prosthodontist, and a devoted humanitarian. He received his DDS, MSc, and Diploma in Prosthodontics from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada, which is awarded to those making a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community and their country.
He established two volunteer-based free dental clinics, one that serves the local homeless population at the Ottawa Mission and another that provides dental care to at-risk young parents and their children at St. Mary’s Home. He also founded and continues to preside over Health Teams International in Canada, which provides needed health services to disadvan-
taged populations in under-developed and impoverished regions of the world.
Dr. Harle’s determination and ability to convince colleagues to join him in providing free health service both locally and abroad is nothing short of extraordinary and speaks to his leadership and organizational skills, his ability to share his vision convincingly and to his commitment to be a proactive professional and citizen.
Honorary Fellowship
Presented to Mr. Thomas Elliott
Read by Dr. Joseph Crowley
“Institutions like the American College of Dentists and the ADA’s Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs serve a vital role in the dental profession. They keep ethics at the forefront of the dental profession, reminding the profession that practicing ethically and keeping the welfare of the patient first is critical.”
– Thomas Elliott, 2024 Honorary Fellow
Mr. Thomas Elliott is the Director and instrumental leader at the American Dental Association’s Council on Ethics, Bylaws, and Judicial Affairs. Mr. Elliot holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from DePauw University.
He has personally mentored countless CEBJA members across the country over the past fifteen years. Many, if not all, of them remain dedicated to organized dentistry as former state presidents and speakers to their state constituents, in large part due to Tom’s leadership and support. He continues to symbolize integrity and leadership in model fashion.
Mr. Elliott has been a teacher, advisor and mentor to all those very fortunate to be selected to this pres-
tigious council. An excellent listener, Tom allows for discussion and then guides the council toward resolution. His straightforward, no-nonsense approach to our Code of Ethics when addressing state or federal ethical dilemmas make him a most deserving member of the College.
It is not only the profession of dentistry that has benefited from his leadership, but Tom’s community involvement has also contributed to the greater good.
Whether his involvement with youth advocacy and mentorship or his participation in architectural and historic preservation, Tom has always focused on community and making the world a better place.
Honorary Fellowship
Presented to Dr. Elizabeth Carr
Read by Dr. Kristi Soileau
“The ACD’s mission has long been a beacon for those who strive to elevate their professions and serve humanity with integrity. Its commitment to fostering leadership, upholding ethical standards, and advancing excellence resonates profoundly with the values I have endeavored to uphold throughout my own career.”
– Elizabeth Carr, 2024 Honorary Fellow
Dr. Elizabeth Carr is currently the Chair of the Dental Hygiene Department and the Director of the Population Oral Health Collaborative of the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. In addition to a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees in Dental Hygiene, she holds a Doctorate in Health Administration.
She is a deeply committed and innovative leader in education and oral health. In addition to her significant academic responsibilities, she is a highly sought after speaker on a variety of oral health and public health topics, and most notably on professionalism and courage in leadership. She has presented to her community, the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Hygienist Association, the
American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Mississippi Academy of Science, Academic Research in Education, and to many other state and national organizations. She also has fifteen scientific publications in a variety of peer reviewed journals.
Dr. Carr’s service and leadership extend far beyond her participation with the free clinics and oral health programs to which she devotes her time. She is active in uplifting others through her work with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and a variety of local organizations that serve her community.
Through her demonstrated commitment and professional achievements, Dr. Carr is uniquely positioned to continue her performance as an established, nationally visible, and highly regarded scholar
2024 Section and Fellow Recognitions
Lifetime Achievement Medals
Fellows who reach their 50th year of Fellowship are awarded a Lifetime Achievement Medal.
Andrejs Baumhammers Western Pennsylvania
Kenneth C. Bentley Quebec
Moses J. Finder Western Pennsylvania
John F. Hasler Maryland
George L. Humphrey Arizona
Sewell R. McKinney Tennessee
David N. Plessett Philadelphia-Delaware Valley
Robert A. Uchin Florida
Section Newsletter Award
Northern California Section Jean Creasey, Editor
Model Section Designations
Colorado Section Gerald Savory, Chair
New England Section Maria Smith, Chair
Washington Section
Darcie Morris, Chair
Looking Forward: What’s Ahead for the ACD?
A random selection of ACD Leaders we’re asked for their thoughts on what is ahead for the College.
As energy builds around our new initiatives, Regents and Chairs will need to maintain and even increase their engagement—locally, regionally and nationally. Current and former Regents and Chairs should be recognized at Regional and National meetings. Leaders contribute a significant amount of time and effort when they are involved and should be given the opportunity to continue to be contributors.
Paula Friedman
New England/Florida Former Regent, Regency 1
The ACD is at a critical juncture for the future. It, we, must become relevant to our Fellows and the whole of the profession or it will wither and die. It is not enough anymore to be an honorary organization that recognizes leaders of the profession. We must provide something to Fellows and get the word out to the profession and the public at large about what we do. The ACD board has started this process with a strategic plan, but it must be followed through. We need to provide quality content for ethics CE on our website and provide leadership training. I struggle at times telling non-Fellows and the public at large what we do. We need to do a better job telling our story.
Tom Raimann
Wisconsin Former Regent, Regency 5
As a consistent and trusted voice in dentistry since 1920, The American College of Dentists must continue to follow our three key principles of ethics, leadership and service to help guide us through the rapidly changing dental landscape. In 2025, the greatest challenge I see is how to navigate the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in dentistry. The ACD must lead the discussion on the ethical interpretation of new devices and help to ensure that any new technology maintains our commitment to trust, compassion and clinical excellence for our patients. We must also focus on developing the leaders of tomorrow. Programs like the Kellogg Scholars and new collaborations with like-minded partners will help the ACD form new leaders ready to meet the future with clarity. Through our collective unwavering commitment to integrity, we will ensure that dentistry remains firmly rooted in trust, compassion and service.
Evan Schwartz New York Section ACD Kellogg Scholar
What’s ahead for the ACD? Making the Fellow nomination process more open. Fellows want to be able to come out and ask their colleagues for their resume and other information so that a proper application can be made. Also, if someone is denied, there should be some sort of notification of which criteria they didn’t qualify for, so that a rejected fellow would have a chance to fix that deficiency and re-apply. Additionally, ACD should be hands-on with SPEA and ASDA in identifying early potential candidates for Fellowship.
The world of AI is surrounding us, and this could possibly be a problem leading to unethical decision-making. ACD, as watchdog for dental ethics, should be at the forefront of this.
Ethics is not “sexy.” It is hard to sell dentists on the need to take ethics courses. ACD should be engaged in establishing model ethics criteria and guidelines that could be shared with the state licensing boards. This could lead to a higher perception of the importance of the subject of ethics going forward state by state.
Gary Dougan Southern California Section Chair
Since my induction as a Fellow in 2012, I have considered my inclusion in the ACD as one of the greatest gifts I have been blessed with from our profession. Each year, as I return for our Annual Meeting and Convocation, I am re-energized by the passion for what’s good in our profession that abounds in this safe harbour, populated by our best leaders and intellectuals. The ACD is our profession’s ethical protagonist in a rapidly evolving environment, where dentistry’s identity is increasingly challenged by the pressures that arise from the duality of our model of care. It is the ACD who charges us to understand our role as professionals within the social contract, promotes the principles of ethics and professionalism, and serves as an incubator for future leaders driven by values that benefit both the profession and society. A stronger, and more crucial organization, one that strengthens our status as health care professionals in the eyes of those we serve, is what lies ahead for the American College of Dentists. Never has the message, guidance and leadership of the College been needed more.
Drew Smith
Ontario Section
Former Section Chair
