Opportunity Abounds
“A century of progress leads us into a century of opportunity and opportunities do not come without responsibilities.” – A.W. Bryan, ACD President 1940
Much has changed since these words were spoken at the annual meeting in 1939, on the eve of World War II. The universal remains, though, that progress creates opportunity and opportunity comes with responsibility. The College is poised to strengthen current programs and create new ones through the implementation of a new strategic plan, the first in over 20 years. Opportunities for strengthening our reputation as the vanguard in dental ethics, professionalism, and leadership are here, and with those opportunities comes the responsibility of extending them to others through our outreach to other organizations, our work with SPEA, and by nominating exceptional colleagues for Fellowship. Maintaining first-in-class programs, and growing them as new opportunities present themselves, also takes continuous investment of our time and treasure. It’s a wonderful time to be a Fellow —opportunity abounds!
Welcome to New Orleans!
Dear ACD Colleagues,
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to my home, New Orleans, for the 2024 ACD Annual Meeting and Convocation! Our beloved organization has met almost every year for more than a century, with only World Wars and a global pandemic pausing our annual gathering.
New Orleanians, having celebrated the City’s Tricentennial only a few years back, have an ardent passion for its rich history, array of cultures, and the superb culinary treasures found within.
There are many classic restaurants, with one being the oldest continuous, family-operated restaurant in the Country (Antoine’s), and there are new restaurants opening every week it seems, with their own twist or flare, designed to emulate the woven fabric of culture in the City.
There is something for everyone—from music of every genre to streetcars that escort you through some of the most beautiful streets in New Orleans, to museums and antiquing. October is considered by many to be the best month to visit the Big Easy, and the Louisiana Section cannot wait to greet you!
IRise and smile. It’s a new day for the ACD!
Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH President, American College of Dentists
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 are truly a working board of committed volunteers and it is my pleasure to highlight some recent accomplishments from your national leadership team.
We have much to celebrate, and I hope you are planning to join us at the Annual Meeting in New Orleans on October 16 and 17. The Roosevelt Hotel is an exceptional venue, and its history and reputation for excellence provides the perfect backdrop for the annual celebration of our Fellowship and mission.
WORTH CELEBRATING:
• This past year we worked with a non-profit executive search firm, Kittleman, to recruit our next Executive Director. A special thanks to Bob Faiella, chair of the Search Committee, and members Joe Crowley, Pam Alston, Robert Lamb, Steve Chan, and Cecile Feldman. They did an unbelievable job in their execution of the task and identified Mike Graham as ACD’s next Executive Director.
• We finalized and published our Strategic Plan, and we are developing a working plan to implement and measure the goals and strategies to ensure its successful implementation
• Treasurer Carole Hanes, along with the Audit Task Force has completed the 2022 audit with the 2023 audit near completion. We successfully adopted our 2023-24 budget with a more transparent and collaborative budget process. Some tough but necessary decisions were made related to the dues increase, board travel, and our
annual meeting. By adopting and implementing contemporary best practices for non-profit organizational management, the Board and Staff are ensuring the continuing strength of the ACD far into the future.
• The Bylaws Committee, with Tom Raimann as chair, found inconsistencies and redundancies in our Bylaws, and rewrote this essential document to reflect current practice and to better serve the future of our organization. The new Bylaws will be sent for a vote by the Fellows this summer.
• A special thanks to ASDE and the members of the Ethics Handbook Update Committee. The updated Ethics Handbook for Dentistry better reflects ACD’s core values within a contemporary context. This cornerstone publication will continue to instill our strong and deeply rooted values for generations to come.
• The SHIFT3/ACD Leadership Program was held in Rockville on March 7-8, 2024. The workshop was led by incoming At Large Regent Sree Koka. The feedback was overwhelmingly favorable, and a second session has been approved by the Board for 2025.
• The ACD Ethics Summit, titled Breaking Down the Silos: Dentistry’s Ethical Responsibility as a Partner in Healthcare, will be held on September 12-13, 2024. Planning Committee Co-chairs, Toni Roucka and Scott Tomar, will lead this thought-provok-
At the heart of all that we believe is that Fellowship is the key to our next generation of leadership. Our strength lies in our commitment to our mission and in moving it forward, together. On behalf of the Board of Regents, I hope to welcome you to the Roosevelt Hotel in the heart of New Orleans for this year’s Annual Meeting and Convocation.
ing and action-oriented discussion about the dental professional’s responsibilities in improving whole person health, as well as help keep the ACD atop this timely conversation through an ethics lens.
• The Board reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry (SPEA) and renewed its support for this important organization. SPEA is a national, student-driven association that was established to promote and support students’ lifelong commitment to ethical behavior in order to benefit the patients they serve and to further the dental profession. The ACD and SPEA have shared a collegial and successful friendship and collaboration for more than a decade, and the ACD Board is proud to support the work of this student-led organization.
As president, I have had many opportunities to travel and meet with many Section leaders as we continue to define the need for Fellowship in our professional endeavors. I’ve attended the Yankee Dental meeting, joint ICD/ACD luncheon, and SPEA meeting organized by Julie Connolly in New York.
I’ve traveled for a site visit to New Orleans this past February, as well as representing the ACD at the ADEA annual meeting in New Orleans in March. I’ve also visited Chicago, Oklahoma, Northern California, New York, and Quebec. I have several upcoming dates scheduled to visit more Sections to continue to promote Fellowship and the ideals that make our organization so important to the future of Dentistry.
This spring, we had the opportunity to appoint Toni Roucka as Interim Editor of the JACD. Toni is a nationally recognized speaker on dental ethics and has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals on ethics topics such as social media and dentistry, sustainability in health care, and narrative ethics. We welcome Toni and her many contributions to our organization.
Robert Lamb, as president of the Foundation, has reinvigorated planning for fundraising and ensuring future generations benefit from the Foundation’s work. Mike Graham has made it a priority to energize our Fellows and make sure that our organization continues to serve the next generation of leaders in dentistry.
At the heart of all that we believe is that Fellowship is the key to our next generation of leadership. Our strength lies in our commitment to our mission and in moving it forward, together. On behalf of the Board of Regents, I hope to welcome you to the Roosevelt Hotel in the heart of New Orleans for this year’s Annual Meeting and Convocation. It promises to be a wonderful event celebrating our newest Fellows and continuing the important work of our shared mission.
In Fellowship,
Dates to Remember
Registration for Fellowship Candidates Closes
September 1
Registration for current Fellows Closes
September 5
News of Fellows and Section News for the Fall Issue of the ACD News Due October 1, 2024
ACD 2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
October 16-17, 2024
Fellowship Nominations Due for ACD 2025
January 15, 2025
Ethics Scholarship Applications and National Award Nominations Due March 1, 2025
Section Awards and Model Section Designation Applications Due March 1, 2025
Nominations for Board of Regents Due March 1, 2025
Extend the Opportunity
Most of our Fellows report that the highlight of their career was being inducted into the ACD. Please consider giving the opportunity to become a Fellow to your exceptional colleagues. The due date for nominations is January 15, 2025, and the form can be obtained at acd.org/nominations or by contacting the office at office@acd.org.
Nominations received after January 15, 2025 will be held for the following year. We do this to ensure the Credentials Committee has adequate time to carefully consider each nominee. ADA membership is strongly encouraged but no longer required for Fellowship.
Successful nominations are:
• Submitted well before the deadline. It shows when a nomination was written hastily.
• Highly detailed and provide a clear picture of the value the Nominee has added to the profession, their community, and society.
• Focused on leadership experience, or a younger dentist’s trajectory when it comes to leadership, in the profession and/ or their community.
ACD News is published by: American College of Dentists
103 North Adams Street, Rockville, MD 20850 301-977-3223 | office@acd.org | acd.org
Michael Graham, Executive Director
Suzan Pitman, Managing Director
Matthew Sheriff, Communications Director
Periodicals postage paid at Frederick, Maryland
Send address changes to: ACD News 103 North Adams Street, Rockville, MD 20850 or e-mail office@acd.org
Big Smiles in the Big Easy
Michael A. Graham, Executive Director
The College’s 2024 Annual Meeting in New Orleans is just around the corner, and we are very excited to announce that it will be held at the historic Roosevelt Hotel, a five-star property! This will be my very first meeting as ACD Executive Director and I want to make sure that everyone has a good time and gets the most out of the activities we are offering.
In addition to continuing education courses, Regency breakout meetings, and a Fellows Forum, the meeting provides many opportunities for Fellows to network at social events with each other before and after the Convocation. As the Roosevelt Hotel is centrally located in the city—to take advantage of the many sites that New Orleans has to offer—we will soon be posting extracurricular activity opportunities that Fellows, friends, and family can enjoy.
Meeting registrations are coming in at twice the numbers compared to last year and hotel rooms are selling at an equally brisk pace so register and book your room now! We will be providing you with emails throughout the summer to keep you current, but if you have any questions about the meeting or accommodations please don’t hesitate to contact the office at 301-977-3223.
“In addition to the annual meeting, we have been investing significant time preparing to launch new initiatives and projects to fulfill the 2024-2029 strategic plan.”
In addition to the annual meeting, we have been investing significant time preparing to launch new initiatives and projects to fulfill the 2024-2029 strategic plan. This visionary document, which will be the main topic at the Regency Breakout Session at the annual meeting, brings our mission to life, and can be reviewed on our website at acd.org.
See you in NOLA!
THE ACD FOUNDATION
An Opportunity to do More
Robert Lamb ACDF President
Over 50 years ago, the American College of Dentists Founda tion was established to sup port the mission-essential programs of the College. It is the fundraising arm of the College and is a vehicle for tax deductible donations and gifts.These generous donations by our Fellows and friends sustain our programs and com mitment to dentistry as a profession. The last year has been a highly produc tive one for the College, fueled by the Foundation, with much more to come.
In her President’s Report, Dr. Terri Dolan shares details of the accomplishments of the College over the last year. None of these things would be possible without the com mitment of our Fellows as demonstrated through contributions to the Foundation.
Since 2020, in addition to the effects of the pandemic, our Fellowship has shifted from more dues-paying Fellows to more Life Fellows, whose dues are optional. With thoughtful stewardship, the College and Foundation have weathered both the pandemic and the shift in our demographics well. We now have a forecasting method in place so we can look further ahead than ever before, and contingency plans in place to ensure we are able to meet all obligations while continuing to advance our mission. Stewardship
in the October 1972 issue of the JACD
of your commitment to the College, the Foundation, and the profession is top priority.
Historically, we have asked that Life Fellows pay a small, singular amount in voluntary dues. This year, we have extended the opportunity to Life Fellows to contribute any amount, and to put that contribution towards national and/
*Dr. Boelsche’s estate continues to contribute annually to the Foundation.
or section dues, as well as donations to the ACD Foundation. As a Life Fellow, I am proud to announce that our cohort has risen to the occasion, with many, including myself, contributing full dues and a donation to the ACDF.
If you are a Life Fellow, I hope you will join me and many others who feel called to give back to the profession that gave us so much. Your support of our mission—to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in dentistry—means more learning opportunities for those still newer in their careers, increasing support for dental students through SPEA, and advancing our understanding of what it means to be an ethical oral healthcare professional.
For those of you who are not yet Life Fellows, I hope you will join me in making a meaningful contribution to the ACD Foundation. Together, we must also stay involved with our local Sections and SPEA Chapters.
You are important to the profession of dentistry at a crucial time in its history, and your time and treasure make a world of difference. Thank you for your ongoing Fellowship and support of the American College of Dentists and the ACD Foundation.
ACD Foundation Board of Directors
Robert Lamb, President
Terri Dolan, Vice President
Carole Hanes, Treasurer
Joe Crowley, Secretary
Bob Faiella, Director
The ACD Foundation owns the building that houses the ACD and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Diversifying our assets has allowed the Foundation to weather difficult times while continuing to advance our mission.
Notable ACDF Projects
All of these projects, and more, are possible through the generous donations of our Fellows and Friends. They are the tangible results of our collective commitment to dentistry as a profession.
• Ethics Handbook for Dentistry rewritten to present ACD’s timeless values to a more contemporary audience.
• Creation of Ethical Dilemmas Videos and Facilitator Guides, a collaboration with ASDE, distributed free of charge.
• Free and low-cost CE online and in person.
• ACD Regent Intern program to develop the next generation of Board leaders.
• Scholarships and tuition waivers for advanced training in ethics and leadership.
• Section support for local projects and programs.
• Creation of Curriculum Modules for Dental Educators, a collaboration with ASDE, distributed free of charge.
• Significant support for SPEA at the national and local levels.
• Facilitation of Ethics Summits that gather the best and brightest to tackle issues facing the profession.
• Support for our professional history through the Library and Archive housed at the ACD National Office and our permanent exhibit at the Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry.
FELLOWSHIP-WIDE VOTE
Fellows will be sent a ballot on July 19 requiring a vote on two issues. More detailed information on each ballot initiative will be available at acd.org on July 19 and will also be emailed to the Fellows.
To maintain the strictest election integrity, the ACD National Office has engaged a service, Election Buddy, to create, distribute, and tally the ballots, as well as provide certified results through their CPA.
PROPOSED BYLAWS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tom Raimann Chair, ACD Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee was asked in 2022 by then President Richard Jones to review the ACD Bylaws. The Bylaws were found to have inconsistencies and redundancies, so the committee decided that the Bylaws needed to be redone to reflect current practice and to serve future Boards. Past President Robert Lamb requested they continue that work. A review and recommendation were completed by the College’s attorney. The Committee has continued the work and presented the new Bylaws to the Board.
Because the Bylaws were rewritten and not just amended, we cannot show a redline version. We have presented both versions to you so you can compare them. The bylaws now begin with the College’s Mission Statement, followed by a statement of how the College accomplishes its mission.
The following are highlights of the changes made to the bylaws:
• The classes of Fellowship or nomination process have not been changed, just the wording has been clarified.
• Some of the details of the process for nomination for Fellowship have been placed in the Board Policy and Governance Manual.
• Under Committees, an Education and Professional Development Committee and Audit Committee have been added.
• There are some changes to the committee language to allow more flexibility to the President to name members to the committees to reflect member’s abilities. For example, the requirement to be on the same committee for four years was eliminated.
• The process for investigating infractions of the Code of Conduct for Fellows and Affiliate Members was combined as they said almost the same thing.
You can see that the original spirit of the ACD remains in the Bylaws. They now reflect current practice and follow the Laws of the State of Maryland where the College is incorporated.
The current bylaws can be reviewed at acd.org/fellowship/governance.
According to the current bylaws, the National Nominations Committee is required to submit a slate of officers for the following year. The Board of Regents then approves the slate. Both actions were completed on time and in accordance with the bylaws for the 2025 slate of officers.
The positions of Vice President and President Elect require election each year, and the position of Treasurer requires election every other year. For 2025, all three positions required a nomination. The slate, once determined by the nominating committee and approved by the Board, may be challenged by any Fellow in good standing by submitting a petition signed by 25 Fellows, also in good standing, requesting that the challenger be put on a Fellowship-wide ballot.
For the 2025 Board of Regents, the nomination of Dr. Carole Hanes has been challenged by Dr. Terry Norris More information about each candidate will be available at acd.org closer to the July 19 ballot release date.
The complete slate of officer nominees for 2025 can be found at acd.org/about-us/leadership.
PRESIDENT ELECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Carole Hanes Terry Norris
ACD 2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
UNPACKING THE ACD ETHICS HANDBOOK FOR DENTISTRY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3 CEU Preregistration required, fee is $275.00
Onsite registration, if available, will be $300.00
Join us for an engaging course on the recently updated ACD Ethics Handbook for Dentistry. Delve into its essential components, including the Four Pillars, Core Values, Professional Obligations, and Ethical Decision-Making Model. Discover practical strategies for incorporating the Handbook into your dental practice, teaching, and educational methodologies, or in-service training on ethics.
Explore the relevance and applicability of the eight ACD Core Values through interactive table discussions with like-minded colleagues. Craft your personal mission statement or practice philosophy using these values. Copies of the Handbook will be available for participants.
PRESENTERS:
Joshua D. Bussard, DDS, FPFA
Carlos Smith, DDS, MDiv.
Toni M. Roucka, RN, DDS, MA, FPFA
Pamela Zarkowski, JD, FCLM
PARTICIPANTS WILL:
• Be introduced to the new ACD Ethics Handbook for Dentistry
• Describe the revised ACD Core Values
• Understand the value of the Ethics Handbook for students and oral health care providers.
• Develop a personal mission statement or practice philosophy using the Core Values from the Handbook.
PRESIDENT ELECT’S MEET & GREET
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom, Salon 1 Fellows are welcome to visit informally with President Elect Robert Faiella Light refreshments will be served.
2013 President, Scott Waugh, welcoming 2013 ADA President and 2024 ACD President Elect, Robert Faiella, to ACD 2013 in New Orleans.
ACD 2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
SECTION LEADERS
UPDATE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
3:30 – 3:50 p.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom, Salon 1
Section Leaders, locally elected Section Board members, are invited to a brief update directly before the Annual Business Meeting. Executive Director Mike Graham will host.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND NEW FELLOW ORIENTATION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom. Pre-registration requested.
The Tulane Color Guard ROTC will open the annual business meeting of the ACD and ACD Foundation. The Annual Meeting includes the President’s State of the College report, a report from the President of the ACD Foundation, and other updates essential to our organization. The 2025 Officers will also take the leadership oath as their term will begin immediately following the Convocation on Thursday. The meeting will conclude with the presentation of a New Fellow Orientation.
REGENCY BREAKOUT SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
5:15 – 6:30 p.m.
Locations will be throughout the Roosevelt Hotel and will be announced closer to the meeting. Pre-registration requested.
Amidst the excitement of networking, sharing ideas, and welcoming new Fellows at the annual meeting is perhaps the most valuable time during the ACD year— the Regency Breakout Sessions.
The sessions are designed to strengthen relationships by bringing together Fellows within their smaller Regency groups, which are facilitated by the elected Regents. These sessions are designed for all Fellows, current and incoming, and provide time to share success stories, opportunities, and concerns. New Fellows will find these sessions particularly important in understanding how the ACD works at the grassroots. This year’s session will focus on the strategic plan at the local level.
Please join your ACD community and share your Fellowship experience!
Julie Connolly Regency 1
Brenda Thomson Regency 4
Ned Nix Regency 7
Joe Crowley At Large Regent
Peter Guevara Regency 2
Thomas Raimann Regency 5
Robin Henderson Regency 8
Krista Jones At Large Regent
Robert Plage Regency 3
Kristi Soileau Regency 6
Pamela Alston At Large Regent
Toni Roucka At Large Regent
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
7:00 – 8:15 a.m.
Preregistration Required. $40.00/included for Fellowship Candidates
Get to know other Fellows and ACD leaders over coffee and a light breakfast.
PRESIDENT ELECT’S ADDRESS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
8:30 a.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom
President Elect Robert Faiella will address the Fellowship with opening remarks for the coming year.
FELLOWS FORUM: THE DARK SIDE OF LEADERSHIP
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom Preregistration Requested. 2 CEU, no fee
Leadership is not complicated, but it is hard because it can be stressful, and it can be lonely, and it can end in public failure. The best leaders feel responsible for everyone and everything and the weight of the responsibility is not to be underestimated for those who have a servant’s heart. As one contemplates leadership opportunities, there are landmines to avoid so that there are as few regrets as possible. It is the etiology of these regrets that represent the dark side of leadership where evil, cruelty, mistrust, harsh judgements, unrealistic expectations and fear reside.
In our Fellows Forum this year, four leaders with diverse leadership experiences and life backgrounds will share honest reflections. Our hope is that our successes and mistakes can help each of you increase the probability of your own successes as leaders and decrease the probability of your own regrets as leaders.
Following brief presentations, through our vulnerability in this intimate forum, we hope you will engage us in open dialogue during
a heartfelt question and answer session. Bring your hardest and most worrying questions. Take us where you don’t really want to go and trust that at least one of us has already been there, learnt from it and emerged wiser. We promise to do our best to meet you in your space, to take care of you, and to be a mentor to you long after the meeting is over.
PRESENTERS:
Sreenivas Koka, DDS, MS, PhD, MBA
Stephen Pachuta, DDS, MS, MABe
Carlos Smith, DDS, MDiv
Janet Southerland, DDS, MPH, PhD
PARTICIPANTS WILL:
• Identify and understand difficult aspects of leadership.
• Draw links between leadership pitfalls and negative behaviors.
• Improve personal approach to difficulties inherent to leadership.
ACD 2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
LIVING HISTORY: THE ACD CONVOCATION
Our mace and torch have led the way at every Convocation since 1939, where they were dedicated by President Arthur H. Merritt. The torch is engraved with the names of the names of the original founders of the College, and the mace with the names of twenty of the most eminent figures in the dental profession. Together they symbolize enlightenment, guidance, leadership, and authority. The original mace and torch are on loan to the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore.
Rounding out the procession and convocation are three flag bearers, an orator, the marshal and assistant marshal, and a master of ceremonies.
At the 2024 Convocation, the following Fellows have agreed to serve in these important ceremonial roles:
Master of Ceremonies
Michael Graham
Marshal
Thomas Raimann
Assistant Marshal
Robert Plage
Orator
Pamela Zarkowski
Mace Bearer
Julie Connolly
Torch Bearer
Erik Klintmalm
US Flag Bearer
Peter Guevara
ACD Flag Bearer
Pamela Alston
Canadian Flag Bearer
Brenda Thomson
CONVOCATION LUNCHEON
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom. Preregistration Required. $85.00/Included for Fellowship Candidates. Please join your colleagues for the annual ACD Convocation Luncheon. In keeping with the original luncheon meeting agendas from the earliest annual meetings, Elizabeth Carr, PhD, MS, will deliver a short, inspirational talk on courage and leadership. Dr. Carr, an incoming Honorary Fellow, is Professor and Chair of Dental Hygiene at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and is the Director of the Mississippi Population Oral Health Collaborative.
The 2024 Model Section Designations and the Section Newsletter Award will be recognized. This year’s Model Section Designees are the Colorado, New England, and Washington Sections. The Section Newsletter Award winner is the Northern California Section, Edited by Jean Creasey.
ACD 2024 CONVOCATION AND INDUCTION CEREMONY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
3:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Ballroom. Preregistration required for Fellowship Candidates and Sponsors. Teresa Dolan, 2024 ACD President, and the Board of Regents requests the presence of the Fellowship at this distinguished event. Dr. Natalia Chalmers, Chief Dental Officer at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will serve as the Convocation speaker. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.
Dr. Natalia Chalmers
Elizabeth Carr, PhD, MS
ACD 2024 Annual Meeting and Convocation
TOAST TO THE FELLOWSHIP
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
Immediately following the Convocation. Preregistration required/ Free for Fellows, $75 for guests.
Join our “Second Line” as we process from the Convocation to a reception in the adjoining Crescent City Ballroom. Enjoy appetizers and a cash bar, and take photos with your colleagues and friends. Dr. Dolan will make a toast to the Fellowship at approximately 5:45 p.m. and recognize the 2025 Officers.
THE FINE PRINT
We really hope to see you in New Orleans, but sometimes plans change.
All cancellation and refund requests must be received by September 5 at 5:00 PM, Central/6:00 PM, Eastern. After this date, no refunds will be granted. To cancel ACD 2024 registration, email suzan@acd.org.
WHAT’S A SECOND LINE?
A “Second Line” is a procession consisting of a grand marshal or parade leader, the band, and whoever is being honored. A brass band plays music that gets everyone dancing and moving. The 2024 Convocation will process out of the Roosevelt Ballroom and into the Crescent City Ballroom led by a “Second Line.” The band will continue to play for the first part of the reception, then will lead President Terri Dolan to the podium for the Toast to the Fellowship.
IRegency 2 Roundup
Colonel Pete Guevara
t’s hard to believe that my term as the Regent for ACD Regency 2 is near its end. The last four years have truly flown by. I assumed the role of Regent in October of 2020. We were knee deep in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the annual meeting was virtual for the first time that year. In 2021, the ACD held another virtual annual meeting in response to the still uncertain conditions of the pandemic. It wasn’t until the annual meeting in 2022 in Houston that the ACD returned to an in-person meeting. It was great to meet so many Fellows in person! In 2023 we gathered in Orlando and this October we will gather in New Orleans. I hope to share some beignets and café au-lait with many of you!
I’d like to take a moment to personally thank the Sections of Regency 2. The Sections in Regency 2 have great people advancing the mission of the ACD. I’d like to thank the leadership of each Section for their hard work in keeping the sections active. Thank you for continuing to nominate deserving dentists to join our ranks.
The current Regency 2 Section Leaders are:
Barry Cohan (Maryland)
Nancy Tilkin (Metro DC)
Cynthia Jetter (New Jersey)
Anne O’Day (Philadelphia-Delaware Valley)
Mike Hanley (Virginia)
Ed Effort (Western Pennsylvania)
Renee Joskow (Federal Services)
Captain Joskow is a member of the U.S. Public Health Service.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your Regent. It has been a very rewarding experience to work with you to promote and advance the ACD. Keep up the good work!
The Sections in Regency 2 have great people advancing the mission of the ACD. I’d like to thank the leadership of each Section for their hard work in keeping the sections active. Thank you for continuing to nominate deserving dentists to join our ranks.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my successor for Regent of ACD Regency 2. Sean Meehan (Philadelphia-Delaware Vallery) will take over the ship at the conclusion of our meeting in New Orleans. There is a reason I said he would “take over the ship.” Dr. Meehan recently retired from the United Stated States Navy! He is now the Chief Dental Officer and Assistant Dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Meehan arrived at the University of Pennsylvania after a distinguished Navy career that spanned over 26 years. I had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Meehan while he was on active duty. We were simultaneously the Deans of our service’s postgraduate dental schools. Of course, I must throw this out there: “GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!”
Dr. Meehan is an ideal person to assume the role of Regent. He has immediate ties to two Sections in the Regency. Dr. Mehan was inducted into the College as a member of the Federal Services and has numerous connections in the Federal Services Section. Now that he lives and works in the Philadelphia area, he also has the Fellows of the Philadelphia-Delaware Valley close at hand. Regency 2 will be in great hands! I look forward to again working with Dr. Meehan as I move onto my new role as ACD Vice President.
News of Fellows and Sections
Our Fellows Embody the Highest Ideals
John Feeney New Jersey
THE HERO EFFECT
The pandemic and its multiyear aftermath have revealed what I have known to always be true about the culture of the American College of Dentists since receiving my fellowship in 2000. It’s not just leadership, education, safety with excellence in patient care, and ethical principles—it’s the hero effect!
“Hero” is of ancient Greek origin after Hera, the wife of Zeus, who challenged yet watched over Heracles through his twelve labors in the Iliad by Homer.
The Quebec Section recently held its Section meeting. Julie Connolly (New York) was the keynote speaker, and ACD President Terri Dolan brought greetings from the College.
“Those who excel do what they can with what they have where they are.” – Teddy Roosevelt
Heroes recognize the responsibility to bring their best when it matters most in order to put others first before themselves. They are a force for the greater good in society. Their secret weapon is viewing life through the prism of optimism. This is a developed skill set to see life not as it is in one dimension but imagining it as it can be in well-defined three dimensions. It’s not what others think. It’s what you believe by exemplifying cherished values with admirable qualities while welcoming challenges through fortitude and a cultivation of hope.
During April, the Kansas Section held its annual meeting in conjunction with the Midwest Dental Conference. Regent Tom Raimann (Wisconsin) also attended the meeting. To conclude the meeting, a joint luncheon was held with colleagues from the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
The Kansas Section is also excited to announce they will assist with travel expenses for two dental students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City to attend this year’s annual meeting in New Orleans.
Teddy Roosevelt said it best:
“Those who excel do what they can with what they have where they are.” Was he on San Juan Hill in Santiago, Cuba, or at ACD headquarters in Rockville, Maryland?
As we work in our respective communities and fulfill our responsibilities, let us recall it’s never wrong to do the right thing by doing things right for the right reason at the right time with the right knowledge for those we serve, our patients.
Submit news of your Section and of our Fellows’ achievements to Suzan Pitman at suzan@acd.org.
In May, the New York Section held its Section meeting. During the meeting James Hudson (New York) and Yakir Arteaga (New York) spoke on “Transformative Service-Learning Through Dental Outreach.” ACD President Terri Dolan and Executive Director Mike Graham were in attendance.
James Hudson, Julie Connolly, and Yakir Artega at New York Section Meeting.
Wichita State University’s Dental Hygiene Outstanding Student Awardee with Past Section Chair, Crystal Walker.
Veronique Benhamou, Julie Connolly, Teresa Dolan, and Hubert Gaucher.
Marc Robert, Duy Dat Vu, Mario Auger, and Jonathan Lang.
In June, the Florida Section held its Section meeting with ACD President Terri Dolan and Executive Director Mike Graham in attendance. Larry Cook (Florida) was recognized for his leadership on the ACD Florida Ethics Program for more than 30 years.
Toni Roucka, Earl Sewell, and Francine Lynch.
Carol Anne MurdochKinch and Toni Roucka.
Robin Henderson and Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch.
In May, members of AADEJ and the dental journalism community gathered in Chicago for Dental Editors University (DEU). This two-day event gave those involved in dental communications expert information on writing, editing, and managing publications for the profession. JACD Interim Editor and At Large Regent, Toni Roucka (Wisconsin), was in attendance as was Robin Henderson, Regent from Regency 8. Many other Fellows and members of the JACD Editorial Board were in attendance, and the ACD was recognized for its sponsorship of the event.
Michael Cadra (Northern California) received the Willard C. Fleming Award for Meritorious Service in Dentistry. This prestigious honor celebrates exceptional dedication, vision, and contributions to advancing the field of dentistry.
Dr. Cadra was recognized by Northern California Section Chair LaJuan Hall, for his “unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with your tireless efforts that have inspired countless professionals.”
Outstanding Student Leader
Awardee Jorge Roderiguez, a 2024 graduate of LSU School of Dentistry, was one of 61 students to receive the Outstanding Student Leader Award from an ACD Section this year.
ACD Sections may give this award, the only ACD National Award for students, to one student at each dental school per year. Once the application is received from the Section Officer, the ACD Staff prepares an embossed certificate and sends it to the Section Chair to sign and present to the awardee. Sections may also request up to $250 in matching funds so that a financial award of up to $500 is presented to the student.
Although participation in this program dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s number of awardees is back to pre-pandemic levels. Sections participating in this program are often involved with their local dental school’s SPEA Chapter and provide mentoring and instruction at the school. This is another way that ACD recognizes excellence and fosters the next generation of oral health professionals.
Jorge Roderiguez
Section Chair Paul Miller, Terri Dolan, and Mike Graham.
Larry Cook receives recognition for 30 years of service.
Micheal Cadra and Regent Ned Nix.
Report
On Friday, July 19, ASDE sponsored a hybrid continuing education course The Truth about Veracity. Tufts School of Dental Medicine hosted the course. Speakers include Kathryn Ragalis, Drew Smith, and Odette Aguirre.
The ASDE Board of Directors scheduled a two-day meeting in Boston on July 19-20th. In addition to officer and committee reports, the Board will discuss ASDE’s Strategic Plan,
collaborating with other organizations interested in ethics, including the Academy of Professionalism in Health Care, and selecting a new Executive Director. Fred More has served as ASDE’s Executive Director for seven years and will be stepping down at the end of the Board meeting. The Executive Board and ASDE members are grateful for his leadership and contributions to ASDE.
ASDE, in collaboration with ACD, sponsored the Ozar Hasegawa Ethics essay writing competition. This annual award is presented to a dental, dental hygiene, or graduate dental and dental hygiene student for an essay demonstrating careful ethical reflection. This year’s awardee is Sophia Kim from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario. The title of the winning essay was Navigating the Meaning of the Social Contract in Dentistry as
SPEA Update
Amber Alak SPEA Executive Chair Boston University, 2025
a Former Dental Student. Her faculty advisor for the essay was Drew Smith.
ASDE’s program for the fall Annual session is Unpacking the ACD Ethics Handbook for Dentistry. We look forward to presenting the revised ACD Ethics Handbook and delving into its essential components, including the ACD’s Four Pillars, Core Values, Professional Obligations, and Ethical Decision-Making Model. Discover practical strategies for incorporating the Handbook into dental practice, teaching and educational methodologies, or in-service training for office staff.
ASDE continues to support the development of D1 through D4 Ethics Curriculum Modules. D1 and D2 are complete, and D3 and D4 are in progress. We are grateful to Catherine Frankl Sarkis and Regina Messer for their dedication and work on this project.
The SPEA Annual Session will take place immediately following the ACD Annual Meeting. Sponsored by the ACD and ACD Foundation, the SPEA Annual Session brings together dental students from all over the US and Canada for two days of learning and discussion on topics central to our shared mission pillars of ethics and professionalism. These student leaders return to their dental schools energized and engaged—ready to lead the next generation of dental professionals.
Sections may apply for matching funds to help offset the cost of travel for students in their local SPEA Chapters, or dental students who have expressed interest in ethics and professionalism but do not have a local SPEA Chapter. Contact the ACD National Office for more information. Registration for the SPEA Annual Session is through their website, speadental.org .
Pamela Zarkowski, JD, MPH
ASDE Liaison to the Board of Regents
ACD Gallery
Cufflinks
ACD Tie and Rosette Bow
15 Year 25 Year
Section Leaders are encouraged to order 15 and 25 year Fellowship pin attachments for their Fellows attaining these milestones.
At the beginning of each year, the ACD National Office sends to Section Leaders lists of 15-, 25-, and 50-year Fellows for the coming year. It is also available any time by request.
Attachment
Contact Jan Remissong in the National Office for more information at jan@acd.org.
Pocket Square
Yeti 20oz Tumbler
50 ACDF 14oz Mug
Century 14 oz Mug
Tie
Crystal Award | Large or Small
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Ifyou’ve ever participated in an ACD Continuing Education Session you have experienced the ACD Foundation in action. In 2023, nearly 40,000 courses were completed online, and we are on target to surpass that in 2024. Our ethical dilemmas videos have been watched thousands of times, and our Sections have hosted local events with large virtual and in-person participation with SPEA and the wider dental community with seed money for innovative programs from the Foundation. The Fellows Forum and our in-person CE courses are also supported by the Foundation. These programs and projects are an investment in the future of oral healthcare and the profession of dentistry.
Connect with Your Local Section
Being active within your Section not only expands your network of local colleagues but also offers a valuable opportunity to engage in the current projects and initiatives making a difference in your community. Engage and unlock the potential for meaningful connections with other ACD Fellows.
Contact the National Office at office@acd.org if you need assistance contacting your local leadership.
The ACD Foundation Silent Auction mixes fun and fundraising each year at the Annual Meeting and Convocation. Sections donate special items from their regions that give a glimpse into the unique character of their part of the world. Individual Fellows are encouraged to contribute, as well. With a talented Fellowship, the Silent Auction has offered everything from a complete set of published novels to hand-turned bowls created by Fellows.
Please contact the National Office at office@acd.org to learn more about getting involved.