Virginia Dentist Assumes Presidency of the American Dental Association

CHICAGO, October 6, 2009—Ronald L. Tankersley, D.D.S., who practices oral and maxillofacial surgery in Newport News, Williamsburg and Hampton, Va., was installed as president of the American Dental Association (ADA) and will lead the 157,000-member organization’s efforts to protect and improve the public’s oral health and promote advances in dentistry.

Dr.  Tankersley’s installation took place today during a meeting of the ADA House of Delegates in Honolulu.  He previously served as ADA president-elect.

Dr. Tankersley served a four-year term as a member of the ADA Board of Trustees representing the Sixteenth District, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. As a trustee, Dr. Tankersley served as board liaison to the Dental Economics Advisory Group, the Committee on the New Dentist, the Council on Access, Prevention & Interprofessional Relations and the Council on Ethics, Bylaws & Judicial Affairs.

Dr. Tankersley’s previous responsibilities with the ADA include serving as chair of the Council on Dental Benefits, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Advisory Committee on the Code, the Diagnostic Coding Committee, the Standing Committee for Diversity and the Dental Content Committee.  In addition, Dr. Tankersley participated on the ADA’s Future of Healthcare/Universal Coverage Taskforce.

Dr. Tankersley is a former president of the Virginia Dental Association, Virginia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Southeastern Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.

He earned his dental degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry where he also completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery.   Dr. Tankersley is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International Colleges of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honorary organization for dentists.

Dr. Tankersley and his wife, Gladys, reside in Newport News and are the parents of two children, Kenneth and Christine.    

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

Return to Top