CHICAGO, March 10, 2026 — The ADA has named Nader A. Nadershahi, D.D.S., M.B.A., Ed.D., as its executive director, effective March 23, 2026. Dr. Nadershahi is currently the ADA’s Senior Vice President of Education/Professional Affairs and will immediately begin onboarding for his new position.
“The American Dental Association is pleased to select Dr. Nadershahi as its next executive director,” said ADA president Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D. “His leadership style is defined by a profound commitment to mutual respect, attentive listening and collaborative decision-making, while his long-term outlook for the Association centers upon unifying generations to solve for today’s challenges while also planting seeds of opportunity for our future generations of dentists.”
Prior to joining the ADA staff in June 2025, Dr. Nadershahi served for nine years as Dean of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco where he led nearly $100 million in operational, clinical and academic budgets with a consistent annual net reserve. During his tenure, Dr. Nadershahi led a team of more than 500 employees and 550 students and residents at the Dugoni School of Dentistry and led milestone projects such as strategic planning and implementation; the design and implementation of the school’s integrated curriculum and competencies; and raised significant donor contributions for fundraising campaigns.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the ADA’s next executive director,” said Dr. Nadershahi. “The greatest institutions thrive not by the isolated brilliance of one mind, but by the unified heartbeat of its people moving forward together. Together, we will be good ancestors for future generations in our profession. I look forward to collaborating across our profession, shaping our future growth, building trust, and prioritizing organizational clarity, financial and cultural strength, measured outcomes, and ADA member value.”
The announcement comes after a robust search process that began in 2025. The ADA retained Russell Reynolds & Associates, a global leadership advisory firm with more than 50 years’ experience to conduct the search, with ongoing oversight from the Executive Director Search Committee, comprised of a diverse subset of ADA members from across the country.
Dr. Nadershahi’s breadth of leadership experience has been shaped by many pivotal roles in organized dentistry, including serving as the Chair of the Board for the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), as well as several important leadership roles in the ADA and California Dental Association (CDA) for more than twenty years. He is also a fellow of the American College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Dr. Nadershahi has owned and operated private general dental practices in San Rafael and San Anselmo, California. He also served as a board member for the Bay Area Council and San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and serves as Chair of the California Health Workforce Education and Training Council.
Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Shapiro, D.D.S., J.D., has led ADA operations since the Board of Trustees named her to the position on Feb. 8, 2025. Dr. Rosato noted the ADA Board of Trustees is deeply grateful to Dr. Shapiro for serving as interim Executive this past year. Dr. Nadershahi and Dr. Shapiro will closely collaborate for a smooth transition of duties, and then Dr. Shapiro will resume her role as ADA Chief of Governance and Strategy Management.
Dr. Nadershahi will partner with the Board and ADA volunteer leaders to deliver organizational clarity, financial and cultural strength, measured outcomes, and member value.
According to Dr. Nadershahi, “The ADA must lead the profession and oral healthcare by attracting the strongest providers, supporting education, setting policy and standards, integrating science and technology, advocating for policy expansions and reforms, and preparing ADA members for success.”