CHICAGO, October 14, 2026 — Dr. Karin Irani, a dentist in Los Angeles, Calif., is the new President-elect of the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr. Irani was recently elected at the ADA House of Delegates Meeting at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., on Oct. 12.
Dr. Irani has been an active volunteer leader and member of the ADA for 26 years. She is currently the 13th District Trustee of the ADA, Chair of the ADA Governance Committee and Governance and Organizational Task Force, Chair of the ADA's Audit Committee and an ADA Success Program speaker. Dr. Irani has also served as the Chair of the ADA's Council on Membership. She was also Chair of the California Dental Association's (CDA) Leadership Development Committee, was a Trustee of the CDA and past President of the San Fernando Valley Dental Association.
“I am deeply honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to help lead our profession and an organization that has meant so much to me throughout my career," said Dr. Irani, President-elect of the ADA for the 2026–2027 term. “Our profession is at a pivotal moment, and the decisions we make today will shape the future of dentistry for generations to come. I believe in an ADA that listens to its members, leads with transparency and accountability, and delivers meaningful results. Together, we can build a stronger, more responsive organization that advances our profession, supports dentists at every stage of their careers, and protects the patients and communities we serve.”
Looking to the future of the organization, Dr. Irani states, “My vision is to help build an ADA that is steadfast, member-centered and prepared to meet the evolving needs of our profession. Central to that vision is fostering a culture of belonging, where every member feels respected, valued and empowered to contribute. From insurance reform and workforce challenges to student debt, practice sustainability and oral health advocacy, the issues before us demand thoughtful leadership, meaningful collaboration and a commitment to meaningful action.”
Dr. Irani's leadership involvement also extends to her co-founding of the national nonprofit organization Veterans Smile Day, facilitating access to critical dental care for service veterans. Dr. Irani is also the founder of the Serving Our Smiles Dental Assisting Program, training veterans and non-veterans to become certified dental assistants. Dr. Irani has received many awards, most recently the Icons of Dentistry Award from Ultradent Products, Inc. for her work with Veterans Smile Day.
She is also involved in numerous other organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Association of Women Dentists, where she was a former Board Member. Dr. Irani is also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. She is a proud alumnus of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership and a graduate of the ADA Kellogg Executive Management Program.
"My experience as a practicing dentist with a legal degree and volunteer leader has reinforced my belief that effective leadership begins with listening, builds on trust and is measured by results," Dr. Irani added. “We can have an extraordinary impact when we unite in service to others, turning shared priorities into impactful progress for our members and the profession.”
Dr. Irani earned her dental degree from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California in 2003. In 2022, she earned her law degree from Glendale University College of Law. She is currently a general practice dentist in Chatsworth, Calif., and has dedicated her practice to low-income patients. In her free time, Dr. Irani enjoys skiing, horseback riding, cooking and visiting hydraulic lowrider shows.