CHICAGO, October 15, 2026 — Dr. Thomas M. Paumier, D.D.S., of Canton, Ohio, is the newly installed President of the American Dental Association (ADA). Prior to being inducted, he served as ADA President-elect. Dr. Paumier has been an active volunteer leader and member of the ADA for more than 35 years, serving as Vice Chair of the ADA Strategic Forecasting Committee and Chair of the Council on Members Insurance and Retirement Programs. Dr. Paumier also served on the Finance Committee of the ADA Board of Trustees and was part of two scientific expert panels, which developed clinical practice guidelines related to appropriate antibiotic use, and served on the COVID Recovery Task Force.
During his presidency, Dr. Paumier intends to remain focused on the ADA's core pillars: advocacy, science, standards, ethics and providing the resources necessary to empower dentists to improve oral health. Dr. Paumier will continue the culture of listening and urges leaders across the Tripartite to engage in meaningful dialogue related to the ADA's Governance and Organizational Health Evaluation, with the goal of strengthening the organization and advancing its mission and work.
“The ADA is the cornerstone of our Tripartite and the infrastructure for our profession,” said Thomas M. Paumier, D.D.S., ADA President. “Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to focus on our core values to meet the evolving needs of dentists and ensure organized dentistry remains strong for generations to come.”
Dr. Paumier previously served on the Executive Committee of the Ohio Dental Association (ODA) and was the President of the ODA from 2014–2015. He has also held many other vital leadership roles for the ODA, including Treasurer, Chair of the Services Corporation, Chair of the Annual Sessions Committee and Chair of the ODA's Wellness Trust. Dr. Paumier is also a past President of the Stark County Dental Society in Ohio.
Dr. Paumier is involved in numerous other oral health related organizations. He has served as Vice Chair of the Ohio Section for the American College of Dentists and as Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Development Foundation. He is the current Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Board of Trustees and sits on the Cleveland Clinic Ohio Regional Hospitals Board of Directors Executive Committee.
“My priority is to keep the ADA focused on delivering outstanding value to our members, meeting the needs of our states, and leading the profession through advocacy, setting standards, and driving innovation through science and research,” said Dr. Paumier. “We must collaborate with our specialty organizations, heritage and honorary societies, dental schools and industry partners to better meet the needs of our evolving profession.”
Dr. Paumier is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is also a faculty member of the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital General Practice Residency and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine in Ohio. He lectures nationally on topics in oral medicine and clinical dentistry.
After graduating from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology, Dr. Paumier earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He completed a general practice residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio and then opened his own private practice in Canton, Ohio, where he currently resides with his wife, S. Christy Paumier.