Dr. Klemmedson installed as ADA president

New president: American Dental Association President Daniel J. Klemmedson addresses the ADA House of Delegates during its virtual meeting Oct. 19.

Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D., of Tucson, Arizona, took office Oct. 19 as the 157th president of the American Dental Association during the ADA FDC Virtual Connect Conference.

"The pandemic has offered insight to the interconnectedness of our society and the economic engines that keep it running. The same is true for the interdependent nature of dentistry," Dr. Klemmedson told the ADA House of Delegates during its virtual meeting. "COVID-19 catalyzed a domino effect that demonstrated just how fragile our return to normal was. A return to normal should not be our goal. Better and stronger is clearly within our reach."

President-elect Cesar R. Sabates, Second Vice President Maria Maranga and five new trustees also assumed office: Dr. Chad R. Leighty, 7th District; Dr. Rudolph T. Liddell, 17th District; Dr. Michael D. Medovic, 6th District; Dr. Scott L. Morrison, 10th District; and Dr. Gary D. Oyster, 16th District.

Dr. Klemmedson has been actively involved at the ADA for many years, serving on the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs from 2007 to 2011 and a strategic planning committee from 2009 to 2012. He was the 14th District trustee on the ADA Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2019, and he was a delegate in the ADA House of Delegates from 2005 to 2014. From 2019 to 2020, Dr. Klemmedson served as president-elect of the ADA.

In addition to Dr. Klemmedson's achievements at the ADA, he is a past president of the Arizona Dental Association, Southern Arizona Dental Society, Western Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Arizona Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Throughout his career, Dr. Klemmedson has earned multiple awards, including the Dentist of the Year Award and the Hall of Fame Service Award from the Arizona Dental Association. In 2018, he received the Gerald E. Hanson Outstanding Service Award from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation.

Dr. Klemmedson is a fellow of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as a member of the Academy of Dentistry International, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and American Medical Association. He has received fellowships from the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Dr. Klemmedson earned his medical degree from the USC School of Medicine. Dr. Klemmedson maintains a private practice in Tucson, Arizona, and serves as an attending oral and maxillofacial surgeon on the cleft palate and craniofacial team at Children's Clinics.

Dr. Klemmedson discussed why it's better to be involved than to sit on the sidelines and how dentists can move forward during the pandemic during episode 17 of the Beyond the Mouth podcast. To listen to the episode, visit Success.ADA.org.

President-elect

Dr. Sabates

Dr. Sabates, a general dentist from Coral Gables, Florida, previously served as the 17th District trustee on the ADA Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2020 and as a delegate in the ADA House of Delegates from 2000 to 2016. He is also past president of the Florida Dental Association and South Florida District Dental Association.

Dr. Sabates received his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, Hispanic Dental Association, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Second vice president

Dr. Maranga

Dr. Maranga, an endodontist from Aquebogue, New York, is a past chair of the ADA Council on Membership and past president of the Suffolk County Dental Society. In addition, she has served as a delegate in the ADA House of Delegates, president of the New York State Association of Endodontists and academic affairs director of the American Association of Women Dentists.

Dr. Maranga received her dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry. She is a member of the American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Women Dentists, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

New trustees

Dr. Leighty

Dr. Leighty, a general practice dentist in Marion, Indiana, has served as program chair of the former Council on ADA Sessions, Indiana floor leader as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and 7th District representative to the ADA speaker of the house. He also was the president of the Indiana Dental Association from 2015 to 2016.

Dr. Liddell

Dr. Liddell, a general dentist based in Brandon, Florida, has served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. He also was president, secretary and a trustee for the Florida Dental Association. Dr. Liddell is a member of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr. Medovic

Dr. Medovic, a general dentist from Wheeling, West Virginia, has served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and the ADA Council on Dental Practice and as chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice’s National Elder Care Advisory Committee. He also was president of the West Virginia Dental Association in 2001.

Dr. Morrison

Dr. Morrison, a periodontist practicing in Omaha, Nebraska, has served as a member of the ADA Council on Members Insurance and Retirement Programs, the ADA Council on Government Affairs and the ADA House of Delegates, and as an American Dental Political Action Committee action team leader and a Lobby Day participant. He also was president of the Nebraska Dental Association in 2005 and 2014.

Dr. Oyster

Dr. Oyster, a dentist practicing in Raleigh, North Carolina, has served as an ADA delegate, an American Dental Political Action Committee board member and the vice president of the North Carolina Dental Society. He also is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Returning officers, trustees

Dr. Rapini

Dr. Vincent U. Rapini succeeds Dr. Craig W. Herre as first vice president. Dr. Rapini served as a delegate to the ADA House of Delegates from 2011 to 2019. He also is a past president of the Missouri Dental Association and Greater St. Louis Dental Society.

Dr. Sherwin

Dr. Ted Sherwin continues as treasurer of the ADA. He has served as treasurer and president of the Virginia Dental Association, president of the Shenandoah Valley Dental Association and a member of the ADA House of Delegates.

Dr. Donald

Dr. W. Mark Donald continues as speaker. He has served as speaker, president and an ADA delegate for the Mississippi Dental Association; as speaker and president of the Academy of General Dentistry; and as a member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice.

Dr. Richard J. Rosato, 1st District trustee, has served as chair of the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs, as well as the ADA Election Commission. He also was president of the New Hampshire Dental Society and New Hampshire Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Society.

Dr. Paul R. Leary, 2nd District trustee, has been a member of the ADA House of Delegates and served on the New York State Dental Foundation board from 2012 to 2014. He is also involved with the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists.

Dr. Linda K. Himmelberger, 3rd District trustee, has served as chair of the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs and co-chair of the Bylaws Revision Subcommittee. She also was president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

Dr. George R. Shepley, 4th District trustee, has served as chair of the ADA Council on Communications and as an ADA delegate. He previously served as president of the Maryland State Dental Association from 2013 to 2014.

Dr. Jay F. Harrington Jr., 5th District trustee, has served on the ADA Council on Government Affairs and as an ADA delegate. He is a former president of the Georgia Dental Association and served in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps from 1984 to 1987.

Dr. Susan Becker Doroshow, 8th District trustee, served as chair of the ADA Council on Membership from 2008 to 2009 and as an ADA delegate. She was president of the Chicago Dental Society in 2015 and an Illinois State Dental Society trustee from 2004 to 2007.

Dr. Julio H. Rodriguez, 9th District trustee, has served as a delegate to the ADA House of Delegates and as president of the Wisconsin Dental Association. He was a dental officer in the Peruvian Air Force before immigrating to the United States.

Dr. Linda J. Edgar, 11th District trustee, has served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and ADA Council on Dental Practice. She was president of the Academy of General Dentistry from 2013 to 2014 and of the Seattle King County Dental Society from 2010 to 2011, and she is a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr. Terry Fiddler, 12th District trustee, has served as an ADA delegate, chair of the ADA Council on Communications and president of the Arkansas State Dental Association. He has received fellowships from the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr. James D. Stephens, 13th District trustee, has served as a delegate in the ADA House of Delegates, as president and trustee for the California Dental Association and as president, trustee and communications chair with the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society. He is a member of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr. Brett Kessler, 14th District trustee, has served as an ADA delegate, vice chair of the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs, consultant to the ADA Council on Dental Practice's Health and Well-Being Advisory Committee, and president of the Colorado Dental Association. In 2010, he received the ADA's Golden Apple Award for outstanding leadership in mentoring.

Dr. Craig S. Armstrong, 15th District trustee, has served as a delegate in the ADA House of Delegates and as chair of the ADA Council on Government Affairs. He also was president of the Texas Dental Association in 2015, the Greater Houston Dental Society in 2004 and the Texas Academy of General Dentistry in 2010.