Dr. Merlin P. Ohmer Steps in as AGD President By Caitlin Davis
On Nov. 12, 2023, Merlin P. Ohmer, DDS, MAGD, took the reins of the AGD presidency during the annual meeting of its House of Delegates. Having served two years in the presidential line as president-elect and vice president, Ohmer is now in a position to continue the work he’s been a part of as well as put his own plans into motion.
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longtime member of AGD, newly minted President Merlin P. Ohmer, DDS, MAGD, credits much of the success of his career to the organization. “AGD has been instrumental in developing both my clinical skills and knowledge and has allowed me professional growth, development and success,” Ohmer said. “AGD has been there for me at all stages of my career. I found pursuing Fellowship and Mastership to be challenges, and attaining them made me a better dentist.” Ohmer’s commitment to exemplifying AGD’s mission of continuing education (CE) for dentists doesn’t stop at his own professional development. His AGD leadership journey began in education, first as a member of the Self-Instruction Committee — which writes CE exercises for General Dentistry articles, enabling members
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to receive CE credit — and was followed by an appointment to the Fellowship Exam Committee in 2017. “There have been so many memories at different stages of my AGD life, but having the ability to give back and help other general dentists succeed in their educational journeys was extremely rewarding — and also a learning experience for myself,” Ohmer said. “I then got involved in leadership at the constituency, regional and national levels. The reward is giving back and helping others succeed.” Ohmer served as a board member, continuing education director, vice president and president of the Florida AGD. He served as Region 20 regional director for one year and as a trustee for Region 20 in 2020 until his election as AGD vice president in 2021. He was also selected for the Governmental Evaluation and Reform Committee in
2019, where he and other committee members analyzed AGD’s governance structure and suggested reforms to increase efficiency and nimbleness across all governance areas in AGD. Ohmer has several plans in mind for his tenure as AGD president. “There are so many items in my mind, but I do realize that 12 months is a very short period of time,” he said. “The high points are to increase the value of AGD membership for our current and future members. If there is value, dentists will join. Another item is to increase international membership. Many of the articles in General Dentistry are from dentists outside of the United States and Canada. If we find value in their research, why can’t these same dentists be members? We need to look for pathways to increase our members. Lastly, governance reform is paramount to our future success. AGD cannot continue
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