By Caitlin Davis

On Nov. 16, 2025, Marc J. Worob, DDS, FAGD, FACD, FICD, FAAOSH, was inducted as AGD president during the organization’s annual House of Delegates meeting in Chicago. As he steps into AGD’s top leadership role, Worob plans to leverage the organization’s new strategic plan to drive growth, revitalize grassroots engagement and ensure that general dentists across the country see AGD as their professional home.

Building a Life Around Service

Worob has spent more than four decades as a dentist, but his path to the profession was inspired long before he ever picked up a handpiece. As a teenager, he was encouraged by his family’s general dentist to spend time shadowing and observing cases in the lab. “He would let me hang around his office and show me cases as well as let me observe him at work,” Worob said. “I wanted to do something that would allow me to use my hands. I always enjoyed building models and drawing as a child, and dentistry seemed to combine those interests with helping people.”

That desire to blend creativity with care has shaped his career. As owner and president of 12 Oaks Dental in Austin, Texas, he has grown a thriving practice that embodies the principles of complete health dentistry — an approach that connects oral health to overall well-being. “Our practice focuses on relationships and looks at the whole person,” Worob said. “We emphasize understanding lifestyle, airway health, inflammation and even salivary diagnostics to help our patients achieve optimal wellness.”

Finding a Home in AGD

Two years into practice, a mentor invited Worob to an AGD continuing education (CE) meeting — an experience that changed his career trajectory. “I was impressed by the quality of the meeting, and it opened my eyes to the importance of continuing my learning,” he said. He credits AGD with broadening not just his technical knowledge, but also his leadership and behavioral skills. “The greatest things about AGD are its members and the opportunities it creates. The camaraderie and mentorship I’ve received have made me a better husband, father, dentist and leader.”

Worob’s path through AGD leadership has been marked by steady service and never backing down from a new opportunity to lead and develop the organization. He helped revitalize his local component in Austin and, later, as a Texas AGD board member, he helped guide the constituent through a financially challenging period, returning it to stability and growth. He went on to serve as regional director and, four years later, as chair of the regional directors before joining the Board as a trustee. Along the way, he helped organize the 2022 AGD Leadership Development Symposium and expanded support for struggling constituents. “No other group in AGD has as much connection to our members as the regions,” he said. “A strong regional component will enable this organization to increase its membership and effectiveness. We must begin at the grassroots level by strengthening our constituents and giving them whatever support they need.”

A Leadership Philosophy Grounded in Trust

Throughout his career, Worob has drawn on influences from mentors, authors and fellow leaders to shape his leadership philosophy. “My parents instilled honesty, integrity, caring and service to others as core values,” he said. “Authors like Simon Sinek and Brené Brown have influenced how I understand leadership — that trust is built by meeting people where they are and viewing vulnerability as a strength.”

He believes leadership is a team sport. “No one, not even the highest-paid CEO, can do it alone,” he said. “We have to cooperate for the greater good — whether that’s in a practice, business or nonprofit. If we as dentists don’t step up to help ourselves, who is going to do it?” That collaborative ethos will guide his presidency as he continues to promote strategic growth and innovation within AGD. “AGD can become the North Star for all general dentists by uniting and empowering them through every stage of their careers,” he said.

Addressing Challenges Through Collaboration

Worob acknowledges that the organization is at a pivotal moment. Membership recruitment and changing demographics have created new challenges for both AGD and the profession of dentistry as a whole. “We cannot do this from the top-down. We must listen to the thousands of general dentists in the United States and Canada — both members and nonmembers — to truly understand what they need to achieve a pathway to success in a rapidly changing healthcare environment,” he said.

As president, his first priority will be implementing AGD’s new strategic plan and vision statement. “I want to see us create a value proposition that gives our members a clear way to tell potential members why they should join,” he said. “We need to focus on retaining members and recruiting new ones by creating an organization that students, residents and young dentists want to join. Our goal should be that every general dentist should want to be part of what we have created.”

That includes strengthening constituents, supporting leadership development, and advancing advocacy on issues such as student debt and the workforce shortage.

“There are no easy answers, but we need to find a way through advocacy and collaboration with groups like the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Dental Assistants Association,” he said.

“We should help more people realize what great careers these positions are and expand education for future students.”

Leading AGD Into the Future

For Worob, leadership at AGD is not about personal ambition, but rather about service to others. “Being a member of AGD has helped me not only as a dentist but as a human being, husband, father and leader,” he said in his 2023 speech. “I want all general dentists to experience this community.”

He knows transformation will require transparency, strategy and unity — themes he plans to emphasize throughout his term. “We must create a sense of purpose and direction for AGD that inspires action and moves us to the next level,” he said. “During a campaign speech, Bobby Kennedy once paraphrased George Bernard Shaw and said, ‘Some men see things as they are and say, “Why?”; I dream things that never were and say, “Why not?”’ This is the ethos I will bring to my year as president.”

Looking ahead, Worob is excited about the teamwork that defines AGD leadership.

“This is an exciting time to be an AGD member,” he said. “We have so many incredible opportunities in front of us — and an amazing team of officers, trustees, regional directors and staff working together to make it happen. I hope every member will find a way to get involved and help us build an organization that every general dentist is proud to be part of.”

Caitlin Davis is associate editor of AGD Impact To comment on this article, email impact@agd.org.