NEWS VOL 56, NO 4
AUGUST 2026
Welcome Back, My Friends Terry L. Norris, ACD President “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside.” This may date me, but I still remember this song from my junior year in college by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or ELP as they were known. It’s that time again and this “show” will be one you will not forget. Two hotels have already been sold out and a third and fourth have been added. The courses are close to selling out along with the Regency Dinners. The Gala on Saturday evening has been restructured to accommodate everyone that registers and will be overlooking the ocean. Of most importance are the Fellows who will be inducted into the College. They are what makes this meeting special. I am sure you remember your Convocation and the recognition shown to you. Imagine a convocation taking place outside overlooking
the Pacific. It will be one that you will not want to miss, and it will be one that our new Fellows will hold close to their heart for the rest of their lives. None of this can happen without the hard work that your staff and your Board have invested. However, most important, none of this can happen without your presence. You are the key to its success. Take time to introduce yourself to the new Fellows and find out their stories. I still remember an ADA Past President, Ronald L. Tankersley, spending time to talk with this new Fellow. I knew I was in the right place. To follow up on ELP, this group helps me remember three of the College’s pillars, Ethics, Leadership and Professionalism. Now all I have to remember is Excellence. Catch the Wave and I look forward to seeing you in Santa Barbara. I would love to hear your story.
The Importance of Gathering at ACD 2026 Mike Graham Executive Director Most of us take pleasure in reuniting with friends and family during the holidays— an opportunity to catch up on recent happenings, exchange ideas, enjoy a delicious meal, or simply reflect on shared memories and aspirations for the future. This spirit of connection is equally present when we gather for the ACD Annual Meeting and Convocation. Dentistry is more than a profession; it is a community of like-minded individuals committed to enhancing the health and well-being of others. This sense of family sets us apart. Likewise, the American College of Dentists is an organization of esteemed dental leaders dedicated to a noble mission: to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare. In a few months, in Santa Barbara, California, hundreds of ACD Fellows will welcome new dental leaders into the College—an invaluable opportunity to meet, share ideas, foster relationships, and collaborate on shaping the future of our profession. Such meaningful gatherings are truly special when experienced in person.
As the American College of Dentists continues to grow, so do our ethics and leadership initiatives. Our Annual Meeting is expanding as well, and this year promises an inspiring experience. I am confident that next year’s meeting will be even more impactful!
CATCH THE WAVE Register now Registration for Candidates ends September 1 and September 10 for Fellows!
see you in
SANTA BARBARA
2027 Board of Regents The window to challenge the 2027 slate of Board nominees has closed. Please join us in congratulating the following Fellows who will be taking on new positions or joining the Board this Fall. Executive Committee: Dr. Ned Nix ACD President Elect Dr. Nix currently serves as Vice President and previously held the position of Regent from Regency 7. Dr. Joseph Crowley ACD Vice President Dr. Crowley currently serves as Treasurer of the ACD and has previously held the position of At Large Regent. Dr. Julie Connolly ACD Treasurer Dr. Connolly currently serves as the Regent from Regency 1. She was previously the Section Chair of New York Section.
The next Board of Regents election will take place in March of 2027. Offices to be elected will be President Elect, Vice President, and Regents from Regencies 4 and 8. Information will be sent to the Fellowship later this year. Regents
Maria Smith will be the Regent for Regency 1. Dr. Smith was formerly the Chair for the New England Section.
Paul Miller will be the Regent for Regency 3. Dr. Miller is the former Chair of the Florida Section.
Daniel Klemeddson will be an At Large Regent. He is a former president of the American Dental Association.
2026 ACD Award Winners William John Gies Award Teresa Dolan Gary Armitage Ethics & Professionalism Award Carlos Quiñonez Distinguished Leadership Award Aaron Burry Honorary Fellowship Carmelo Cinqueonce Amy Doneen Eileen Loranger Francine Lynch Wenyuan Shi Felicia Tucker-Lively Award of Merit William Sullivan
2026 ACD Section Awardees Model Section Designation British Columbia Indiana Michigan Ontario Oregon Western New York Section Achievement Award Washington Section Newsletter Award Carolinas Kentucky Ontario Metro Washington
ACD 2026
CATCH THE WAVE Schedule at a Glance Friday
Saturday
8:30 – 10 :30 a.m. Santa Barbara Tour/Activity
7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 – 10 :00 a.m. SSL/SHIFT Leadership Session
8:00 – 10:30 Fellows Forum
11:30 – 3:00 p.m. Special Topics in Ethics Course
11:30 – 1:00 Convocation Luncheon
3:15 – 4:30 Regency Breakout Sessions
2:30 – 4:30 Convocation
5:30 - 9:00 Regency Dinner
4:30 – 5:30 Samuel Harris Reception— Toast to the Fellowship
ACD 2026 Annual Business Meeting The 2026 Business Meeting will be held electronically in October before the in-person gathering. More information will be sent directly to the Fellowship in early September.
7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Celebration Dinner— An Evening Under the Stars
Friday, October 23 Tour Santa Barbara by Trolley! 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. $85 Join Fellows and guests and learn more about beautiful, historic Santa Barbara. The tour includes all fees, gratuity, and professional guides. Please meet in the lobby of the Hilton Santa Barbara at 8:15 a.m. An ACD staff member or volunteer will be there with your name badge. Please wear comfortable shoes!
Leadership Cohort 2 and Alumni Session 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Sierra Madre SHIFT Alumni, SSL Cohorts 1 and 2, and Alumni of the Spring Leadership Conference should plan to attend the inaugural Steven D. Chan Leadership Breakfast, which will be followed by a panel discussion.
Special Topics in Ethics—The Ethical Dentist: Responsibilities to Colleagues, Teams, and the Profession 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. $225, including a boxed lunch Sierra Madre Starting with the dental team, and moving beyond, this course will help participants recognize challenges in professional relationships and understand ethical responsibilities.
Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23. Pick up our name badge and peruse the ACD Gift Shop!
Ethics Course Highlights Your instructors: • Catherine Sarkis, JD, MBA, FACD • Carlos Smith, DDS, MDiv, FACD, FICD • Pamela Zarkowski, JD, MPH, FACD, FCLM Learning Objectives Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to: 1. Recognize ethical responsibilities in leading and collaborating with members of the dental team. 2. Identify challenges in professional relationships, including incivility, bullying, and referral conflicts. 3. Discuss the dentist’s ethical role in interprofessional collaboration and sustaining professional well-being.
Friday, October 23 continued Regency Breakout Session 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. 1 CEU Fellows are encouraged to register for their Regency Breakout. Led by your elected Regent, this session will include a refresher on College activities and collaborative work on the Standards for Leadership in Oral Healthcare. Regency 1 Regency 2 Regency 3 Regency 4 Regency 5 Regency 6 Regency 7 Regency 8
Santa Cruz Santa Inez San Rafael Santa Rosa Fiesta San Miguel Sierra Madre North Sierra Madre South
Regency Dinner 5:30 p.m. Harbor Restaurant $125 Join your Regency for dinner at the Harbor Restaurant on the Santa Barbara Pier! Enjoy cocktails and sunset photos on the rooftop deck, then find your Regency tables for dinner with your ACD friends. Cost of dinner includes one drink ticket, a three-course meal, and an exceptional view.
Regency Breakout Highlight During the Regency Breakout Session, Fellows will work together to begin writing the Core Standards section of the Standards for Leadership Handbook, which will be a companion to the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: • Understand the Core Standards for Leadership. • Identify aspects of the standards most applicable to day-to-day leadership. • Create examples or explanations of how three of the Core Standards are actionable.
Candidates may begin picking up their gowns for Convocation at Rodney’s at the Hilton on Friday at 11 a.m. Don’t miss having your picture taken by Les Kamens, the College’s photographer for more than 30 years! You can also order special ACD frames at that time.
Saturday, October 24 Fellowship Breakfast 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Grand Ballroom Candidates have one ticket to breakfast included in their induction fee; Fellows and Guests are $45. Enjoy coffee and breakfast with your colleagues.
Big Ideas Forum: ACD Leads 8:00 – 10:30 a.m. Grand Ballroom There is no better leadership lab than the experience of stepping outside your comfort zone, innovating, and putting your ideas to the test in the service of others. This year’s Fellows Forum will transform to ACDLead: A Forum for Big Ideas. Join five Fellows as they share leadership lessons learned through their experiences with innovation and service. A keynote panel discussion between President Elect Pete Guevara and Steve Milgazo, a former Navy Seal and former Director of Strategic Planning for the US Navy. As part of their discussion, they will moderate a conversation with the speakers.
Convocation Luncheon 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Grand Ballroom Candidates have one ticket to luncheon included in their induction fee; Fellows and Guests are $90.
What happens at the Convocation Luncheon? The Convocation Luncheon is hosted by the Vice President of the College. This year’s Vice President, Dr. Ned Nix, will welcome Dr. Tom Paumier, President of the American Dental Association, who will bring greetings from the ADA. Sections earning the Model Section Designation will be recognized, along with the Section Newsletter Award Recipients and the Lifetime Achievement Honorees. ACD’s Lifetime Fellowship Designees have been Fellows for 50 continuous years. We ask that luncheon attendees give their attention to these very deserving honorees. Lunch is gluten free, except for the bread service, and a vegetarian meal can be ordered in advance.
Saturday, October 24, continued Line Up 2:00 p.m. The Lawn Candidates and Sponsors should arrive on the Lawn outside Plaza del Sol at 2:00 p.m. to line up for the Convocation.
An Evening Under the Stars 7:30 p.m. Plaza del Sol $275
Candidates—look for your Regency Banner. Your Regent will be there to help you.
Live music, specialty cocktails, and a delicious dinner with an ocean breeze. This once-a-year celebration is not to be missed!
Sponsors—look for the Sponsor Banner and line up behind it.
Convocation 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Plaza del Sol Join us as we welcome the 105th cohort of Fellows, honor awardees, and celebrate our Fellowship.
Samuel Harris Reception/ Toast to the Fellowship Immediately following Convocation The Lawn Free for Fellows, $55 for guests Please join us for a glass of bubbly and light hors d'oeuvres as we celebrate 106 years of Fellowship and a bright future.
Dress is black tie optional.
Mace & Torch Symbolic of the ACD's timeless values and dedication to advancing our mission for a dynamic future are the mace and torch. The originals are on display at the National Museum of Dentistry, and well-crafted replicas are used during the Convocation ceremony today. For an in-depth explanation of the significance of the mace and torch, please see JACD volume 86, issue I, The Mace and Torch: Inspired by History, Leading Toward the Future, by Ken Randall (Tennessee).
DATES TO REMEMBER Last day of Candidate registration September 1
(call the office at 301-977-3223 after September 1 to ask about late registration).
September 10
Last day for current Fellows to register.
September 10
Last day for a refund for the Annual Meeting.
September 11 Noon, ET
Leadership Lessons Webinar: The Burnout– Quiet Quitting Connection
October 23 + 24
ACD 2026, Santa Barbara, California
November 25 + 27
ACD Office Closed in observance of Thanksgiving
December 1
Giving Tuesday
February 1, 2027
Nominations due for 2027 Fellowship Cohort