ACD
American College of Dentists
SUMMER 2026
REGENCY REGENCY
1 1
SECTION UPDATES
NEW YORK SECTION | HUDSON MOHAWK SECTION | WESTERN NEW YORK SECTION | NEW ENGLAND SECTION | QUEBEC SECTION | ATLANTIC PROVINCES SECTION
Regent Report
Hello Regency 1 Fellows, I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. This is my final Regency 1 Newsletter as my term as Regent will be complete as of the Fall ACD Annual meeting. It is with great excitement that I provide you with the update this last time. The ACD has grown during my 4 years as Regent. It is a direct result of the hard work of the team in the Rockville office, our Board of Regents and our Executive Director, Mike Graham. Mike has brought renewed energy to the College and has made our Strategic Plan come to life. It has been an honor to work with all of these amazing Colleagues who are all motivated by the four pillars of the College: Excellence, Ethics, Professionalism and Leadership. UPDATE ON ACD NATIONAL 1. We just completed a successful Nominations season. The fall candidate class is strong and will comprise both fellows accepted this year in 2026 as well as those who deferred from 2025.
2. Our second annual Spring Leadership Conference in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario was a success. Our Canadian Colleagues were amazing hosts. The meeting continues to evolve and is a great learning opportunity for Section Fellows interested in Leadership and up and coming Section leaders, particularly Chair-Elects. 3. Applications are now open for the second pilot class for the Sweet Spot Leadership program. The schedule has been modified for this second cohort with the programming planned to fit into a 9 month time lime. 4. Updates are on-going to our Educational platform and Ethics courses as well as the ACD website. Look for new courses to be available in the coming months. 5. ACD Fundraising continues and there will be a Fundraising day in late August to celebrate the birthday of the ACD! 6. The upcoming Fall Annual Meeting looks to be very popular. The main hotel is expected continued on page 2.
REGENCY
1
Regent Report continued from page 1.
to sell out and rooms at an adjacent property have been reserved. Please be sure to sign up soon. Space at the Regency Dinner also will be limited. One unique aspect of the 2026 meeting is that Convocation will be held outside with the ocean as our backdrop! 7. SHIFT weekend Leadership training courses continue to thrive. In 2027, one will take place in the Midwest for the first time. 8. The locations for both the 2027 Spring Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting will be announced soon! UPDATE ON REGENT WORK & TRAVEL 1. The Regency 1 Leadership Meeting was held in Boston this past winter. Leaders from our Sections, from ACD National and SPEA were all in attendance. We completed a Leadership exercise as a group focused on “Values based Leadership”. 2. While in Boston, I also attended the New England Section’s Annual Luncheon. Which was followed the next week by the New York section’s Annual Banquet. At each of these events the Outstanding Student Leadership awards are given out to graduating senior Dental Students. 3. The NY Section has been busy and I had the chance to attend both their
Spring meeting at the Penn Club and their Summer social event at the Morgan Library, both in NYC. 4. This September I am scheduled to travel to Halifax for their Section meeting. I look forward to this trip! 5. This year I serve as Chair of the Sections committee. We are working with the National office to mindfully look at our current Section structure to see if any realignment is needed. This assessment has not been done for over 20 years. 6. I also serve as Chair of the SPEA ACD Task Force which brings together ACD Leadership and SPEA Leadership quarterly to ensure open and productive dialogue between the two organizations. 7. Lastly, I serve as a Member of the Membership Committee. We are discussing Fellows’ use of the FACD initials. As we go through the summer months, please still keep nominations coming. I also encourage all of you to consider attending the Annual meeting. Thank you for making the time to read the Regency 1 Newsletter these past four years. It has been, and remains, an honor to represent you as your Regent. Respectfully, Julie
Incoming Regency 1 Regent Your next Regent will be Dr Maria Smith. Dr Smith is a past New England Section Chair and past AGD National President. She will bring experience and excellence to her new role as Regent. Congratulations, Dr Smith!
[2]
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
ACD Message from the President A New Day is Dawning in the American College of Dentists Terry L. Norris ACD President
A
new day is dawning in the American College of Dentists. This is being acknowledged in all areas of dentistry. The truth is the ACD is the premier dental group partnering to all organizations in dentistry whether large or small. Partnering puts both organizations on the same level. As President of the ACD I bleed rose and lilac as you would expect. My travels to state meetings and annual organization events verify this. The Northern California ACD applauded as I recounted how the ACD is partnering with organizations such as the NDA, the SAID, the HDA and the AAWD. That partnership involves aiding in ethics and leadership training. Even larger organizations such as the AGD and the ADA are leaning on the ACD for leadership training. The Membership Committee of the ADA recently voted for the ACD to conduct their Diversity Institute. The ACD will be presenting an Ethics Symposium at the AGD’s Scientific Session next summer. At SHIFT 11 in Rockville this past June, representatives of the ADA, AGD, NDA and
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
AAWD left in awe at what the ACD is doing in leadership training. Please bear in mind that I am not boastful; I am thankful that the ACD is at a place where we are willing and able to reach out to all organizations to assist and partner without any direct reward which reminds me of the motto of the Three Musketeers, All for One and One for All. This could not happen without the support of the College and without the support of you, the Fellows in Regency 1. You are making this happen; thank you. Tom Paumier, ADA President Elect, made comments after my words to the Alabama ACD and thanked the ACD for what we are doing in partnering and especially in working with CEBJA and ASDE to develop new ethics videos and courses. His thanks centered around working together instead of duplicating which saves resources. This truly is a new day in dentistry. Make a point to come to Santa Barbara on October 23rd and 24th for the ACD Annual Meeting to see firsthand what an impact you are having.
[3]
ACD Message from the Executive Director July 14, 2026
An Outstanding Year with Enhanced Engagement by our Fellows.
W
e are continuing to have an outstanding year measured by our Fellow’s enhanced engagement in the College’s programs and events. Our ethics and leadership programming have dramatically increased with new CE training and podcasts being developed each month. So, if someone asks, “What is the ACD doing in its role as the conscience of dentistry/dental ethics,” you can tell them that we’ve updated the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry, and the new companion course will launch soon with the ACD Classroom. ACD Classroom is a new learning management system that will replace dentalethics.org with updated courses on a contemporary platform where we will continue to provide free access to ethics learning modules, courses, videos, and other resources. And if someone asks, “Why is the ACD so involved in leadership,” you can tell them that the more prepared we are to lead, the better we can share the value of ethics and professionalism in oral healthcare.
[4]
Furthermore, if they say, “Where do I go to learn more,” you can say visit our website, acd.org, for more information. In fact, we are in the process of revamping our website so that it will be even easier to navigate. We hope to launch the new website sometime before the annual meeting in Santa Barbara in October. Please log on to see important dates and information about our programs. Perhaps best of all is that we are partnering with many other dental organizations to develop these ethics and leadership programs including ASDE, ADA, AGD, NDA, AAWD, HDA, and SAID. In addition, we are partnering with the St. André International Institute for Dental Ethics next year in France, to put on an Ethics and Leadership Symposium. So get involved in the Section today and we hope to see many of you in Santa Barbara this October! Mike Graham Executive Director, American College of Dentists
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
NY Section Chair Report Chair: Dr. Steven H. Cho
NY Section Summer Social Event at the Morgan Musuem in NYC.
I
t has been an honor serving as Chair of the New York Section of the American College of Dentists. The past several months have been filled with meaningful opportunities to promote the values that define our College—ethics, professionalism, leadership, and service. Our year began with an outstanding Spring Meeting featuring Dr. Leslie Halpern, whose presentation on Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of the Dental Professional challenged us to recognize the unique role dentists play in identifying and assisting vulnerable patients. The program was well attended and stimulated thoughtful discussion among our Fellows. One of the most rewarding aspects of serving as Chair has been representing the American College of Dentists before the next generation of dentists. This spring, I had the privilege of participating in the White Coat Ceremony at Touro College of Dental Medicine, where I spoke to students about the importance of integrity, compassion, ethical decision-making, and lifelong service to our profession. I look forward to representing the College again this summer at the White Coat Ceremony at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. We also continue to engage with SPEA students at our local dental schools, fostering relationships that we hope will inspire future Fellows and leaders of the College.
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
Our annual Summer Social at the historic Morgan Library & Museum brought together Fellows and guests for an afternoon of friendship and fellowship. Beyond enjoying one of New York City’s cultural treasures, the gathering reminded us that one of the College’s greatest strengths is the relationships we build with one another. The New York Section remains committed to leadership within the College. We were proud that our Chair-Elect, Dr. Mark Bronsky, and our Vice Chair, Dr. Scott Firestone, represented our Section at the Spring Leadership Conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Their participation reflects our ongoing commitment to leadership development and collaboration with our colleagues throughout Regency I. As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome Lance Plunkett, Esq., legal counsel for the New York State Dental Association, as the featured speaker at our Fall Meeting. His presentation on contemporary legal and ethical issues promises to provide valuable insight for our Fellows. We also hope to welcome members of the national leadership to join us for the meeting. The strength of our Section comes from the dedication and engagement of our Fellows. I am grateful to our officers and Regents whose commitment has made this a productive beginning to the year.
[5]
REGENCY
1
NY Section (cont.)
NY Section Summer Social Event at the Morgan Musuem in NYC.
NY Section Annual Banquet held in February.
NY Section Spring meeting.
Dr Cho, the Section Chair, speaking at the Touro CDM White Coat Ceremony.
Our Section is especially grateful for the guidance, leadership, and unwavering support of Dr. Julie Connolly during her service as our Regent. Her dedication to the New York Section and to Regency 1 has been invaluable, and we sincerely appreciate her mentorship and advocacy on our behalf. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Connolly on her selection as Treasurer of the American College of Dentists. We know she will serve the College with the same vision, integrity, and commitment that
have benefited our Section for so many years.
[6]
I also want to acknowledge the spirit of collaboration that exists throughout Regency 1. I look forward to working together as we continue to strengthen our Sections and inspire the next generation of ethical leaders in dentistry. With best wishes for a wonderful summer, Steven H. Cho, DDS Chair, New York Section
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
Atlantic Provinces Section Report Chair: Dr. Alan Robinson
Dalhousie Class of 2026.
A
s a Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Dalhousie Dental School Convocation Dinner on May 28th, ACD Atlantic provided the White Coats for the 2026 Graduates of the Dalhousie DDS Program. Our past Chair Dr. Deb Mathews spoke on behalf of the Atlantic Section, describing the mission and vision of ACD and welcomed the graduates to the profession. Our section continues to support the SPEA program and we were pleased to present DDS ‘26 graduate Vy Dang with the American College of Dentistry Award for scholastic achievement, ethical and compassionate patient care and strong leadership abilities at the convocation. Congratulations Vy! Several of our fellows were honored with awards and recognitions this year. Dr. Debora Mathews received the Distinguished Service Awards from both the Canadian Academy of Periodontology and the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. Deb has also retired from private practice and the Faculty of Dentistry where she was a full Professor and Director of the Masters in Periodontics program, a program she
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
developed and implemented in 2011. Congratulations on your retirement Deb! Dr. Terrie Logue was inducted as the President of the Canadian Section of the International College of Dentists in March. Dr. Logue was joined by three other ACD fellows Dr. Jennifer MacLellan, Dr. Heather Carr, and Dr. Michelle Zwicker in receiving Dalhousie University Outstanding Alumni Awards. I’m proud to report three of our fellows were recently recognized by the Canadian Dental Association at their annual meeting in April. Receiving the Canadian Dental Association Distinguished Service Award was Dr.. Daniel Albert of Halifax Nova Scotia. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the dental profession , the dental community, or the oral health of Canadians through exceptional service over many years. Dr.. Albert has spent many years providing comprehensive ER care to a large number of patients with special needs in his community as well as volunteering with the provincial association.
[7]
REGENCY
1
Atlantic Provinces (cont.) Chair: Dr. Alan Robinson
Dr. Debora Mathews received the Distinguished Service Awards from both the Canadian Academy of Periodontology and the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry.
CDA Award of Merit, Dr. Pat Redmond received his award from Dr. Bruce Ward.
Dr. Dana Coles received the CDA Award of Merit.
CDA Award of Merit recipients were Dr. Dana Coles of Cornwall PEI and Dr. Patrick Redmond of Gander Newfoundland. This award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the CDA, the dental profession, the dental community, or the oral health of Canadians. Dr.. Coles capably represented Prince Edward Island on the CDA Board of Governors and has also served in various volunteer roles with her provincial association. Dr. Redmond has volunteered countless hours for the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association as treasurer and a member of the CDA USC & LS committee. He also operates 14 Dental Clinics in remote areas of Newfoundland and
[8]
Dr. Logue was joined by three other ACD fellows Dr. Jennifer MacLellan, Dr. Heather Carr, and Dr. Michelle Zwicker in receiving Dalhousie University Outstanding Alumni Awards.
CDA Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Daniel Albert.
Labrador to provide dental care to under serviced areas of the province . Congratulations to Daniel, Dana and Pat on these well deserved National awards. The Atlantic Section will be holding our annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia the afternoon of September 27th at the Citadel Oral Surgery Learning Center with dinner that evening, restaurant tba. We are fortunate to be hosting our Regent, Dr. Julie Connolly, and look forward to showing her some East Coast hospitality! Respectfully Submitted, Alan Robinson Chair, Atlantic Provinces.
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
New England Section Report Chair: Dr. Janis Moriarty
Summer Greetings from the New England Section!
O
ur year started off strong with our signature Annual Luncheon with ICD, held in January during Yankee Dental Congress. In addition to ACD Executive Director Mike Graham and ACDNE Fellow and ADA President Rich Rosato, we were pleased to have many new fellows in attendance as well as one of our two 50 Year Fellows, Dr. Dan Green. The Thomas F. Winkler III Leadership Award was presented to Bob Bartro by Past Section Chair Lonnie Norris. We also present the Outstanding Senior Leadership Awards to a senior student from each of the five schools in our section. We sponsor a CE course at Yankee each year and had a full room for “Ethical Considerations While Addressing Oral Health Throughout the Life Spectrum” presented by ACDNE Editor Kadambari Rawal, Talia Miller and Honorary Fellow Ms. Catherine Sarkis, Esq. Following the lecture, we hosted an informal reception for fellows and non-fellows which was small but impactful for those who attended.
ACD President, Dr. Rosato and ACD NE Past Chair and Dean Emeritus at Tufts, Dr. Lonnie Norris.
The April and May took four of our officers to the Spring Section Leadership Conference in Niagra-onthe-Lake and we enjoyed meeting new friends and offering our feedback on the Standards in Leadership in Oral Healthcare. Including section leaders at this event is something we will continue to support. I was honored to present our second 50 Year Fellow, Dr. Abraham Haddad, with his medal and certificate at the office of another ACD Fellow, Dr. Ancy Verdier, in the early summer. We continue to hope to provide increased value to members by offering continuing education in small chunks, online. In May we were pleased to host Dr. Howard Israel who did a live webinar on Dentists During the Nazi Regime. This was well attended by our standards, and the audience enjoyed learning about this important topic and its relationship to bioethics and the current world. There is a fall webinar in the planning stages, and we are happy to announce
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
Dr. Bob Barto received the Winkler Award and Dr. Jeff Dodge received the Zissi Award at the ACD/ ICD Luncheon.
[9]
REGENCY
1
New England (cont.)
our that we will be sponsoring a course at the next Yankee Dental Congress on January 28,2027 from1pm-3pm titled “Scaling Impact: How Dentistry, the Law, and Artificial Intelligence Align in Modern Dentistry” presented by Drs. Stephanie Ganter and Bob McNeill. We encourage you to attend as there will be much for ACD Fellows to do at this annual three-day meeting. Our Editor Kadambari Rawal submitted our Newsletter to the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists and she was recently notified that it will be awarded the International College of Dentists Silver Scroll Award and their Annual Conference and Meeting in conjunction with ICD USA in October. We are very proud of the work Kady has done to reformat our Newsletter, now publishing it biannually.
Student OSL Award Winners with their Deans.
We are extremely proud of our Immediate Past Chair Maria Smith, who will be the next Regency 1 Regent following the Annual Meeting in October. We are looking forward to Catching the Wave in Santa Barbara and meeting and onboarding our new fellows from the six New England states! Cheers,
Student OSL Award Winners.
Janis Moriarty ACDNE Chair
[ 10 ]
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
Western New York Section Chair: Dr. Theresa Casper-Klock
Cayuga Museum of History and Art tour attendees.
July 20, 2026
T
he Annual Meeting of the Western New York Section of ACD took place in Auburn, NY July 17-19 at the Hilton Garden Inn and surrounding area. Some of the Fellows gathered on Friday evening for a light dinner and cocktails in the hospitality suite upon their arrival to the hotel.
Saturday is always the focus of the weekend and this was like no other...mostly. While the schedule of Saturday’s activities had been set, it was upended when we were notified on Friday of a massive power surge having broken the lighting system of the planetarium we planned to visit. Rolling with the punches, and thanking God that we were in an area rich with history, we had a fast resolution to our problem. The group toured the Cayuga Museum of History and Art and the Case Research Lab.
having brought many other family and friends out of slavery. She lived in Auburn for the last 54 years of her life, making friends with the William Seward family while here. Next it was back to the Hilton for our annual meeting. Reports were given by Julie Connelly, Regent; Rick Andolina, Treasurer; Bill Calnon, Board Member, and Theresa Casper-Klock, WNY Chair. In depth information will be captured in our minutes but in brief, many issues were discussed.
Theodore Case was responsible for putting sound on film. After a nice lunch, we were off to hear the life story of our very own Harriett Tubman. She was an enslaved woman who ended up working as a scout, nurse, and spy during the Civil War, not to mention
Leadership conferences have taken place and more are coming for those who are interested. Fellows are urged to participate in the nominations process which has been changed and made much more user-friendly. It has been decided to have the ACD not participate in Giving Tuesday this year but rather focus on the birthday of the ACD which is in August instead. There was the Acknowledgment of Attachments for 15 and 25-year ACD pins. There has been considerable discussion for years regarding adding an undergraduate dental school to the already existing postgraduate Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester. Both the
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
[ 11 ]
REGENCY
1
Western New York (cont.)
Theodore Case was responsible for putting sound on film.
Regents Bill Calnon and Julie Connolly.
URMC Board of Trustees and the UR Trustees have approved the concept. A draft curriculum has been submitted to the NYS Education Department as well as CODA. There are three new Regents coming on to the ACD Board, one of whom is our new Regent, Maria Smith and we look forward to having her attend our annual meeting next year. On August 4, 2026 there will be a dedication ceremony in Niagara Falls for a new plaque to be unveiled acknowledging the beginning of the American Dental Association. We are in discussions with SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine to try to work on an ethics program with them for the D1 students. They may be able to work something in for the D3 students as well. Jen Helfer, also from Buffalo, is doing a podcast and she is asking for ACD Fellows to speak with her. I will be reaching out to individuals as we move along with this idea. This may be a really great way to increase visibility to the ACD.
vidual to handle our newsletter. We have had a wonderful Fellow, Dr. Kevin Hanley, recently retire from this position. We briefly discussed the possibility of starting our own website for the Western NY Section so that it could be used for notifications, photos, and posting activities. If possible, we may incorporate CE into next year’s meeting.
We are asking that anyone interested in being Vice chair of the WNY Section please let us know sooner rather than later so that they can learn what a chair does and perhaps engage in some of the leadership conferences as well. We are also looking for an indi-
[ 12 ]
We closed the meeting with a thank you to Julie who has attended our meetings and has been a wonderful asset to the ACD in the Regent capacity. We are very lucky that we are not losing her but that the ACD has moved her to the position of Treasurer. While we will miss her, she will certainly be an asset to the ACD in that capacity. A relaxing dinner at Moro’s Table in Auburn completed our weekend with good food and great friends. Our colleagues and spouses are people that have such interesting lives and someone always has a great story to share! As busy as this weekend was, I am already looking forward to next year! Oh, and save the tentative date...August 6-8, 2027. Respectfully submitted, Theresa Casper-Klock, WNY Chair
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
Quebec Section Report Chair: Dr. Veronique Benhamou
Quebec Section Summary of Events
T
he ACD Quebec Section has faced challenges with Fellow engagement and is now placing renewed emphasis on recruitment, university outreach, and student engagement to bring fresh energy to the Section’s future. Over the next year, the Section will actively identify and mentor prospective Fellows while highlighting the value of ACD Fellowship as a recognition of ethics, professionalism, and leadership in dentistry. It will also work to increase the visibility of ACD Continuing Education programming in Quebec, particularly through potential collaboration with the provincial professional order and its annual congress.
Dr. Kenneth Bentley honored for 50 years of Fellowship.
Fellows affiliated with Quebec dental schools have been encouraged to promote ethics and professionalism within academic activities. The Section is pleased to report the creation of a SPEA Chapter at the McGill University Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and will support similar initiatives at Université de Montréal and Université Laval. On August 5, 2025, Dr. Kenneth Bentley was honoured at a dinner recognizing his 50 years of ACD Fellowship.
Dr. Herb Borsuk, Dr. Keneth Bentley, and Dr. Martin Tyler.
Julie Connolly, DDS | julieconnollydds@nyperio.com | 212.888.7477
[ 13 ]
SPEA Update
COLUMBIA My name is Ruotong Wang, and I am a rising fourth-year dental student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. This year, I have had the privilege of serving as the Regent of SPEA Regency 1. SPEA has collaborated closely with ACD Regency 1 throughout the past year to promote ethical and professional discussion among dental students in the regency. Last October, Columbia University SPEA Chapter President Lauren Monette and I represented our chapter at the SPEA Annual Session, where we connected with student leaders from across the country. The Annual Session offered valuable insight into chapter development and gave us new ideas for advocating dental ethics and professionalism within the student community through events and activities. This January, I worked with ACD Regency 1 to invite SPEA leaders to the Regency 1 Leadership Meeting in Boston, where I met chapter leaders from Columbia and Boston University. I would
[ 14 ]
also like to thank the ACD New York Section for inviting student leaders from Columbia, NYU, Stony Brook, and Touro to the annual banquet. These events created meaningful opportunities for interchapter collaboration and strengthened the bridge of communication between ACD and dental students. On behalf of SPEA Regency 1, I want to express our sincere gratitude to the ACD Regency 1. The mentorship and guidance ACD members have offered throughout the year have broadened our students’ perspectives and deepened their awareness of the ethical challenges they will face in their future careers. Our collaboration with ACD has enriched SPEA events well beyond clinical and ethical topics, providing students with valuable professional and career insights. Ruotong Wang D4 Columbia College of Dental Medicine
American College of Dentists | Regency 1 | Summer 2026
REGENCY
1
Useful Links
Register for the 2026 ACD Annual Meeting and Convocation
Nomination and Selection of Fellows
The common characteristic shared by successful candidates for Fellowship is demonstrated leadership in some aspect of dentistry or public service. The selection process for Fellowship utilizes a well-established, confidential peer review system evaluating professional and community leadership positions, contributions, and credentials. Please nominate outstanding colleagues today!
ETHICS HANDBOOK FOR DENTISTRY
Review the 2024-2029 ACD Strategic Plan