for 2026 ACD Convocation Deadline for nominations
February 1, 2026
Live ACD Webinar: Insights for Managing Your Charitable Giving
November 12, 2025 | 5 - 6 p.m. Register at acd.org
Giving Tuesday, ACDF
December 2, 2025
ACD WA Section Study Club
December 8, 2025
March 6, 2026
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Seattle, WA + Virtual
SPEA Mentor-Mentee Mixer
March 19, 2026
Tri-College Educational Continuum
AI in Dentistry: Innovation, Application, & Ethical Responsibility
March 20, 2026 | 8:30 - 3:00 Washington Athletic Club Seattle, WA
Washington Section Annual Meeting | May 30, 2026
5:00 p.m. at Hotel Theodore Seattle, WA during PNDC
ACD Annual Meeting
October 23-24, 2026
(Note change to Friday - Saturday meeting) Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort Registration Opens ~June 1, 2026
American College of Dentists | Washington Section
The American College of Dentists Fellowship Convocation Class of 2025 ceremoniously processed into the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington DC following ag bearers of the US flag; Past Presidents of the College; the Board of Regents; Awardees; and Sponsors of
Historic and important elements of the ceremony included the College Mace, a symbol of strength, and Torch, a symbol of clarity of purpose and
The procession of new Fellowship Candidates is a moving part of the convocation as the audience rises to acknowledge the Candidates, who are the future of the American College of
The one thing that is universal as Candidates cross the stage and as recipients of the several awards that
the College confers come forward, is a beaming smile. That smile represents the many choices that each individual has made which has led up to this moment in their life.
Now that induction is complete for the ACD Fellowship Class of 2025, what is next? Fellows are now entitled to the privileges and responsibilities of this organization. They can now begin to add “FACD” or “Fellow of the American College of Dentists” to academic, professional, and community signature blocks, although it cannot be used to advertise for commercial purposes. Fellows are invited to engage in Section activities and share their gifts to further the mission of the College. Another privilege is that of nominating worthy colleagues for Fellowship to advance the mission of the College and to add their beaming smile to future stages during the convocation ceremony.
Use this QR code to see the Convocation highlight video on YouTube which features
Washington Section Fellowship Class of 2025
Cheryl Cameron
Ashland Doomes
Minou Karbakhsch
Avina Paranjpe
Christopher Shyue
Ambika Srivastava
Robert Faiella presides over the convocation ceremony and welcomes new Fellows with a heartfelt handshake
Dr. Cheryl Cameron, was one of only three individuals to be recognized for Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Dentists for the 2025 Convocation. Honorary Fellowship is bestowed upon
an individual who has demonstrated leadership and achievements in oral healthcare that would make them worthy of Fellowship in ACD except that they are not dentists. The work of an Honorary Fellow exemplifies the highest ideals of the mission of the College.
Dr. Cameron, a professor in Oral Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, is also a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, and she epitomizes ethics and professionalism. Her contributions to dentistry and human welfare go well beyond ordinary expectations. Her national and international research and publications have enriched ethics and jurisprudence in oral healthcare immeasurably, and her potential to advance the mission of the College and serve the ACD is unquestionable.
ACD Executive Director, Mike Graham, congratulates Robin Henderson, Washington Section Editor, as she receives recognition for the Section Newsletter Award
obin Henderson, Washington Section Editor, was recognized during the American College of Dentists Annual Business Meeting in Washington DC for the 2025 Section Newsletter Award. The Section Newsletter Award is based on overall quality, design, content, and technical excellence. Electronic newsletters are highly
The awardees are selected by the Board of Regents after scoring and recommendation by the Communications Committee upon submission for consideration by the Section Chair. ACD Communications Committee Chair, Brenda Thomson, Regent from Regency 4, announced the recipients for the 2025 award.
The designation is held for three years, when a Section must reapply and reaffirm their continued work in Section communications. Washington Section received this honor in 2020, when Henderson, Editor, was previously recognized for this award.
The Regency 8 Breakout Session was very well attended, with nearly every seat taken, and Fellows were energetic and engaged during this late afternoon event of the first day of the annual meeting.
Regency 8 is comprised of the Washington Section (which includes Alaska), the British Columbia Section, the Colorado Section (which includes Wyoming), the Montana Section, the Oregon Section (which includes Idaho), the Utah Section, the Western Canada Section (which includes Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan), and the International Section (excluding Europe).
Fellows and Candidates began with selfintroductions and then Section leaders shared news and ideas from their Section. Regent, Robin Henderson, shared updates of the College and Foundation.
The room was set with round tables that were perfect for conversation. A handout titled “ACD 101” was provided. This contained information about the College and
Officers: Officers are nominated by the 3 most immediate past presidents of the College, the president, and president elect and elected by acclamation.
Regencies: Regents are nominated by Section Chairs within the Regency and elected by acclamation.
Sections: Sections are led by local Fellows elected by the Section Fellows.
Fellows: Fellows are nominated by Colleagues and accepted by peers.
The ACD is organized by an executive committee of Officers and the three senior regents, a Board of Regents, Sections, and Fellows, as illustrated above. The College is a grass-roots organization formed in 1920 by
dentistry to increase professionalism and ethics in the profession.
“Leadership” became an official part of the mission in the early 2000s and developing leadership is a main focus of the current strategic plan.
The Regency Dinner is something to look forward to. Every aspect of our Annual Meeting is special but the Regency Dinner is
incredible opportunity for Fellows and friends from across our Regency, as well as leaders in the College, and College sta to enjoy social time to strengthen friendships
This year the Regency 8 dinner was attended by Fellows from Washington British Columbia, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, Utah, California, and Indiana, in addition to guests and Matthew Sheriff, the ACD Communications Director. Our Regency dinner was exciting too in that it was held in a Washington DC landmark restaurant, Old Ebbitt Grill, which was founded in 1856 and has
the 2024 Annual meeting in New Orleans at Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House restaurant; part of a longstanding New Orleans restaurant family. It was Dr. Rucker’s idea based on his great experiences with the British Columbia Section dinners during the Annual Meeting in the past. So much fun was had at that first Regency Dinner that the College decided to host this for all Regencies in 2025. This year the ACD staff handled the contracts with the restaurants, the Fellows’ reservations, and all the details to allow for a smooth and enjoyable event!
and hosted by Lance Rucker, Immediate Past Regent of Regency 8, and Robin Henderson, Regent, during
celebration of the first day of the Annual Meeting. It is also an opportunity to experience local cuisine. Oftentimes you may enjoy dinner with your Section but this allows for engagement across an even wider community within the College as we celebrate and and enjoy Fellowship.
You are strongly encouraged to nominate outstanding colleagues for Fellowship in ACD. The deadline for consideration for the 2026 convocation ceremony in Santa Barbara, CA is February 1, 2026. Please provide a thorough and specific description of your nominee’s commitment to leadership within dentistry and in service the wider community. For nomination of dentists in the earlier years of their career, please focus on the leadership trajectory and potential of the nominee. You are encouraged to use direct and detailed examples of your nominee’s contributions, and to thoroughly describe the value of those contributions when completing the form. In the past, you were not able to communicate directly with your nominee(s) that you were submitting them for Fellowship. Now you are able to converse with them about this and gather the information needed to submit a strong nomination. The link below will take you to the nomination form on the ACD website.
https://www.ACD.org/ nominations/
Please inform Washington Section Chair, Darcie Morris, of your nomination so she can help to coordinate nominations for our Section as they are part of our Model Section status. Also, she is happy to help review your nomination and ensure that it is complete. darciemorris@gmail.com
available at ACD.org. An exciting new feature allows you to listen to the articles on demand.
ACD + ICD = MENTOR x MENTEE MIXER When our organizations combine, our effects can multiply! PLEASE use the QR code here for communication about this casual after-work mixer that is planned for the evening of March 19, 2026 in Seattle
SAndrew Pak, D3; Kate Streck, D2
Sharon Jang, D3; Jane Soper, D2
Donna Cisneros, D2; Thinh Do, D2
“ The conference made me realize how powerful it is to talk openly about professionalism and ethics, not as abstract ideas but as real situations we navigate everyday.”
~ Sharon Jang
tudents from the UWSOD showed much excitement for the SPEA Annual Meeting in Washington DC October 24-25th as seven attended, including outgoing SPEA Regent, Annalise Kress. Our Washington Section helps to support the expense of students attending by paying a portion of the travel expenses following the students completing a formal application. This year our Section supported four students to travel to the meeting. The SPEA Annual Meeting itself is free for students to attend as it is underwritten by ACD. The ACD main office also helps to co-sponsor one student from our Section. Immediately upon returning from the meeting, Thinh Do emailed his gratitude and said “It gave me good insight on the current climate of dentistry and I got to connect with a lot of peers nationwide and beyond which was very fulfilling for me.”
SPEA leader Sharon Jang said “The conference made me realize how powerful it is to talk openly about
Elections were held during the National Annual Meeting of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry (SPEA) in Washington DC and UWSOD student, Kate M. Streck was elected to the national position as Regent of Regency 7. Regency 7 is the West Coast Regency covering representation for dental schools in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Utah. This is the second year that a UWSOD student has held this national position as Annalise Kress, UWSOD Candidate, Class of 2026, held this position last year. Kate was inspired by the people she met at the Annual meeting and states that she “spoke with very passionate and like-minded individuals which reminded me why I pursued dentistry in the first place. Everyone embodied the values of this organization which motivated me to continue growing personally and professionally. “
Congratulations, Kate!
Washington Section Officers
Chair — Darcie Morris, DDS darciemorris@gmail.com
Secretary — Lauren Hagel, DDS, MSD
Treasurer — Dat Giap, DMD
Past Chair — Susan Adams, DDS
Editor — Robin J. Henderson, DDS robin@robinhendersondds.com
SPEA Advisor UWSOD — Kerry Streiff
While every effort is made by the Editor to see that no inaccurate or misleading opinions or statements appear in this Newsletter, the opinions expressed herein are the responsibility of the contributor. Accordingly, the officers accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading opinions or statements.
