New officers installed by House of Delegates
Brett H. Kessler, D.D.S., voted president-elect; Edwin A. del Valle-Sepulveda, D.M.D., J.D., named second vice president
Orlando, Fla. — Linda Edgar, D.D.S., of Federal Way, Washington, was installed Oct. 10 as the 160th president of the American Dental Association.
Dr. Edgar and the new and returning officers of the Association were installed at the ADA House of Delegates meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Edgar is a past trustee for the 11th District and has served as a delegate to the ADA House and as a member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. She is a past president and past secretary of the Academy of General Dentistry, past president of the Seattle King County Dental Society, and fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Academy of Dentistry International. She was chair of the University of Washington School of Dentistry's $22 million fundraising campaign for more than 10 years and has competed in 45 marathons and two Ironman Triathlon competitions.
President-elect
Brett H. Kessler, D.D.S., a Denver dentist and 14th District trustee, was voted president-elect.
Dr. Kessler is the former president of the Colorado Dental Association and the founding chair of the Colorado Dental Association Foundation. He received his dental degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.
“The changemaker movement is on, and I’m so so grateful, and I’m looking so forward to these next two years,” Dr. Kessler told the House of Delegates.
Second vice president
Edwin A. del Valle-Sepulveda, D.M.D., J.D., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was named second vice president.
Dr. del Valle-Sepulveda is the former president of the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Puerto Rico and received his dental degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine.
“I am so excited,” Dr. del Valle-Sepulveda told the House of Delegates. “I hope to lead to your expectations. I thank you for trusting in me.”
New trustees
Dr. Jonathan B. Knapp, D.M.D., a family dentist in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is the new 1st District trustee. He served as co-chair of the Legislative Council of the Connecticut State Dental Association and chair of the ADA’s Council on Dental Practice. He currently serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Information Exchange of the ADA’s Standards Committee on Dental Informatics recognized Committee on Dental Informatics. Dr. Knapp earned his dental degree in 1989 from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Allen Reavis, D.D.S., a general dentist in Atchison, Kansas, is the new 12th District trustee. He is the current dental director and dental provider at Atchison Community Health Clinic. He is the former owner of Atchison Dental Associates, a private dental practice, and previously worked as the chief of dentistry at Atchison Hospital. Dr. Reavis has served as president of the Kansas Dental Association and a five-term mayor of Atchison. He received his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.
Dr. Jeffrey Kahl, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the 14th District trustee. He is the current program director of the pediatric dental residency at Denver Health Hospital and previously worked as a partner/owner at Colorado Springs Pediatric Dentistry. He has served as president of the Colorado Dental Association, chair of the Colorado Dental Association Council on Governmental Relations and a member of the ADA’s Council on Membership. Dr. Kahl was also awarded the International College of Dentists Leadership Award in 2020. He received his dental degree from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Rita M. Cammarata, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Houston is the new 15th District trustee. She has served as president of the Greater Houston Dental Society, director of the Texas Dental Association Board of Directors and president of the Texas Dental Association. She’s also served with the ADA as a member of the Council on Dental Practice and a delegate to the House of Delegates. She received her dental degree from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston.
Gabriel Holdwick
Dr. Gabriel Holdwick, D.D.S., a general dentist in Harbor Beach, Michigan, is the ADA New Dentist Committee chair. He has owned a private practice since 2015, now leading a team of three employees and serving approximately 1,500 patients. Dr. Holdwick represented the state of Michigan as a delegate to the ADA’s House of Delegates and served on the Michigan Dental Association House of Delegates as Committee on Credentials Rules and Order chair in 2018 and reference committee Chair in 2017.
Returning officers, trustees
David J. Manzanares, D.D.S., succeeds Mark Bronson, D.D.S., as first vice president. Dr. Manzanares, a general dentist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, received his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He has served in leadership positions throughout the tripartite, including secretary/treasurer of the New Mexico Dental Association, member of the ADA Council on Communications, chair of the ADA Volunteer Engagement Program, director of the NMDA Foundation board of directors and conference chair for Fiesta NMDA, the NMDA annual meeting. He is also a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and American Equilibration Society and a fellow of the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists.
W. Mark Donald, D.M.D., a general dentist in Louisville, Mississippi, continues his second three-year term as speaker. He has served as a delegate to the ADA House of Delegates and member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. Dr. Donald is past speaker and president of the Mississippi Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry. He earned his dental degree from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in 1988.
Ted Sherwin, D.D.S., a general dentist in Orange, Virginia, continues as treasurer of the ADA. In this role, he designs a budget process with the Board of Trustees and serves as a resource for the House Reference Committee on Budget, Business, and Administrative Matters. Dr. Sherwin has served as treasurer and president of the Virginia Dental Association, president of the Shenandoah Valley Dental Association and a member of the ADA House of Delegates for 15 years. He is a fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dr. Sherwin received his dental degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.
Brendan P. Dowd, D.D.S., a retired general dentist in Buffalo, New York, is the 2nd District trustee. He served as assistant dean of clinical operations at University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and is currently a part-time clinical assistant professor. He served on the ADA House of Delegates and as a member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. Dr. Dowd is a past president of the New York State Dental Association and the Eighth District Dental Society and served on the ADA Council on Dental Practice. He graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and practiced dentistry in Niagara Falls for nearly 30 years.
James M. Boyle III, D.D.S., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in York, Pennsylvania, is the 3rd District trustee. Dr. Boyle has served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and chair of the Commission on Specialty Recognition and Certifying Boards, Council on Dental Education and Licensure, and the Continuing Education Registration Program. He also served as a past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Pennsylvania Dental Association and York County Dental Society, as well as a fellow of the American Association of Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Boyle received his dental degree from Northwestern University Dental School.
Frank J. Graham, D.M.D., an orthodontist in Teaneck, New Jersey, and Bronx, New York, is the 4th District trustee. Dr. Graham served as chair of the ADA Council on Government Affairs and the Council on Dental Practice, as well as a member of the Board of the American Dental Political Action Committee and the ADA House of Delegates since 2002. Dr. Graham also served as past president of the New Jersey Dental Association and Bergen County Dental Society. He earned his dental degree and certificate in orthodontics from Fairleigh Dickinson School of Dentistry.
Marshall H. Mann, D.D.S., a general practice dentist based in Rome, Georgia, is the 5th District trustee. An ADA member since 1979, Dr. Mann has served on the ADA Council on Members Insurance and Retirement Programs and multiple ADA committees, including the Subcommittee on Program Financials, Product Development and Budget Development. He also served as president of the Floyd County Dental Society, Northwestern District Dental Society and Georgia Dental Association. He received his dental degree from Emory University.
Michael D. Medovic, D.D.S., a general dentist from Wheeling, West Virginia, is the 6th District trustee. He is a current faculty member at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, from which he graduated in 1980. He has served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and ADA Council on Dental Practice, as well as chair of the Council on Dental Practice's National Elder Care Advisory Committee. He is a past president of the West Virginia Dental Association.
Chad R. Leighty, D.D.S., a general dentist in Marion, Indiana, is the 7th District trustee. He served as program chair of the former Council on ADA Sessions and has been an ADA member since 1993. Dr. Leighty was an Indiana floor leader as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and 7th District representative to the ADA speaker of the house. He is a past president of the Indiana Dental Association and current participant in the large group practice of P1 Dental Partners. Dr. Leighty earned his dental degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Randall C. Markarian, an orthodontist in Swansea, Illinois, is the 8th District trustee. He served as chair for the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs and the American Association of Orthodontists Council on Orthodontic Benefits. Dr. Markarian is a past president of the Illinois State Dental Society. He received his dental degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and his master's degree in orthodontics from the St. Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education.
Michele M. Tulak-Gorecki, D.D.S., a general practice dentist in Warren, Michigan, is the 9th District trustee. Dr. Tulak-Gorecki has served in the House of Delegates since 2012 and on multiple committees, including the Budget, Business and Administrative Reference Committee, the Legislative, Health, Governance and Related Matters Reference Committee, and the Dental Benefits, Practice and Related Matters Reference Committee. In addition, she served as a past president of the Michigan Dental Association and Macomb Dental Society. She is a member of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dr. Tulak-Gorecki earned her dental degree from the University of Michigan.
Scott L. Morrison, D.D.S., a periodontist from Omaha, Nebraska, is the 10th District trustee. He has served as a member of the ADA Council on Members Insurance and Retirement Programs, ADA Council on Government Affairs and ADA House of Delegates, and as an American Dental Political Action Committee action team leader and a Lobby Day participant. He is a past president of the Nebraska Dental Association. Dr. Morrison earned his dental degree from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in 1985.
John E. Hisel, D.D.S., a general dentist in Boise, Idaho, is the 11th District trustee. He serves as a member of the ADA, Academy of General Dentistry and Christian Medical and Dental Association. He is past president of the Idaho State Dental Association and was honored with both the ISDA President's Award and the ISDA Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Hisel is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy and a consultant to the Idaho State Board of Dentistry. Dr. Hisel graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry.
Karin Irani, D.D.S., a general dentist in Los Angeles is the 13th District trustee. She has served as chair of the ADA Council on Membership and the California Dental Association’s Leadership Development Committee. She also was a trustee of CDA and president of the San Fernando Valley Dental Association. She is a co-founder of Veterans Smile Day, a nonprofit organization providing free dental care to veterans nationwide. Dr. Irani earned her dental degree from Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC (University of Southern California).
Gary D. Oyster, D.D.S., a general dentist in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the 16th District trustee. He has served as an ADA delegate or alternate delegate from 2000 to 2020, an American Dental Political Action Committee board member and the vice president of the North Carolina Dental Society. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and fellow of the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists. Dr. Oyster earned his dental degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 1972.
Rudolph T. Liddell, D.M.D., a general dentist in Brandon, Florida, is the 17th District trustee. He served as a member of the ADA House of Delegates and chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. In addition, Dr. Liddell was president, secretary and trustee for the Florida Dental Association. He is a member of the West Coast District Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Association, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and Florida Academy of Dental Practice Administration. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
