Brett Kessler, D.D.S., installed as ADA president

House of Delegates elects new president-elect, second vice president, treasurer

Brett Kessler, D.D.S., of Denver was installed Oct. 22 as the 161st president of the American Dental Association.

Dr. Kessler and the new and returning officers of the Association were installed at the ADA House of Delegates meeting in New Orleans. 

Dr. Kessler previously served as 14th District trustee, president of the Colorado Dental Association and founding chair of the Colorado Dental Association Foundation. He received his dental degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

President-elect

Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D., a Concord, New Hampshire, oral surgeon was voted ADA president-elect. Dr. Rosato served as 1st District trustee, chair of the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs and president of the New Hampshire Dental Association. He received his dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Second vice president

Tamara S. Berg, D.D.S., a dentist from Yukon, Oklahoma, was voted ADA second vice president. Dr. Berg served on the ADA Council on Membership from 2019-22 and was president of the Oklahoma Dental Association in 2010. She received her dental degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry.

Treasurer

Cody C. Graves, D.D.S., a general dentist from Goldthwaite, Texas, was voted ADA treasurer. Dr. Graves is past president of the Texas Dental Association and served as its secretary/treasurer for seven years. He was also chair of the budget and finance committee for the Texas Dental Association and secretary/treasurer, vice president and president of 21-B, Heart of Texas Local Component Society. Dr. Graves obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and received his D.D.S. degree from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. He also holds an MBA from St. Edward’s University.

First vice president

Edwin A. del Valle-Sepulveda, D.M.D., J.D., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from San Juan, Puerto Rico, moves to first 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.

Speaker

W. Mark Donald, D.M.D., a general dentist in Louisville, Mississippi, continues his third 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.

New trustees

•6th District: H. Fred Howard, D.M.D., of Harlan, Kentucky.

•7th District: Manish “Manny” Chopra, D.M.D., of Mason, Ohio.

•10th District: Sara Elizabeth Stuefen, D.D.S., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

•16th District: James E. “Jim” Mercer, D.D.S., of Lexington, South Carolina.

•17th District: Andrew “Andy” Burford Brown, D.D.S., of Jacksonville, Florida.

•New Dentist Committee chair: James A. Wanamaker, D.D.S., of Syracuse, New York.

Returning trustees

•1st District: Jonathan B. Knapp, D.M.D., of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

•2nd District: Brendan P. Dowd, D.D.S., of Buffalo, New York. 

•3rd District: James M. Boyle III, D.D.S., of York, Pennsylvania. 

•4th District: Frank J. Graham, D.M.D., of Teaneck, New Jersey, and Bronx, New York.

•5th District: Marshall H. Mann, D.D.S., of Rome, Georgia.

•8th District: Randall C. Markarian, of Swansea, Illinois.

•9th District: Michele M. Tulak-Gorecki, D.D.S., of Warren, Michigan.

•11th District: John E. Hisel, D.D.S., of Boise, Idaho.

•12th District: Allen Reavis, D.D.S., of Atchison, Kansas.

•13th District: Karin Irani, D.D.S., of Los Angeles.

•14th District: Jeffrey Kahl, D.D.S., of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

•15th District: Rita M. Cammarata, D.D.S., of Houston.