Governance

The Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA) is the oldest, and largest, professional association for organized dentistry in Maryland. The MSDA is part of a tripartite membership with the American Dental Association (ADA) and the local components.

Committees

Join a committee and get involved today! Email info@msda.com for information and to join!

Continuing Education (CE)

(Chair –Dr. Luke Morgan; Vice Chair –Dr. Ashley Moy; Staff – Sarah Beckmann, Dorian Birkholz, and Aly Rose)

The CE Committee oversees all of the MSDA’s continuing education courses from those offered virtually, in the classroom, or one of our conferences like the Chesapeake Dental Conference. The committee is always looking for new dynamic speakers and topics that are relevant to improving your clinical care or running your practice. The CE Committee also administers the MSDA’s dental assistant and radiology programs.

Membership

(Chair – Dr. Diane Romaine; Vice Chair – Vacant; Staff – Chrys Bell and Laurie Oertel)

The Membership Committee looks at ways the association can support and assist our members. The committee will host various events and receptions to help connect members to the issues and each other. The committee works to recruit new members to the Association and provide recommendations that keep the association relevant.

Diversity, Equity, Belonging, & Inclusion (DEBI)

(Chairs –Dr. Francis Morgan; Staff – Greg Buckler)

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee focuses on providing recommendations, education, and programs that will capitalize on each member’s strengths and giving everyone a voice within THEIR Association. The committee will strive to bring awareness to those items that may cause some to not feel included or welcomed. Recommendations and programs will look at, but not limit to, conscious and unconscious (implicit) biases surrounding religious, ethnicity, geographic, and other lifestyle choices.

Legislative Affairs

(Chair – Dr. Charles Doring; Vice Chair – Dr. Tom a’Becket ; Staff – Greg Buckler; Lobbyist – Dan Doherty, Esq.; Consultant – Beth Levine)

The Legislative Affairs Committee develops the MSDA’s strategy towards the Association’s legislative agenda. This involves both legislative and regulatory issues. The committee provides recommendations to the House of Delegates for the MSDA’s policy positions and then carries out the House of Delegates’ decisions. Advocacy and lobbying efforts occur primarily with the Maryland General Assembly, Governor’s Office, Maryland Department of Health, and the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners.

Peer Review

(Chair – Dr. Scott Gritz; Staff – Monique Moore)

The Peer Review Committee supports the profession by providing peer mediation services between provider and patient in cases focused on quality of care and other clinical procedures.

New Dentist

(Co-Chairs – Dr. Kelly Betts and Dr. Chad Love; Staff – Chrys Bell and Laurie Oertel)

The New Dentist Committee provides support and programs for those members less than ten years out of dental school. The Committee hosts several events annually as well as supports the dental school and students.

MARPAC

(Chair – Dr. George Grillon; Vice Chair – Dr. Mark Horner; Staff – Greg Buckler)

The Maryland State Dental Political Action Committee (MARPAC) reviews campaign fundraiser requests and designates which candidates to financially support. The funds are awarded from member contributors during the dues renewal process and other contributions. Financially supporting those elected officials that are friends to dentistry is an important part of the MSDA’s legislative agenda and success. MARPAC is always looking for members to attend the legislative fundraisers it supports.

Leadership

(Co-Chairs – Dr. Kevin Banks and Dr. Stephen Dargan; Staff – Greg Buckler)

The Leadership Committee (established in 2021) seeks to developing program and other resources that support the leadership development needs of our members, the components and the MSDA. Programming will focus on providing opportunities for members to develop their own leadership as well as resources for new and seasoned leaders to be better prepared to take on leadership roles, at any level, within the state or local component.

Constitution and Bylaws

(Chair – Dr. Ron Mancini; Staff – Mr. Greg Buckler)

The Constitution and Bylaws committee reviews the MSDA’s governing documents and provides recommendations to the House of Delegates for amendments to strengthen the documents. The committee will also review other submitted resolutions before the House of Delegates and provide feedback.

General Arrangements

(Chair – Dr. Luke Morgan; Staff – Dorian Birkholz, Sarah Laumann, and Sarah Beckmann)

The General Arrangements Committee is tasked with planning the MSDA’s annual meeting – The Chesapeake Dental Conference.

Dental Association Company (DAC)

(President – Dr. Chris Liang; Vice President – vacant; Staff – Chrys Bell and Laurie Oertel)

DAC is the MSDA’s for-profit subsidiary. The DAC Board is charged with reviewing and thoroughly vetting all of the Association’s Member Perks partners. Member Perks partners are established businesses that can provide savings to your practice, or your staff, through discounts and other cost savings. New directors are being sought to provide the prospective from an associate or employee dentist that may not own their own practice

MSDA Charitable and Education Foundation

(President – Dr. Tom a’Becket; Staff – Greg Buckler, Saisha Coleman, and Dawn Robertson)

The MSDA Foundation is the non-profit charitable subsidiary of the MSDA. The Foundation leads programs that support access like its new Mini-MOM clinics, Denture Access Days (DADs), as well as other educational, research, and other awareness.

Dental Association Company (DAC)

(President – Dr. Chris Liang; Vice President – vacant; Staff – Chrys Bell and Laurie Oertel)

DAC is the MSDA’s for-profit subsidiary. The DAC Board is charged with reviewing and thoroughly vetting all of the Association’s Member Perks partners. Member Perks partners are established businesses that can provide savings to your practice, or your staff, through discounts and other cost savings. New directors are being sought to provide the prospective from an associate or employee dentist that may not own their own practice

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the administrative body of the MSDA. The Board of Trustees is comprised of a representative (Trustee) from each of the local components, the Executive Committee, and consultants (ex-officio) that meet four times per year to ensure the activity of the Association are in line with the direction of the House of Delegates.

Allegany-Garrett Dental Society

Dr. Howard Strauss

Contact

Anne Arundel County Dental Society

Dr. Wendy A Brown

Contact

Baltimore City Dental Society

Dr. Guy Alexander

Contact

Baltimore County Dental Association

Dr. William Martin III

Contact

Carroll County Dental Society

Dr. Jeff Jarvis

Contact

Eastern Shore Dental Society

Dr. Joseph Merai

Contact

Frederick County Dental Society

Dr. Omar Mahmassani

Contact

Harford-Cecil Dental Society

Dr. Peggy Leary

Contact

Howard County Dental Association, Inc.

Dr. Ty Saini

Contact

Patuxent Dental Society

Dr. Michelle Tolbert

Contact

Southern Maryland Dental Society

Dr. Charles Doring

Contact

Washington County Dental Society

Dr. Brenda Paul

Contact

ASDA Trustee

Fady Basili

Contact

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the leadership of the MSDA. The Executive Committee meets during the interim of the Board of Trustees and House of Delegates to speak for and advance the Association. The Executive Committee is comprised of the President, President-Elect, Vice President, Vice President-Elect, Speaker of the House, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Immediate Past President and the Executive Director (ex-officio).

PRESIDENT

Dr. Alexandra Fitzgerald
Frederick County Dental Society

Contact

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Dr. Celeste Ziara

Eastern Shore Dental Society

Contact

Vice-President

Dr. Lyndsay Kuzmak
Carroll County Dental Society

Contact

Vice-President Elect

Dr. Gretchen Seibert
Allegany Garrett Dental Society

Contact

Secretary

Dr. Steven Feldman

Southern Maryland Dental Society

Contact

Treasurer

Dr. Jay Nokkeo

Southern Maryland Dental Society

Contact

Editor

Dr. Tristram C Kruger
Southern Maryland Dental Society

Contact

Past President

Dr. Winifred Booker

Baltimore County Dental Association

Contact

Speaker of the House

Dr. Robert Wilson, Jr

Southern Maryland Dental Society

Contact

House of Delegates

All members are encouraged to attend the MSDA House of Delegates. The House is the governing body of our association and sets the policies and the legislative agenda of our organization. At the first session on Friday, the Reference Committees will hear testimony on the resolutions before the House. This is an opportunity for a member to speak regarding any issue or report that will be considered.