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

Anne Arundel County Dental Society

Dr. Wendy A Brown

Baltimore City Dental Society

Dr. Guy Alexander

Baltimore County Dental Association

Dr. William Martin III

Carroll County Dental Society

Dr. Jeff Jarvis

Eastern Shore Dental Society

Dr. Joseph Merai

Frederick County Dental Society

Dr. Omar Mahmassani

Harford-Cecil Dental Society

Dr. Peggy Leary

Howard County Dental Association, Inc.

Dr. Ty Saini

Patuxent Dental Society

Dr. Michelle Tolbert

Southern Maryland Dental Society

Dr. Charles Doring

Washington County Dental Society

Dr. Brenda Paul

ASDA Trustee

Fady Basili

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

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Dr. Celeste Ziara
Eastern Shore Dental Society

Vice-President

Dr. Lyndsay Kuzmak
Carroll County Dental Society

Vice-President Elect

Dr. Gretchen Seibert
Allegany Garrett Dental Society

Secretary

Dr. Steven Feldman
Southern Maryland Dental Society

Treasurer

Dr. Jay Nokkeo
Southern Maryland Dental Society

Editor

Dr. Tristram C Kruger
Southern Maryland Dental Society

Past President

Dr. Winifred Booker
Baltimore County Dental Association

Speaker of the House

Dr. Robert Wilson, Jr
Southern Maryland Dental Society

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. 

Past Presidents

2020s

Alexandra Fitzgerald

2024

Winifred Booker

2023

Stephan Dargan

2022

Chris Liang

2021

Marlene Shevenell

2020

2010s

Gregory Allen

2019

Vanessa Benavent

2018

Edwin Morris

2017

Thomas a’Becket

2016

Richard Rogers

2015

George Shepley

2014

E Duston Mersinger

2013

Diane D Romaine

2012

Robert J Wilson, Jr

2011

William F Martin, III

2010

2000s

Marc Nuger

2009

Garner D Morgan

2008

John Davis

2007

Arthur C Fridley

2006

Richard V Grubb

2005

J Roedel Jaeger

2004

David A Williams

2003

Ronald T Carter

2002

Edward R Gillis

2001

William H Schneider

2000

1990s

Arnold ‘Gerry’ McGreevy

1999

E Duston Mersinger

1998

Thomas E Daley

1997

Stanley E Block

1996

Murray D Sykes

1995

Kathleen M Geipe

1994

Sidney O Burnett

1993

George W Rupprecht, Jr

1991

J Thomas Soliday

1990

1980s

Frank A LaParle

1989

Alfred H Jansen, Jr

1988

Thomas J Meakem

1987

Frank J Romeo

1986

John F Patterson

1985

Morris Antonelli

1984

Joseph I Shevenell

1984

J Richard Crouse

1983

Stanley Kogan

1982

Clayton S McCarl

1981

Frank A Dolle

1980

1970s

Don N Brotman

1979

Laurence E Johns

1978

Robert J Wilson

1977

Charles L Bradenburg

1976

Joseph P Cappuccio

1975

John H Whitaker

1974

Lyman F Milliken

1973

Lewis C Toomey

1972

Conrad L Inman, Jr

1971

James T Cabler

1970

1960s

Joe N Price

1969

Irving I Abramson

1968

Samuel H Hoover

1967

Harry Levin

1965

N William Ditzler

1964

Samuel Bryant

1963

William T Fridinger

1962

Max K Baklor

1961

Douglas A Browning

1960

1950s

George B Clendenin

1959

Eugene L Pessagno, Jr

1958

Ernest B Nuttall

1957

Charles E Broadrup

1956

Kyrle W Preis

1955

Morris Cramer

1954

Norman P Chanuad

1953

Edward D Stone, Jr

1952

Conrad L Inman, Sr

1951

Roger S Schlosser

1950

H Ralph Williams

1950

1940s

B Sargent Wells

1949

Daniel E Shehan

1948

J Russell Cook

1947

Grayson W Gaver

1946

Thomas J Bland, Jr

1945

James W McCarl

1944

Myron S Aisenberg

1943

Arthur I Bell

1942

William E Trail

1941

Harry B McCarthy

1940

1930s

C Adam Bock

1939

Oren H Gaver

1938

Crown O Diehl

1937

Allie Y Russell

1936

Noel F Smith

1935

Denzil C Belvins

1934

James H Ferguson, Jr

1933

Vernon B Ames

1932

George M Anderson

1931

Karl P Heintz

1930

1920s

Wiley W Smith

1929

Earl W Swinehart

1928

Thomas S Eader

1927

Alex H Paterson

1926

J Stephenson Hopkins

1925

Horace M Davis

1924

Burt B Ide

1923

Arthur Lankford

1922

J Ben Robinson

1921

1910s

B Lucien Brun

1919

Luther M Parsons

1918

Eldridge Baskin

1917

H Ross Coppage

1916

B Merrill Hopkinson

1915

Dove C Sadler

1914

Hayward H Street

1913

George T Feldmeyer

1912

Ryland O Sadler

1911

Frank P Haynes

1910

1900s

Timothy O Heatwole

1909

John W Smith

1908

George E Hardy

1907

Alex C McCurdy

1906

Harry K Kelsey

1905

Ashwell C Brewer

1904

William G Foster

1903

Harry A Wilson

1902

Clarence J Grieves

1901

G Marshall Smith

1900

1890s

Elmer E Cruzen

1899

Gist M Sykes

1898

Frederick F Drew

1897

Thomas S Waters

1896

William W Dunbracco

1895

Charles C Harris

1894

B Holly Smith

1893

Thomas H Davy

1892

Cyrus W Ginrich

1891

John E Scott

1890

1880s

E P Keech

1889

William A Mills

1887

David Genese

1886

David F Pennington

1884

Thomas J Smithers

1883