200+ dentists making headlines halfway through 2026

Dozens of dentists have made headlines this year by opening new practices, earning awards, being appointed to various leadership positions and discussing some of the most notable topics in the industry.

Here are more than 200 dentists Becker’s has reported on so far this year:

• The Georgia Dental Association appointed Peter Shatz, DDS, as its next president.
• Michael Schreder, DMD, and Jane Aldrich Schreder, DMD, owners of Schreder Dental in Lancaster, Pa., retired.
• Plano, Texas-based Star Dental Partners appointed David Little, DDS, as its chief dental officer.
• Geith Kallas, DDS, spoke with Becker’s about private equity’s growing role in dentistry.
• Steve Burke, DDS, retired after 30 years in the dental industry.
• Four dentists spoke with Becker’s to discuss their predictions for private equity in 2026.
• Eight dentists connected with Becker’s to share what they are most proud of from their work last year. 
• Wei Yao, DDS, is leading Smile Partner USA’s first-ever de novo practice in Saline, Mich. 
• Robert Goldtrap, DDS, affiliated his Arkansas practices with Heartland Dental. 
• Greg Efros, DMD, founder of Efros Orthodontics, purchased a Vermont practice from Michael Sleeman, DMD.
• Bruce Donoff, DMD, MD, who served as dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine for nearly 30 years, died at age 83.
• Two dentist executives connected with Becker’s to share their expectations for dental M&A in 2026.
• The Academy of General Dentistry recognized 10 dentists for their achievements in the industry as part of its 2026 “10 Dentists to Watch” list.
• Myron Nevins, DDS, a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology, died at the age of 87.
• Scott Tomar, DMD, was appointed the inaugural chair of the new department of population oral health at The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry.
• Nine dental leaders connected with Becker’s to discuss the future of AI and how practices and DSOs can make the most of this technology.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry named Jessica Lee, DDS, PhD, its next CEO, effective June 1.
• Six dentists shared with Becker’s the trends and issues that can’t be overlooked in dentistry.
• Dental benefits provider DentaQuest appointed Ronke Ogunbameru, DDS, as dental director for Texas.
• Devinn Geeson, DDS, acquired three continuing education brands in the dental industry.
• Spyros Varthis, DDS, is leading a new ClearChoice Dental Implant Center in Albany, N.Y.
• Riverside Oral Surgery added Vincent Carrao, DDS, MD, and Kenneth Press, DMD, to its location in West Orange, N.J.
• New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Premier Care Dental Management promoted oral surgeon Joshua E. Gish, DDS, to the role of president.
• The Georgia School of Orthodontics named Mohamed Masoud, BDS, its new director of research.
• Dallas Nibert, DDS, and Nika Hettlinger, DDS, opened a consolidated, shared dental practice in Barboursville, W.Va.
• Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine appointed Denver Jenkins, DDS, as director of its advanced education in general dentistry program.
• Seth Gibree, DMD, senior director of clinical AI and innovation at Heartland Dental, and Mitchell Ellingson, DDS, chief clinical officer of Gen4 Dental Partners, spoke with Becker’s about VideaHealth’s new AI Leadership Council.
• Phillip Isaacman, DDS, and Robert Trager, DDS, connected with Becker’s to share some of the external pressures that are pushing the industry today.
• Miami-based Guardian Dentistry Partners partnered with Manisha Ghodke, DMD, of Crossroad Family Dental in Cary, N.C.
• Jarrod Campbell, DDS, affiliated his Texas practice with Imagen Dental Partners.
• Twelve dentists shared their predictions for what will separate top DSOs in five years.
• The American Association of Orthodontists will present Larry Tadlock, DDS, with the James E. Brophy Distinguished Service Award.
• Cameron Roberts, DDS, dental director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic, attended the State of the Union as a guest of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., to raise awareness about the challenges facing dentists. 
• Cooperstown, N.Y.-based Bassett Healthcare Network named Tiffany Otto, DDS, its division chief of dental services.
• Monica Urda, DDS, founder and CEO of Smile Science Chicago, spoke with Becker’s about how the hygienist shortage will impact dentistry long term. 
• Lee Harris, DDS, and James Kiehl, DMD, shared why they believe private practices will continue to thrive amid DSO consolidation.
• Nels Ewoldsen, DDS, and Vilas Sastry, DMD, shared their predictions for the workforce trends that will dominate 2026.
• Huzefa Kapadia, DDS, connected with Becker’s to talk about what other practice owners have on their minds in today’s dental landscape.
• Big Rapids, Mich.-based Ferris State University appointed Deborah Brown, DMD, to lead the development and launch of a dental therapy program. 
• Three dentists spoke with Becker’s about how practices can best navigate the shortage of dental assistants.
• Reichley Dental Group in Beavercreek, Ohio, announced it would be closing due to the health of its dentist, Rochelle Reichley, DDS.
• The American Dental Association appointed Nader Nadershahi, DDS, EdD, as its next executive director.
• Effingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental partnered with Majid Sehat, DDS, and his practice in Irving, Texas.
• Michael Miskella, DDS, an alumni of the dental school, and his wife Rosaleen, provided a $2 million gift to the Marquette School of Dentistry in Milwaukee.
• Steven Erbeck, DDS, is one of four candidates running for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District’s Republican primary.
• Rick Workman, DMD, the founder and executive chair of Heartland Dental, was added to this year’s Forbes “World’s Billionaires List.”
• Savannah Young, DMD, and Steven Pavlushkin, DMD, are leading newly opened Aspen Dental offices.
• Rinil Patel, DDS, connected with Becker’s to talk about some of the biggest trends in the oral surgery space and where the technology is heading.
• Stephen Skoly, DMD, launched his campaign for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District.
• Nellie Kim-Weroha, DDS, joined the American Association of Orthodontists’ Board of Trustees.
• Nine dentists shared with Becker’s the largest ongoing issues plaguing dentistry. 
• Jeffrey Moses, DDS, received the American Dental Association’s 2026 Humanitarian Award.
• Michael Marshall, DMD, retired after more than three decades in the dental industry.
• Rohan Toor, DDS, opened ABQ Dental Care in Albuquerque, N.M.
• Three dentists spoke with Becker’s about the benefits and challenges that could come with enhanced hygienist autonomy.
• Yun Saksena, DMD, was appointed the University of Washington School of Dentistry’s first vice dean of academic and student affairs.
• Thomas Allen, DDS, spoke with Becker’s about the challenges that come with Medicaid participation and what can be done to solve them.
• The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health appointed An Nguyen, DDS, as chief clinical officer.
• Chicago-based Aspen Dental opened an office in Lapeer, Mich., led by Daniel Nofar, DMD.
• Troy, Mich.-based Smile Partners USA partnered with Joseph Favia, DDS.
• Two dentists connected with Becker’s to talk about a few of the most pressing issues in dentistry and how they are planning to deal with them. 
• Pittsburgh-based North American Dental Group named Katie Lee, DDS, its vice president of education and development.
• Ross Chavkin, DDS, founder and owner of Melville, N.Y.-based All County Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, connected with Becker’s to talk about the future of consolidation in dentistry and how younger dentists should approach the landscape. 
• The National Association of Dental Plans named Lauren Gritzer, DDS, as director of dental informatics and plan operations.
• Maria Jividen, DDS, is leading the newly opened Smile Horizon Orthodontics office in Washington, D.C.
• The dental industry is mourning the loss of Rolf Behrents, DDS, PhD.
• Five dentists spoke with Becker’s to share what they would do differently if they started their careers today. 
• Five dentists spoke with Becker’s to discuss the challenges facing new dentists and how the pathway to practice ownership has changed.
• Les Latner, DDS, received the 2026 Humanitarian Award from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 
• Nisha D’Silva, BDS, PhD, stepped into the role of president for the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research.
• Paul Jacobs, DDS, was installed as the next president of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
• Ross Chavkin, DDS, founder Melville, N.Y.-based All County Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, connected with Becker’s to discuss what has guided the practice’s decision to remain independent and how it operates without private equity funding. 
• Rebecca Cornille, DDS, the chief dental officer at Vista (Calif.) Community Clinic, joined Becker’s Dental + DSO Podcast to discuss the importance of enhancing oral healthcare for seniors in the U.S.
• Robin Robert Wilhite, DDS, a dentist in Columbia, Tenn., retired after providing dental care for more than four decades. 
• Mark Minchow, DDS, retired after 33 years of service.
• The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognized more than a dozen dentists with awards for career excellence.
• Anna Kalmanovich, DMD, is leading a new Sage Dental practice in Orlando, Fla.
• Amp Miller III, DDS, retired after serving as a faculty member at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas for 53 years. 
• Zuri Dental, led by Rahimah Maina, DDS, opened a new office in Rockville, Md.
• Eleven dentists shared with Becker’s the most exciting opportunities for progress in dentistry. 
• The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry appointed Carlos Bertot, DMD, as president for the 2026-27 term. 
• Dr. Emile Rossouw, PhD, was appointed president of the American Board of Orthodontics.
• Two dentists shared the changes they would make to improve the current dental insurance system.
• Four dentists connected with Becker’s to share their advice for new graduates on how they should approach joining the workforce. 
• Daniel German, DDS, shared the critical skills CEOs need to succeed in today’s business environment.
• Two dentists spoke with Becker’s to discuss common mistakes practice owners make that could be hurting their bottom line.
• Robert Davis, DMD, retired after more than three decades of service.
• Nancy Young, DMD, dean of the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta (Ga.) University died June 6 at the age of 58.
• William Lieberman, DDS, is leading a first-of-its-kind dental clinic in Lincroft, N.J.
• Krista Kappus, DDS, shared her thoughts with Becker’s on the aspects of dentistry that have not evolved with the increased complexities of the field.
• Evan Moody, DDS, MD, affiliated his Kansas practice with Chesterfield, Mo.-based Oral Surgery Partners.
• Phillip Montoya, DDS, and Digisha Patel, DMD, affiliated their practices with Heartland Dental.
• Nine dentists shared with Becker’s the key decisions leaders need to make to ensure success.

At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.