Thomas Stewart, D.D.S., a Navy captain and dentistry veteran of more than 30 years, has been elected president of the California Dental Association (CDA).
As president, Dr. Stewart will continue CDA’s mission of improving the oral health of all Californians, the association said in a press release. He was installed last weekend at the CDA’s House of Delegates meeting in Sacramento and will serve a one-year term.
Dr. Stewart has been a leader in the field of dentistry since he graduated from Howard University College of Dentistry in 1972, the CDA noted. He served four years in the U.S. Navy on active duty as a dentist and then 19 years in the naval reserve, retiring as a captain in 1997.
Dr. Stewart has operated his own practice in Bakersfield since 1976. He has been a CDA member since 1976 and has held several leadership positions in that time including chair of The Dentists Insurance Company Board of Directors, a CDA-owned company.
"As I begin my year as president, I recognize the many challenges that face our profession and our service to the public, especially in these economic times," Dr. Stewart said. "This year’s state budget crisis resulted in the loss of two government programs that provided dental education and services to both low-income children and adults. This has had a tragic impact on the number of people who experience barriers to receiving dental care. Dentists must be the leaders, providing the expertise to develop solutions to this problem."
Other individuals that took office at the CDA’s House of Delegates meeting include:
- Carol Gomez Summerhays, D.D.S. -- immediate past president
- Andrew Soderstrom, D.D.S. -- president-elect
- Daniel Davidson, D.M.D. -- vice president
- Lindsey Robinson, D.D.S. -- secretary
- Clelan Ehrler, D.D.S. -- treasurer
- Alan Felsenfeld, D.D.S. -- speaker of the house
- Kerry Carney, D.D.S. -- editor
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