Santa Fe Group Announces New President, Steven W. Kess of Henry Schein

The Santa Fe Group (SFG), a not-for-profit, nationally recognized, action-oriented think tank with a passion to improve oral health for the public, has announced the appointment of Steven W. Kess, MBA, as its new president. Kess, in turn, formed a new Executive Management Committee of leading oral health change makers, who will leverage their combined expertise, professional networks, and deep commitment to further advance the organization’s mission.

Kess, vice president of Global Professional Relations, for Henry Schein Inc, a Fortune 500® company and the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental and medical practitioners, was instrumental in developing Henry Schein Cares, its global corporate social responsibility program. He is also the founding president of the Henry Schein Cares Foundation. He is widely recognized for his critical insight and ability to synthesize public and private coalitions, as well as business and public policy issues.

An advocate for underrepresented minorities, Kess has been particularly active in the area of diversity and access to health care for at-risk populations. He has served in a variety of leadership roles in many health care associations, organizations, and trade associations. In addition to his role at Henry Schein and as Santa Fe Group president, he currently is the chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and is president of the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc. He serves on the boards of Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine, Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Advisory Task Force, and University of Michigan School of Dentistry Dean’s Advisory Board. Steve has also in the past served on the board at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry Strategic Advisory Board, The Forsyth Institute, and the American Medical Association Foundation.

To learn more, please visit: SantaFeGroup.org