George R. Shepley, DDS, Installed as ADA President
George R. Shepley, DDS, of Baltimore was installed Oct. 18 as the 159th president of the American Dental Association (ADA). He previously served as president-elect and Fourth District trustee.
A life member of the ADA, Shepley also served as an alternate or delegate from 2006 to 2017, as well as chair of the ADA Council on Communications, Budget and Finance Committee and Committee on Annual Meetings. Additionally, he worked two terms on the State Public Affairs Oversight Committee and has been a board liaison to the Council on Members Insurance, American Student Dental Association, Council on Government Affairs, and the American Dental Political Action Committee.
Shepley is an active member of the Maryland State Dental Association and served as past president. He was also past president of the Baltimore City Dental Society and Maryland Academy of General Dentistry. He recently completed a six-year tenure as a trustee for the Academy of General Dentistry, where he also previously served as chair of the Dental Education Council and division coordinator for dental education.
During his presidency, Shepley intends to move forward with both a business and cultural shift to help build a brighter future for the profession and ADA. Giving back to the dental profession and improving the oral health of others, including overall health and well-being, and ensuring young dentists can enjoy a fulfilling career, are just a few of his priorities. The promotion of dentistry as being essential to overall health will also be key, as is an increase in ADA market share to where ADA can be considered a home for all dentists across different practice modalities.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time, as the ADA is working hard to embrace the future of our association and profession,” states Shepley. “We are ushering dentistry into the 21st century. As the art, science and technology of dentistry move forward, and with the strength of our dynamic community, anything is possible. It is a new day for dentistry and a new day for ADA! I look forward to serving in the coming year and giving back to the profession that has given me so much.”
Shepley, who has practiced in Baltimore since 1978, graduated from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry and received fellowship in the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He received the Maryland State Senatorial Proclamation and Governor’s Citation and also taught at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry as a lecturer in dental ethics from 2009 to 2012. Among other recognitions, Shepley has achieved fellowship and mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, as well as the Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition. He also has participated in Maryland Missions of Mercy and has been an active participant in the Donated Dental Service Program since 1990.
