BITES&BRIEFS


Dr. Nader Nadershahi: Selected as New ADA Executive Director


T


he ADA has named Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, as its executive director, effective March


23, 2026. Dr. Nadershahi is currently the ADA’s Senior Vice President of Education/Professional Affairs and will immediately begin onboarding for his new position.


Prior to joining the ADA staff in June 2025, Dr. Nad- ershahi served for nine years as Dean of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco where he led nearly $100 million in operational, clinical and academic budgets with a consistent annual net reserve. During his tenure, Dr. Nadershahi led a team of more than 500 employees and 550 students and residents at the Dugoni School of Dentistry and led milestone projects such as strategic planning and implementation; the design and implementation of the school’s integrated curriculum and competencies; and raised significant donor contributions for fundraising campaigns.


Dr. Nadershahi’s breadth of leadership experience has been shaped by many pivotal roles in organized dentistry, including serving as the Chair of the Board for the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), as well as several important leadership roles in the ADA and California Dental Association (CDA) for more than 20 years. He is also a fellow of the American College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He has owned and operated private general dental practices in San Rafael and San Anselmo, California. He also served as a board member for the Bay Area Council and San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and serves as Chair of the California Health Workforce Education and Training Council.


According to Dr. Nadershahi, “The ADA must lead the profession and oral healthcare by attracting the strongest providers, supporting education, setting policy and standards, integrating science and technology, advocating for policy expansions and reforms, and preparing ADA members for success.”


CE BROKER RESOURCES — The MDA has continued to field questions about the Missouri Dental Board’s new online CE reporting system, CE Broker. On its news page (link address at the end), you can find a recording of a recent educational webinar hosted by CE Broker and request a How-To Guide the MDA created to assist members. All CE credits for MDA events and programs held during the current re- porting period (11/30/24–12/01/26) are included in the ADA Member Portal and will continue to be updated as MDA CE events occur. All CE credits for ADA programs should also be current in your portal. The MDA does not have authority over licen- sure renewals or the reporting of CE through CE Broker; these matters are governed by the Missouri Dental Board (call 573-751-0040 or email the Board at dental@pr.mo. gov). ACCESS THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION AT BIT.LY/3PWFCHI.


12 focus | SPRING 2026 | ISSUE 1 ATSU-MOSDOH


Names New Dean A.T. Still Univer- sity of Health Sciences (ATSU) is pleased to an- nounce alumna Kneka P. Smith, EdD, MPH, ’19, as the next dean of the University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH), effective June 22, 2026.


Selected following a national search, Dr. Smith returns to ATSU from MaineHealth in Portland, Maine, where she has been vice president for academic affairs since 2021. An accomplished leader and the former dental director for the State of Arizona, Dr. Smith’s extensive back- ground includes senior academic roles at ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, ATSU-MOSDOH, and the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. Her deep roots with ATSU also include serving as associ- ate dean for education and as a member of the inaugural leadership team at ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.


As dean and chief academic officer, Dr. Smith will lead ATSU-MOSDOH’s academic programs and clinical enterprise, overseeing the School’s operations on both the Kirksville, Missouri, cam- pus and at the St. Louis Dental Center, where oral healthcare services are provided through a partnership with Affinia Healthcare.


Dr. Smith earned her doctor of education in health professions education from ATSU’s Col- lege of Graduate Health Studies in 2019, and her master of public health in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006. She currently holds a faculty appointment in public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Read the full release at atsu.edu/ news/mosdoh-dean-smith.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28