The mission of the American College of Dentists is to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare.
About the American College of Dentists
ON THIS PAGE:
Leadership and Governance
Leadership
The Board of Regents of the American College of Dentists, led by five elected Officers, provides vision and leadership for the organization.
Governance
Maintaining the integrity of the College is the singular purpose of all policies governing Fellowship as well as the operations of the organization. In addition to the Bylaws, the College’s guiding documents include a Code of Conduct and guidelines for the use of the initials “FACD.”
Regents
In addition to the national officers, the Board of Regents is comprised of eight elected Regents, four appointed At Large Regents, two liaisons to our affiliates, and a Regent Intern.
At Large Regents and Liaisons
In addition to the national officers, the Board of Regents is comprised of eight elected Regents, four appointed At Large Regents, two liaisons to our affiliates, and a Regent Intern.
Awards
The American College of Dentists Awards Program recognizes the special efforts and contributions of fellows and other individuals in areas aligned with the ACD mission.
Nominations for national awards should be submitted electronically no later than March 1st of each year. Nominations received after that date will be deferred for review the following year.
All award nominations require:
- A letter of nomination by a Fellow or Fellows in good standing
- Two letters of support from Fellows in good standing.
- C.V., resume, or narrative biography.
Board Nominated Awards
Nominations for two awards are by the Board of Regents, however, any fellow may submit names and supporting information to the Board for consideration. To submit a recommendation for one of the following awards, please contact Suzan Pitman at suzan@acd.org or 301-977-3223.
The College must be a symbol of the ideals that have made our profession great; the College should be a catalyst…a stabilizer…a resource…to which the profession can turn for guidance in matters of ethics, of philosophy, of principle… The American College of Dentists has many functions but its basic mission-its reason for being-is leadership.
– Philip Blackerby, Past President
History
The ACD was officially founded August 20, 1920, by leaders in education, organized dentistry, and dental practice to “elevate the standards of dentistry, to encourage graduate study, and to grant Fellowship to those who have done meritorious work.”
The concept of an organization without political ties that could shape the future of dentistry was first envisioned by four leaders of the dental profession:
John V. Conzett
President, National Dental Association
H. Edmund Friesell
President Elect, National Dental Association
Otto U. King
Secretary, National Dental Association
Arthur D. Black III
President, National Association of
Dental Faculties
The National Dental Association became the American Dental Association, and the National Association of Dental Faculties became the American Dental Education Association.
Seal of the American College of Dentists
“Some physicians are for the eyes, others for the head, others for the teeth….” –Herodotus, observation of Egyptian medicine, 5th Century BCE.
Herodotus’ statement indicates that priest-physicians in ancient Egypt specialized in dental health. Because of this heritage, early Fellows of the College incorporated Egyptian elements in the design of the seal:
- A scroll inscribed with a portion of Ebers Papyrus containing a dental prescription;
- An outer border taken from the ornament of an ancient tomb, Hepi in Sawijet el Meitn;
- Two Egyptian figures holding the scroll;
- A sacred scarab (winged) supporting the moon, a common Egyptian symbol;
- Two lotus flowers, typically Egyptian;
- Two crocodiles (the fat of which was used for the relief of odontalgia) supporting the sun, another common Egyptian symbol;
- Red, blue, and gold coloring, also typically Egyptian.
The seal is a Registered Trademark® of the American College of Dentists.