MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF REGENTS — CANDIDATE REQUIREMENT CHANGE

Change your opinions, keep to your principles.
Change your leaves, keep intact your roots.
Victor Hugo

Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy

Dear International College of Dentists USA Section Fellows,

The ICD USA Section Board of Regents would like to share a recent change to our membership requirements. For well over a year, we have thoughtfully considered ways to make our organization more inclusive so that our Fellows’ demographics more accurately reflect the variety and diversity in our profession. While the ICD strongly supports and values the American Dental Association and their efforts that benefit all dentists, one of the truths that we have come to understand during the past few years is that there are many dentists who feel a stronger affinity to other national dental organizations. This is particularly true for specialists, dental educators and researchers, as well as for female and minority dentists. With this realization and in the interest of opening ICD Fellowship to a greater number of qualified dentists, we have expanded the list of national dental organizations that will qualify a dentist for Fellowship in the ICD. During these times of conflict over the things that divide us, the International College of Dentists USA Section has taken a powerful step to be more inclusive and welcoming for any dentist deserving of Fellowship. We believe this timely and positive initiative will broaden our perspective and our humanitarian efforts in the future as the ICD begins its second century. 

We want to emphasize that the ICD USA Section continues to hold the American Dental Association in extremely high regard and we will continue to strongly encourage all Fellows to become or remain members. During this pandemic, the guidance the ADA provided was invaluable as they proactively communicated to their members the latest scientific evidence about the virus, CDC Guidelines, regulations about PPP loans, health and safety findings and other important information as many of us closed and then reopened our practices. They advocated for and supported our beloved profession when we needed them most and they are to be commended on a job exceedingly well done.

As most of you can appreciate, this was a very difficult decision to make and we will share in all transparency that the vote was not unanimous. However, more than 80% of our Board members were in favor of modifying our requirements so that we might extend the hand of Fellowship to a more diverse group of dentists who choose to belong to other national dental organizations that uphold our same values – Integrity, Leadership and Service – and beliefs. Nearly every Regent had a personal story to tell about wanting to nominate one or more of their dentist friends and colleagues who were not members of the ADA but were still very deserving of the honor of Fellowship in the ICD. 

As you read this KEY-Mail, you, too, may be thinking of someone you know who has been a leader in your community and involved in numerous humanitarian activities but is not a member of the American Dental Association. Now is your chance to let that colleague know that you value their leadership and service by nominating them for Fellowship. To do so, please go to our website, usa-icd.org, sign in and click on “Nominate a Candidate for Fellowship Today” below the scrolling banner. 

On Thursday, June 11th, the Board of Regents voted to accept dentists into Fellowship who meet our high standards of Integrity, Leadership and Service AND who belong to one or more of the following 21 organizations:

List of dental organizations fulfilling the prerequisite for Fellowship
Academy of General Dentistry
American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
American Academy of Oral Medicine
American Academy of Orofacial Pain
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Academy of Periodontology
American Association for Dental Research
American Association of Endodontists
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Association of Orthodontists
American Association of Public Health Dentistry
American Association of Women Dentists
American College of Prosthodontists
American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists
Hispanic Dental Association
Indian Dental Association (USA) Inc.
National Dental Association
Society of American Indian Dentists

In Fellowship,
ICD USA Section Board of Regents