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Throughout the month of February, we’ve been highlighting some of the ODA’s Black leaders in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth. On this final day of the month, we’d like to highlight a leader and look to the future of diversity and inclusion at the ODA.

Dr. Canise Bean currently serves as chair of the ODA’s new Subcouncil on Diversity and Inclusion. The subcouncil includes representatives from various demographics and has a goal of determining how the ODA might better attract and retain members from underrepresented backgrounds. Dr. Bean is a clinical professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in the General Practice and Materials Science Division and is the director of the Office of Community Education and the OHIO Project (Oral Health Improvement through Outreach). She received her DDS from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and an MS in Public Health from Ohio State. Dr. Bean has served as a delegate to the Ohio Dental Association House of Delegates and on the ODA Council on Dental Care Programs and Dental Practice as well as on the ADA Council on Communications.

“The face of dentistry and the culture of dentistry is rapidly changing,” Dr. Bean said. “The more that we actually work together, the more we can accomplish together. I think that by recognizing and embracing our differences, we can realize that it really moves us forward in so many dimensions.”

Dr. Mark Bronson served as ODA president in 2011-12 and is currently running to serve as vice president of the American Dental Association. He has been a member of organized dentistry since 1991 after graduating dental school. He served as president of the Cincinnati Dental Society and has chaired the ODA’s Council on Dental Care Programs and Dental Practice, the ADA’s Council on Government Affairs, and the ADA’s State Public Affairs Committee, as well as serving on many other councils and committees. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Heart of Gold Foundation. Dr. Bronson attended Hampton University and earned his DDS degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

Throughout the month of February, we’ll be highlighting some of the ODA’s Black leaders in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth.

Dr. Frank Williams served as ODA president in 1999-2000. Dr. Williams was the second African American to serve on the Ohio State Dental Board, where he served as president as well as secretary and chairman of the Education Committee. He served as president of the Greater Cleveland Dental Society and as a delegate to the ADA and as an ODPAC Board member, among other councils and committees. Dr. Williams was a graduate of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, where he was one of four minority students at the dental school.

Throughout the month of February, we’ll be highlighting some of the ODA’s Black leaders in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth.