ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: DR. JACINTO BEARD
Dr. Jacinto Beard is the 2026 recipient of the Ohio Dental Association Achievement Award.
Dr. Jacinto Beard has been dedicated to providing care and advocating for patients served by Medicaid throughout much of his career. In recognition of his efforts, he will receive the Ohio Dental Association Achievement Award on Friday, Sept. 18 at the Callahan Celebration of Excellence, held in conjunction with the 160th ODA Annual Session.
“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. Beard as a colleague for over a decade,” wrote Dr. Kumar Subramanian, a past president of the Ohio State Dental Board, in his nomination letter. “During this time, I have been consistently impressed by Dr. Beard’s exceptional skills, unwavering dedication and profound commitment to serving the community, particularly those reliant on state-funded programs.”
Beard said he is really honored to receive the award.
“It’s always good to be recognized by your peers,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t do things in order to seek accolades or acknowledgment, but when folks notice it is appreciated as well.”
Beard said he has known he wanted to be a dentist since he was in sixth grade.
“My mother said I should be a dentist, and I tell everybody you should listen to your mother,” he said. “Early on, since third or fourth grade, I had dental problems and was always in the dental office. One day when I was in the dentist’s office, my mom was there and said ‘you know, you ought to become a dentist. I notice this dentist is a business man, doing quite well, and you would do well in business and you’re also very good with your hands.’ So I was sitting there with cotton in my mouth and said OK! It was the best decision. I did all of the exploring, and when everything was said and done, I decided dentistry fits.”
In addition to the wisdom from his mom, his dad gave him a very good work ethic and taught him to be good with his hands, Beard said.
“My father taught me just about everything when it comes to building, working around the house, fixing things,” he said. “He was a machinist by trade, but he owned several properties so I was always with him for maintenance.”
Beard earned his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1990. After graduating, he married his wife, Karen, and moved back to his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, where he worked at an FQHC for about two years. He and his wife then moved to Columbus and he opened a private practice.
“After several years of my private practice doing well, I was approached by my sister and asked why I don’t accept Medicaid in my practice,” he said. “I gave her the usual excuses – it didn’t pay enough, I just didn’t feel that it could be profitable. My sister wasn’t buying that, and she said ‘there are a lot of friends who are in the church and elsewhere who have Medicaid, and I don’t believe that you would lose money. You need to investigate that.’ So I did. That led to opening my second practice, primarily serving the Medicaid clientele.”
He recently acquired a third practice in the Columbus area. He said that as he cuts back on clinical dentistry and heads toward retirement, his children are beginning to take over his practice. His sons David and Matthew are both dentists, and his daughter Elizabeth is a hygienist.
Beard said working with his hands and meeting people is his favorite part about being a dentist.
“I enjoy conversation and helping others,” he said. “Being able to almost immediately relieve someone of whatever pain or discomfort they’re having in their mouth is very gratifying.”
Serving and advocating for Medicaid patients has been a priority of Beard’s career. He served as an advisor to the Ohio Department of Medicaid and then served in many positions with Molina Health Care, including as Ohio dental director and national dental director. He has served with Molina for over 10 years and was recently promoted to chief dental officer.
“After doing my research and understanding Medicaid, I found out there were a lot of myths, many of which I believed until I did the research,” he said. “For one, you’re doing a great service for community, but two, it can be a profitable venture. And so I became a very staunch advocate for encouraging dentists to accept Medicaid in their practices and treating underserved populations in Ohio.”
Dr. Sharon Parsons, a past president of the ODA, wrote in her nomination letter that “Dr. Beard has been a driving force in dental Medicaid, from treating patients to serving as the national dental director of Molina. He advocates for better reimbursement rates for dentists, as well as increased treatment options for patients.”
Beard has also been involved in other access to care initiatives throughout his career, including Remote Area Medical (RAM) events, Physicians Care Connection with the Columbus Department of Health, and going on Missions trips to provide care in Mexico.
Beard said he has always been involved with organized dentistry and he thinks it’s important because it gives dentists a seat at the table.
“It’s where you get your voice heard,” he said. “The issues that face dentists, that’s what organized dentistry is about. You have to advocate to the public, to governments and legislatures in order to get your voice heard and to promote dentistry.”
Beard has served on many councils and committees with the Columbus Dental Society, including as president, secretary, as Central Office Committee chair and others. With the ODA, he has served as a subdistrict representative, a delegate to the ODA House of Delegates, on the Dental Education and Licensure Committee, as chair of the Subcomittee on Judicial Affairs and others. He has also served as a delegate to the ADA House of Delegates.
He is also involved with several other boards and associations and has sat on the National Dental Association Board of Directors, National Dental Association Foundation Board, The Ohio State University Foundation Board, and is a past president of The Ohio State University Dental Alumni Society. He also served on the Ohio State Dental Board. Beard is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.
Outside of dentistry and spending time with family, Beard enjoys religious and volunteer activities, golfing and traveling.
The Achievement Award is given to someone with a personal and professional commitment to the dental profession and the public’s oral health, and who is an ambassador for the dental profession with solid respect for the profession.
