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Membership Information
The broad communities of interest, those affected by the Commission's accreditation activities, are represented on the Commission.
Members of the Commission are selected by the participating organizations; these selections are not subject to review by any other organization. There are 30 members on the Board of Commissioners. The Commission membership reflects a wide geographic distribution and includes both genders and under-represented ethnic groups.
Summary of CODA Representatives
| American Dental Association |
4 members |
| American Association of Dental Boards |
4 members |
| American Dental Education Association |
4 members |
| Postdoctoral General Dentistry |
1 member |
| Recognized Dental Specialties (one each) |
9 member |
| American Dental Assistants Association |
1 member |
| American Dental Hygienists' Association |
1 member |
| National Association of Dental Laboratories |
1 member |
| General Public |
4 members |
| Students |
1 member |
TOTAL 30 members
As noted above, the participating organizations select their own representatives. The Commissioner representing postdoctoral general dentistry is jointly selected by the American Dental Education Association and the American Association of Hospital Dentists. The Commissioner representing students is jointly selected by the American Student Dental Association and the American Dental Education Association. All Commissioners serve one four-year term, except for the Student Commissioner who serves one two-year term.
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Establishment of the Commission
From 1938-1974, prior to the formation of the Commission, the American Dental Association's Council on Dental Education was recognized as the accrediting agency for dental and dental-related education programs. In 1972, the Council recognized the need to provide the communities of interest with more direct representation in accreditation decisions and policy issues. After considerable planning, the Commission on Dental Accreditation was formed.
The Commission, established in 1975, is nationally recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) to accredit dental and dental-related education programs conducted at the post secondary level. The Commission functions independently and autonomously in matters of developing and approving accreditation standards, making accreditation decisions on educational programs and developing and approving procedures that are used in the accreditation process. It is structured to include an appropriate representation of the communities of interest.
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Peer Review Process
The Commission uses an extensive list of consultants (or "peers") in its accreditation activities. Each year, all participating communities of interest nominate individuals to serve as consultants. Consultants serve as members of site visit teams. They may also serve as members of special committees and may assist the Commission in other activities. Actual appointments of consultants - selected from those persons nominated - are made annually by the Commission based on qualifications and current needs for program type and geographic representation. Return to Top
Member Biographical Information
Members of the Commission on Dental Accreditation are selected in accordance with the Rules of the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Dental Association.
Biermann, Michael E., DMD, of Portland, Oregon is a Pediatric Dentist in private practice in Portland, Oregon and has an appointment as an associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at OHSU School of Dentistry.
Buchanan, Richard, DMD, of Buffalo, New York is dean of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
Carlson, Eric R., DMD, MD, of Knoxville, Tennessee is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Director of Residency Education at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He also serves as Director of Fellowship training in Head and Neck Surgery at this institution.
Casamassimo, Paul S., DDS, MS, of Columbus, Ohio is professor and chair of pediatric dentistry at the Ohio State University and chief of dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH.
Curran, Elizabeth, CDT (US), RDT (CA, UK), of Mesa, Arizona is an Assistant Professor and Director of Laboratory Services at Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Elizabeth holds a Lifetime Teaching Credential from the State of California and Certification from the NBC in Ceramics.
Edgar, Bryan C., DDS, MAGD, of Federal Way, Washington is a general dentist in private practice in Federal Way, Washington and has an Affiliate Faculty appointment to the University of Washington School of Dentistry. He serves as an examiner for the Western Regional Examining Board and parliamentarian of the American Association of Dental Boards.
Hopke, Corwyn MS, PRP of New York, NY, is the student member of the commission. He is a third year dental student at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
Iacono, Vincent J., DMD, of Stony Brook, New York spends time at both the University Hospital of Stony Brook and teaching at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Joondeph, Donald R., DDS, MS, of Seattle, Washington is Professor Emeritus of Orthodontics at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Joondeph, Donald R., DDS, MS, Seattle, Washington was appointed by the American Association of
Orthodontists. Dr. Joondeph is Professor Emeritus of Orthodontics at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Kantor, Mel L., DDS, MPH, PhD, of Newark, New Jersey is a professor of the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the New Jersey Dental School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Kershenstein, Karen W., PhD, of Fairfax Station, Virginia is one of the four public members of the commission. She is a consultant in higher education accreditation and president of KWK Enterprises.
Knoernschild, Kent L., DMD, MS, of Chicago, Illinois is Program Director for the University of Illinois at Chicago Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics.
Koppelman, Lee E., MSP, DPA, LD, DHL, HonAIA, of Stony Brook, Long Island, New York is one of the four public members of the commission. He is Leading Professor and Director of the Center for Regional Policy Studies at Stony Brook University.
Leonard, Kathleen RDH, MEd, RF, of Duluth, Minnesota is the director of the dental hygiene program at Lake Superior College and is a dental hygienist in private practice.
Marinelli, Charles L., DDS, of Warren, Michigan is a general dentist in private practice. He is a former Chairman of the Michigan State Board of Dentistry and is an examiner for theNortheast Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB).
Marinelli, Charles Louis., DDS, Warren, Michigan was appointed by the American Association of Dental Boards. Dr. Marinelli is a General Dentist in private practice. He is a former Chairman of the Michigan State Board of Dentistry and is an examiner for the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB).
Messura, Judith K., DMD, of Winston Salem, North Carolina is Director of the General Practice Residency in the Department of Dentistry at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Director of Hospital Dental Services at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Nalley Jr., Logan, DMD, of Augusta, Georgia is a Prosthodontist in private practice. Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics. He is currently serving on the Georgia Board of Dentistry. He is an examiner for the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS).
Nelson, Anna, CDA, RDA, MA, of San Francisco, California is currently the Director of the Dental Assisting Department at City College of San Francisco.
Pelot, Reuben N., III, DDS, of Knoxville, Tennessee is a General Dentist in private practice. He has served as attending faculty to the General Practice Residency Program at the University of Tennessee. He has also served on the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, and currently is an associate member of the Southern Regional Testing Agency.
Ray, Robert G., DMD, of Washington, DC is the Chairman of the Board of Dentistry in Washington, DC and a member of the Board of Directors of ADEX.
Reed, Michael J., PhD, of Kansas City, Missouri is the dean of University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry.
Richter, Mary K., of Mascoutah, Illinois is one of the four public members of the commission. She is also the founder and executive director of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias.
Rouse, Leo E., DDS, of Bowie, Maryland is the Dean of Howard University College of Dentistry.
Tarver Jr., E. Les, DDS, of Monroe, Louisiana is a general dentist in private practice.
Thomalla, Kenneth C., CPA, CFU, CFP, of Orland Park, Illinois is one of four public members of the commission. He is also the chief operating officer of Treloar and Heisel, Inc.
Tonelli, J. Steven, DMD, of Andover, Massachusetts is the President of Dental Health Concepts and an Associate faculty member of the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Turner, Sharon P., DDS, JD, of Lexington, Kentucky has completed a post doctoral fellowship in Craniofacial Pain Mechanisms and Controls. She is Dean at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and remains an active general practitioner in the College’s intramural practice.
Wenckus, Christopher S., DDS, of Burr Ridge, Illinois is the Head, Department of Endodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry.
White, B. Alex, DDS, DrPH, of Westborough, Massachusetts is the Director at the Catalyst Institute.
Wright, John M., DDS, MS, of Dallas, Texas is the Chair of Diagnostic Sciences at the Baylor College of Dentistry.
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