District of Columbia Dental Society Selects SmithBucklin for Full-service Management

August 25, 2014

The District of Columbia Dental Society (DCDS) selected SmithBucklin to provide full-service association management.

Founded in 1866, DCDS is the professional dental association of the nation's capital, representing more than 600 dentists, oral surgeons and dental professionals.

DCDS promotes the growth of the dental profession through educational programming, advocacy for its members and raising the oral health literacy of the D.C. community. The society is a chapter of the American Dental Association.

Doug Fesler, who works for SmithBucklin in the Healthcare + Scientific Industry Practice, has been selected to serve as the permanent executive director for the society.

He previously served as the organization's interim executive director, and he will continue to provide DCDS with strong strategic vision as well as extensive experience managing nonprofit organizations.

"We believe SmithBucklin is the ideal fit for our society, and we are confident that this new partnership, with Doug serving as executive director, will result in a successful growth strategy for DCDS," said District of Columbia Dental Society President Robert W. Emery, DDS.

"It is a privilege to serve as management partner to such a venerable and highly regarded dental society," said David Schmahl, SmithBucklin's executive vice president & chief executive, Healthcare + Scientific Industry Practice.

He added, "Through our expertise with dental organizations and the commitment of the society's volunteer leadership, we believe the association will achieve significant growth and elevate DCDS to its envisioned next stage. We are committed to helping the society enhance both its governance and the overall value it provides its members."

In his role as executive director, Fesler will lead all aspects of the association's strategy and operations and be responsible for meeting goals set by DCDS's leadership.

"I am excited to be part of a team that is passionate about its profession, community and future," Fesler said. "I am looking forward to furthering the board's strategic goals of providing support for members' professional and leadership development; optimizing opportunities to build its culture, leadership, identity and financial reserves; shaping the future of the profession; and making the society a model for improving oral health literacy and outcomes."

In addition to his role with DCDS, Fesler continues to serve as associate executive director of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, an association he has been involved with since 1997.

He participates in long-range goal setting and works closely with the board and thought leaders to identify, define and develop strategic plans to address key challenges in clinical practice.

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