CHICAGO — Dr. John S. Olmsted, of Greensboro, N.C., was elected immediate past president of the American Association of Endodontists during its 2007 Annual Session, held April 25 -28, in Philadelphia, Pa.
During his tenure as president of the Association, Dr. Olmsted was a fierce advocate for the internationalization of the specialty. He believed reaching out to international endodontists would support pioneering research and introduce fresh perspectives on treatment practices and challenges. Enhanced communication with international endodontists also allows the AAE to share its wealth of educational resources and clinical expertise for the benefit of patients worldwide, establishing the Association as a premier endodontic resource in the global health care community.
His presidency also marked a continued strengthening of the ties between general dentists and endodontists, recognizing that positive partnerships with general dentists are fundamental elements of each endodontist’s practice. In addition to building upon the success of the Association’s public awareness campaign, the AAE released an official position statement on dental implants, which helps general dentists and endodontists ensure quality patient care in saving the natural dentition.
“Dr. Olmsted is a guiding light for the future of the specialty,” said Dr. Shepard S. Goldstein, current AAE president. “His leadership, knowledge and personality are an example for all endodontists to mirror in their careers.”
An AAE member since 1975, Dr. Olmsted served on the AAE’s Board of Directors from 1997-2000, has been an active participant on various standing committees, and was general chair of the 50th anniversary annual session in 1993. He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics in 1981, and is instrumental in the success of the AAE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the AAE, serving on its Board of Trustees and as treasurer.
Dr. Olmsted maintains a private practice with offices in Greensboro, High Point and Asheboro, N.C., is a part-time clinical associate professor at both the University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and lectures internationally on endodontic topics.
He has been dedicated to organized dentistry for the past 32 years. In addition to his leadership in the AAE, Dr. Olmsted has held a number of offices in other professional dental organizations, including vice president of both the North Carolina Dental Society and the North Carolina Services for Dentistry, Inc., the society’s for-profit subsidiary. He served as program chair of the American Dental Association’s 2003 Annual Session in San Francisco, and general chair for the ADA 2004 Annual Session in Orlando. He also served as international president of the Student Clinicians of the ADA and has judged table clinics for 20 years.
Among his many honors, Dr. Olmsted earned his fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Olmsted received his D.D.S. degree in 1975 from the University of Iowa School of Dentistry, where he was elected to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon academic honorary society, and received his M.S. degree and certificate in endodontics from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill in 1977. He and his wife Frankie live in Summerfield, N.C., and have two children, Matthew, a senior dental student at UNC, and Courtney, a freshman medical student at Brody School of Medicine with East Carolina University.
The American Association of Endodontists, headquartered in Chicago, represents more than 6,900 members worldwide, including approximately 95 percent of all eligible endodontists in the United States. The Association, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service.