Steady Hands, Open Ears, and a Mind for Service: Meet AAE President Dr. Steven J. Katz

Compiled by Elisabeth Lisican

Dr. Steven J. Katz brings a powerful mix of experience, humility, and vision to his role as 2025 President of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). A clinician, teacher, leader, and lifelong learner, Dr. Katz’s path to endodontics was anything but linear—yet it’s precisely this multifaceted journey that shapes his thoughtful leadership today.

From Retail Counters to Root Canals

Raised in a Cleveland suburb, Dr. Katz originally envisioned a career in pharmacy. After graduating from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and entering practice, he quickly realized the retail pharmacy world was changing—and not for the better.

“I worked in a pharmacy environment that wasn’t really busy … and, at that time, pharmacists also served as the store managers: building displays, managing the staff, and doing payroll,” Dr. Katz recalled. “I had grown up in the grocery business and didn’t particularly care for it. And here I find myself doing it again.”

That reflection marked a turning point. Pivoting toward another aspect of healthcare, Dr. Katz chose dental school over medicine, drawn by the promise of patient care without the life-or-death pressure. Ironically, endodontics—his ultimate specialty—came with its own high-stakes daily emergencies. “They’re not at night … but during the day, that’s your whole practice,” he said with a smile.

Returning to Ohio State for his DDS and later his endodontics residency and MS, Dr. Katz was the first student accepted into the program without prior general practice experience—a testament to his maturity and background. He credits Ohio State’s local anesthesia training as “so advantageous,” helping him feel prepared for a field where pain management is central.

A Passion for Practice and People

Dr. Katz has practiced in Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, since 1988, building his own practice in 1991. He also rekindled his passion for education in recent years, returning as a volunteer instructor at West Virginia University.

“To be around younger people is just so rejuvenating. They’re so smart,” he said. “They expose you to thought processes that you either never had or you haven’t had in a really long time.”

A fierce advocate for giving back, Dr. Katz credits the best advice he’s ever received to one word: “Give.” Whether through clinical mentorship, leadership, financial contributions or community service—like his Safe Smiles program providing free mouthguards for student athletes—his dedication to service has been steadfast. “Once you make that effort, the rewards never stop.”

Mentorship and the Journey to Board Certification

Dr. Katz credits his pathway to becoming Board-certified in endodontics to the encouragement and mentorship of his colleague and friend Dr. Anita Aminoshariae. “Anita encouraged and mentored me through the process,” he recalled. “I became boarded in 2013, exactly 25 years after I finished my residency.”

The process, though rewarding, was no small feat. “I studied so much, every single minute of any free time I had, whether it was between patients or after dinner… There was so much more literature.”

When asked about his professional mentors, Katz was quick to highlight both personal and professional influences. “My biggest mentors were my parents. My dad instilled in me an unbelievable work ethic … My mom worked until she was 92.”

Within endodontics, his mentors began at Ohio State. “My mentors in endodontics started at Ohio State with Al Reader and Bill Meyers.” He also cited several past AAE presidents as influential figures in his leadership journey. “Dr. [Craig] Hirschberg and Dr. [Stefan] Zweig and Dr. [Alan] Gluskin and Dr. [Samuel] Dorn … That’s one of the best things about our organization—everybody is so open and willing to share.”

Steering the AAE Through a Complex Landscape

As he begins his presidential term, Dr. Katz is clear-eyed about the pressing challenges facing the specialty: a shortage of educators, growing student debt, and the need for stronger advocacy.

“If we can’t have endodontists teaching endodontics, that’s a big problem for our specialty moving forward,” he said. Acknowledging the financial hurdles new graduates face, he champions the AAE Foundation’s educator and resident support initiatives—but recognizes the problem demands a broader solution.

He’s also keeping a close watch on misinformation and anti-science rhetoric threatening public health, including fluoride opposition. “Unfortunately, it’s not science-based. Ultimately, that will harm the public.”

Despite the challenges, Dr. Katz believes the AAE is in a strong position. “We’re a really successful organization. We have great people at every level. We’re gaining patient market share, while the other specialties aren’t. The AAE is moving in the right direction.”

He attributes part of that success to the AAE’s growing visibility and public awareness. “It used to be when I’d say I was an endodontist, people thought I said ‘endocrinologist,’” he laughed. “But now more people know and understand what an endodontist is and does.”

Inclusive, Intentional Leadership

Those who work with Dr. Katz can expect a president who listens first and leads with inclusion.

“I’m often times not the smartest guy in the room,” he said. “If you surround yourself with smart people, the confluence of the team is greater than the individual.”

That leadership style—anchored in collaboration and respect—extends to staff, Board members, and volunteers alike. “One person can’t be an expert in everything. Most people have an expertise in something. Part of my job, as a leader, is to identify those people.”

Asked how he hopes to be remembered, Dr. Katz offered a characteristically humble reply with a smile: “If I can keep the AAE headed in the right direction, then I’ve achieved my goal.”

The Man Beyond the Microscopes

Outside the clinic and classroom, Dr. Katz finds peace in the deep. A seasoned scuba diver, he’s explored waters off South Africa, Israel, Spain, Cuba, Hawaii, and nearly every island in the Caribbean. “Scuba diving for me is like meditation. You’re weightless, all you hear is your own breath and bubbles. It’s just so peaceful.”

He’s also a dedicated reader, especially of crime thrillers, and a family man at heart. He is married to his wife Ilana, and he has two grown children, and four grandchildren who live nearby, something he considers a blessing. “It’s always fun to see them. I’m really lucky.”

Dr. Katz loves baseball and finds no greater pleasure than eating a well-prepared hamburger with a glass of red wine.

Dr. Katz is a traveler through and through, having visited every continent but Australia. “A couple of years ago, we went to Antarctica. That was a great opportunity to experience a destination few others have.”

If Your Dreams Don’t Scare You…

One quote Dr. Katz keeps close—borrowed from Bono (originating with former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf)—is:

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”

As he takes the helm of the AAE, Dr. Katz’s dreams are bold—but grounded in empathy, teamwork, and a legacy of service. His leadership promises to honor what’s working while thoughtfully addressing what lies ahead. In the words of another of his favorite quotes:

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Author of The Little Prince

Thankfully, Dr. Katz has both.