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History and StructureFounded in 1952 by eight general dentists seeking an organized body of quality-driven general dentists, the AGD continues to focus on its’ first members’ goals and has formed an organizational structure that allows the organization to keep its members’ interests and professional needs forever at its core. More than 50 years ago, eight dentists lead by Thaddeus “Ted” Weclew, formed a study group to discuss creating a body that would organize general dentistry. At the core of their efforts was the desire to hold the profession accountable for a high level of quality. Therefore, the principles behind the organization were rooted in education. They agreed upon continuing education requirements so that the profession could stay on top of the latest procedures and trends. Thus, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) was created in 1952. Thaddeus V. Weclew also served on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and its dental radiology department for 32 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Weclew received numerous honors, including the rank of officer, Ordre des Palmes Academiques, from the French government for his work with the AGD. He died Oct. 16, 1992. Each year, the AGD remembers and recognizes its founder by awarding a Thaddeus V. Weclew Fellowship to an outstanding representative within the profession. However, the organization focuses on the interests and professional needs of its first few members every day, through its ongoing mission to advance the excellence in general dentistry through lifelong learning. Further, the AGD continues to listen to its growing membership to serve their present interests and professional needs. In order for the AGD to accomplish this end, the entire organizational structure is made accountable to the membership. Accordingly, the illustration of the organizational structure below begins with the most important part of the organization, AGD Members. Click on the boxes below to learn more about each part of the AGD Organizational Structure.
Members: The AGD has more than 35,000 general dentist’members throughout Canada and the United States. Regions: Members throughout Canada and the United States that have AGD members are broken into 20 separate regions. Regional Directors: Within each of the 20 regions, a Regional Director is elected to act as the liaison between the national organization (Board of Trustees) and the region’s local organizations (Constituents or Components). Constituents: The 20 regions are further localized by their 62 constituents, the state, military or provincial organizations. Each constituent may have its own elected officers including an executive director and president, who report to the constituent’s members. Components: Some constituents have local organizations that frequently include one or two cities within the state or provincial area. House of Delegates: Each of the 62 constituents select and send a representative number of members to the AGD House of Delegates to vote on national policy on behalf of its members’ interests and professional needs each July. Board of Trustees: The AGD Board of Trustees is comprised of an elected representative of each of the 20 AGD regions along with 8 elected members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee includes the President, President-elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Editor, Secretary, Speaker-of-the-House, and the Immediate Past-President. Councils and Committees: Members of the following 20 Councils and Committees are appointed by the President-elect and approved by the Board of Trustees to act on the members’ behalf as it relates to their council’s charge.
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AGD Innovative
Read AGD2010, the results of the AGD’s efforts to engage their members in the organizations’ strategic planning process during the AGD2010 Innovation through Involvement conference in 2005. The conference was open to all AGD members and encouraged their participation alongside the Board of Trustees and the AGD2010 Task Force in creating the AGD’s strategic path to a successful 2010. |
