Meet the Candidates for the 2025-2026 Executive Committee
Candidate for Speaker of the House: Robert M. Peskin, DDS, FAGD, CP-T
Aug 27, 2025, 11:23 AM
“In reflecting on my own background, it is clear to me that no office is better suited to my abilities or passion than this. Over the years, I have come to recognize that, more than politics, my passion is the process.”Robert M. Peskin, DDS, FAGD, CP-T, was a member of the inaugural graduating class of the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. He went on to complete both general practice and dental anesthesiology residencies at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Since 1983, he has maintained a private practice on Long Island, New York, with a focus on treating anxious, apprehensive and special needs patients.
Throughout his career, Peskin has held multiple academic appointments, including in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery’s Division of Hospital Dentistry at Stony Brook and, most recently, in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
His professional honors are extensive. He earned AGD Fellowship in 1984, followed by fellowship in the American Association of Hospital Dentists in 1989. He is also a fellow of the American College of Dentists (1991), the International College of Dentists (1994) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy (1994). His many awards include the New York Section Pierre Fauchard Distinguished Service Award (2010), Stony Brook’s Distinguished Alumnus Award (2012), the New York State Dental Association’s Distinguished Service Award (2016) and the Herbert L. Taub Distinguished Service Award from the Nassau County Dental Society (2022).
Education has been central to Peskin’s career. He has taught predoctoral students at Stony Brook, postdoctoral residents at Penn Dental Medicine, and dental hygienists seeking certification in local anesthesia and nitrous oxide at Farmingdale State University. He has lectured nationally on pain and anxiety control at major meetings such as the Hinman, Greater Long Island, Greater New York and the California Dental Association, and, for more than 30 years, has presented extensively on risk management for professional liability insurers.
Peskin has also been a leader in organized dentistry. A member of the American Dental Association (ADA) House of Delegates for 34 consecutive years, he has played a key role in shaping governance at both state and national levels. He has served as speaker of the house for the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and for the New York State Dental Association, where he helped redesign the organization’s governance structure in 2008.
In 2021, he was elected Speaker of the House of Delegates for AGD, where he has worked closely with the Board to streamline procedures and enhance efficiency. Now running for his third and final term, he remains committed to strengthening the effectiveness of the House.
Beyond dentistry, Peskin has dedicated himself to the study and practice of parliamentary procedure. Elected to the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP) Board of Directors in 2014, he went on to serve as secretary (2016–2020) and vice president (2020–2023), and he is currently president (since 2023). Among his proudest accomplishments are becoming credentialed as a certified parliamentarian in 2021 and earning his “teacher” designation earlier this year.
Personal Statement
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of participating in countless business meetings — studying their intricacies, observing accomplished presiding officers, and learning from both successes and challenges. These experiences, combined with my years of service as a speaker and parliamentarian, have given me a deep appreciation for the art of presiding and the responsibility it carries. I am confident that this breadth of experience uniquely qualifies me to continue serving as AGD speaker of the house.
“Whenever one contemplates running for office, it is important to ask: What does the office require at this moment, and how well do my skills align with those needs? In reflecting on my own background, it is clear to me that no office is better suited to my abilities or passion than this. Over the years, I have come to recognize that, more than politics, my passion is the process.
“The AGD House of Delegates observes parliamentary rules and traditions. As speaker, it is my duty to interpret them impartially, to maintain order, and to defend the rights and privileges of each and every member. And, while the significance of this task cannot be overstated, it is equally important to be mindful that no set of rules can take the place of tact and common sense. I have found calm insistence — together with a little good humor — are some of the qualities essential to the success of a skilled presiding officer.
“It has been my honor to serve as your speaker of the house for the past four years. If reelected, I pledge to continue facilitating your deliberations with fairness, efficiency and respect — ensuring that the valuable time you dedicate away from your families and practices is both meaningful and worthwhile.”
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