I am very pleased to present the 2024 American Dental Education Association Annual Report. I would like to thank the oral health education community for your united dedication and engagement. It is through your firm commitment that ADEA is able to generate substantial progress and drive change. 

Throughout 2024, ADEA has led the charge for innovation, advancements and success in oral health education. With a forward-thinking vision and through collaborative efforts with members, industry leaders and like-minded organizations, we are well poised to pave the way toward an evolution of oral health education.  

Recognized as “The Voice of Dental Education,” ADEA is your leader in these ongoing efforts to enhance and promote oral health education. This past year presented us with opportunities to provide new leadership development programs to deans and faculty, disseminate critical industry research data to our community, explore next-level models of oral health education, celebrate pioneers in oral health education and share our successes and challenges on the global stage. 

Our suite of leadership programs remains the industry standard and provides comprehensive and cutting-edge education to deans and faculty. In 2024, we introduced the third cohort of Fellows into the 2025-26 year-long ADEA Council of Deans Fellowship Program, designed for those intending to apply for positions as dental school dean or higher-level administration. The 2025-26 ADEA Leadership Institute welcomed six fellows into this highly competitive program. Additionally, our popular ADEA Emerging Leaders Program provided the guidance, insights and skills to participants just starting to navigate their academic journey. 

The previous year was one saturated by shifts in social ideologies, political norms, technology breakthroughs and educational architecture. We are all wondering how these and other changes might affect oral health education in the near and distant future. As such, ADEA continues to explore forward-thinking initiatives. The ADEA Task Force on Envisioning and Transforming the Future of Oral Health & Education (ADEA TF – ETFOHE) presented their objectives and findings “on the road” at ADEA and industry events and are preparing next-phase deliverables and designing next steps. The ADEA Advisory Committee on Innovation, Clinic Education and Public Health held its inaugural meeting last year, exploring digital innovations, the global impact of technologies and the integration of virtual reality (VR) haptics in oral health education. 

While this overview represents but a sampling of our extensive programs, resources and initiatives, our pledge to our mission remains solid: To develop an inclusive, future-ready oral health workforce prepared to improve the health of all people and communities through leadership, education and collaboration. Leveraging our excellence in oral health education innovation, essential member services, research and data analysis, scholarly publishing, thought leadership and global impact, ADEA remains the preeminent industry champion for you, your colleagues and your institutions and programs. Together, we’ll continue to forge a prosperous future for the oral health education community.