Kevin Donly, D.D.S., M.S, professor and chair of the Department of Developmental Dentistry in the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio, is the new president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He and other new AAPD officers and trustees were inducted May 26 at the group’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Dr. Donly also is cross-appointed as a professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. He succeeds Joseph Castellano, D.D.S., an assistant clinical professor in UT Health San Antonio’ Department of Developmental Dentistry.
Presidential priorities
Dr. Donly said: “My highest priorities as president will be to establish policies and guidelines, as well as provide continuing education in safety to AAPD members. Safety, when providing care to children, is critical. It includes safety standards when using sedation or general anesthesia, safety in infection control and safety in dispensing medications.
“Child advocacy is another important priority for this upcoming year,” Dr. Donly said. “Advocating for access to dental care for all children is important, so that all children will have a dental home to receive continuing dental care from dentists who know them and who will maintain good oral health care and records for them.
“Of course, as an academician I also have a passion for education. I will lead the continuing development and publishing of best practices, as well as policies and guidelines based on sound science in order to provide evidence-based oral health care practices for children,” Dr. Donly added. “I also will advocate for continuing Title VII funding through HRSA (the Health Resources & Services Administration) to promote higher-level educational programs for pediatric dentists in order to raise the bar for oral health care for all children in the United States, including those with special health care needs,” he said.
Academic career
Dr. Donly received his Doctor of Dental Science degree in 1984, certificate in pediatric dentistry in 1986, and Master of Science in 1986 from the University of Iowa. He is board certified in pediatric dentistry.
Previous positions include professor and associate director of the Center for Clinical Studies at the University of Iowa; associate professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston; and associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School.
National leadership
Dr. Donly served a four-year term as the Pediatric Dentistry Commissioner for the Commission on Dental Accreditation. He has published more than 350 chapters, manuscripts and abstracts related to pediatric dentistry and dental restorative materials research and clinical utilization.
Dr. Donly also was honored May 23 as one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes.
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