Bridging Across Borders and Between the Past and the Present at the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition

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on April 7, 2026

By LaShell Stratton-Childers, ADEA Senior Editor

Attendees embraced the spirit of this year's theme of “Bridging Pathways, Advancing Access” at the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 21-24, in Montréal, Québec, Canada, by attending educational sessions, visiting exhibitors on the busy Exhibit Hall floor and networking with fellow attendees.

Saturday, March 21

The 2026 ADEA GoDental® Recruitment Event marked the 16th year that ADEA has sponsored the event in conjunction with the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition. The Saturday event featured guest speakers, breakout sessions and nearly 50 dental schools from the United States and Canada. More than 500 attendees took the opportunity to network and learn more about the dental school application process, mentoring and shadowing. 

 

This year’s ADEA GoDental Recruitment Event keynote speaker, Julio Morales, D.M.D., a cosmetic dentist and 2018 graduate of East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, shared not only helpful hints for those applying to dental school but also his tumultuous journey as a Cuban immigrant to the United States.

Despite a five-day journey that included a broken motor, a shark, and losing orientation while in the Caribbean Sea, Dr. Morales said he wasn’t afraid.

“As a child I never felt scared because my father was with me,” he said during his heart-wrenching story. “My father was like superman to me.”

Saturday also featured the Opening of the House of Delegates. During the House of Delegates, Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H., ADEA President and CEO, shared ADEA organizational achievements and highlights of 2025, which are presented in more detail in the 2025 ADEA Annual Report.

Sunday, March 22

During the Opening Plenary on Sunday, Dr. West noted that it had been 30 years since the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition had been held in Montréal.

“We last held our session here in 1988,” Dr. West said. “So much has changed since then.” But she noted what hadn’t changed was ADEA’s collaboration and dedication to American and Canadian dental professionals.

ADEA Immediate Past Chair of the Board Todd V. Ester, D.D.S., M.A., then segued the Opening Plenary to a presentation of awards, including the 2026 ADEA Distinguished Service Award to one of his beloved mentors, George W. Taylor, D.M.D., Dr.P.H., Professor of Preventive and Restorative Dental Science at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry. Dr. Taylor, who was unable to attend the ceremony in person, accepted his award through pre-recorded video and watched the presentation via Zoom.

The Opening Plenary also included featured speaker Cy Wakeman, Founder and CEO of Reality-based Leadership, TED speaker and NY Times bestselling author. She shared how leaders can modernize their leadership style to meet the needs of the 21st century during her discussion, “Leading in Challenging, Unprecedented Times—Building Bridges & Helping Hope Make a Comeback.”


“I want you to modernize your leadership philosophies so you can get out the ‘80s,” Ms. Wakeman said.

She noted that “the leader’s role is no longer to inspire and motivate but to eliminate drama.”

Sunday also featured the Exhibit Hall ribbon cutting ceremony. The day closed with a one-time revival of Discourse & Dessert as a tribute to the late Jeanne C. Sinkford, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., FACD, FICD, who founded the event 33 years ago. Discourse & Dessert was designed to foster exposure to innovative ideas and influential role models who employ “big picture” strategies to advance opportunity and equity for all—particularly in supporting the careers of women and individuals underrepresented in academic dentistry.

“I want you to modernize your leadership philosophies so you can get out the ‘80s,” Ms. Wakeman said.

She noted that “the leader’s role is no longer to inspire and motivate but to eliminate drama.”

Sunday also featured the Exhibit Hall ribbon cutting ceremony. The day closed with a one-time revival of Discourse & Dessert as a tribute to the late Jeanne C. Sinkford, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., FACD, FICD, who founded the event 33 years ago. Discourse & Dessert was designed to foster exposure to innovative ideas and influential role models who employ “big picture” strategies to advance opportunity and equity for all—particularly in supporting the careers of women and individuals underrepresented in academic dentistry.

This year’s featured guest was acclaimed Canadian actor and activist Tantoo Cardinal who was interviewed by Dr. Karen P. West. With a career spanning five decades, Ms. Cardinal has broken significant ground in advancing authentic on-screen representation of Indigenous peoples, including in such films as Dances with Wolves and television shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Westworld. She is also an outspoken environmental advocate, drawing upon her lived experience witnessing environmental changes that directly affect Indigenous lands and communities.

Monday, March 23

At the ADEA Tapestry Table on Monday, “Immortal Cells, Enduring Lessons: The Lacks Family, Ethics and Oral Health Innovation,” the topics of informed consent, equity and dignity in health care and honoring the memory of Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose life was the subject of Rebecca Skloot’s bestselling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, were discussed at length. 

During the event, which was sponsored by Haleon, Sonya G. Smith, J.D., Ed.D., M.Ed., M.A., ADEA Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff, interviewed Henrietta Lack’s great-granddaughter, Veronica Robinson, and her grandson, David Lacks, Jr., to get insight on Henrietta’s life and legacy. 

 

 

Mrs. Lacks’s HeLa cells—arguably the most important human cell line in scientific history—have been used for everything from discovering treatments for polio to establishing the connection between HPV and cancer to the testing potential treatments for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

“Her cells have been around the world and outer space and places we just couldn’t imagine,” Mr. Lacks said.

Monday ended with the closure of the Exhibit Hall floor and later that night, the 2026 William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement Celebration. The Mike Petryk School of Dentistry at the University of Alberta, received the Gies Award for Eminence in Innovation. The Gies Award for Eminence in Vision and Leadership went to both Judith Albino, Ph.D., AAL Senior Consultant and Executive Coach, and President Emerita and Professor Emerita of Public Health at the University of Colorado; and Laurie K. McCauley, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at University of Michigan. Also, Mario A Brondani, D.D.S., M.Sc., M.P.H., Ph.D., Professor and Director, Dental Public Health at the University of British Columbia, received the Gies Award for Eminence in Achievement.

Tuesday, March 24

Tuesday featured Closing Plenary speaker Anton Gunn, national leadership expert & former Advisor to President Barack Obama. Mr. Gunn’s presentation, “Radical Recovery: How Great Leaders Prepare for and Come Back From Tough Times,” explored how attendees could identify and describe disruptive environments, recognize and employ the right mindset during uncertain times and build resilient teams that are prepared for adversity and can respond to crises.

 

The Closing of House of Delegates was held Tuesday afternoon and marked the ending of the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition. A quorum was present and the 2026-27 ADEA Board of Directors was installed.

Published on April 8, 2026