Make Plans to Attend the 2026 Annual Meeting

February 20-22, 2026

AC HOTEL GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

 

Schedule of Events

Friday, February 20-22, 2026

Friday, February 20

• 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Registration
• 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM New Fellow Reception (Invitation Only)
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: ACD President's Welcome Reception

Saturday, February 21

• 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet for ACD Fellows
• 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet for Spouses/Guests
• 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: CE Course

John C. Comisi, D.D.S., M.A.G.D., D’A.S.B.A

Professor

Augusta University

Dental College of Georgia

Department of General Dentistry

Airway and Breathing Disorders: Hiding in Plain Sight and Affecting Everything Dental and Medical!

 

• 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: ACD National Report
• 11:30 AM-12:00 PM ACD Carolinas Section Annual Business Meeting (Old Business)
• 12:00 PM: ACD Golf Retreat
• 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: ACD Reception
• 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM: ACD Annual Awards and Recognition Reception and Dinner
• Cultural Presentation:

Sunday, February 22

• 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet for ACD Fellows
• 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast Buffet for Spouses/Guests
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM: CE Course

Milt Lowder, Ph.D

PSYCHOLOGIST I AMPLOS FOUNDER & CEO

 

• 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM: CE Course
• 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM Business Meeting (New Business)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Annual Meeting consists of two half days of

• Dynamic networking
• Professional development
• Valuable continuing education credits
• New Fellow Reception
• President’s Welcome Reception
• Saturday Night Dinner
• Delicious buffet breakfasts 
• Unique learning opportunities
• Golf Outings
• Convention room rates at the AC Hotel Greenville, SC

 

SPEAKERS

John C. Comisi, D.D.S., M.A.G.D., D’A.S.B.A

Professor

Augusta University

Dental College of Georgia

Department of General Dentistry

Airway and breathing disorders are often missed in dental exams, despite signs like swollen tonsils, red uvula, and scalloped tongues. These issues can quietly affect both oral and overall health, especially by disrupting sleep and recovery. The passage urges practitioners to look beyond surface symptoms and consider airway health.

• Review airway and sleep-related breathing disorders.
• Understand their link to dental and medical diseases.
• Explore new methods to help patients and providers.
• Develop partnerships for better patient health.

 

Milt Lowder, Ph.D

PSYCHOLOGIST I AMPLOS FOUNDER & CEO

Dr. Milt Lowder is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology specializing in Organizational Development from the University of Kentucky. He focuses on cultivating authentic connections and fostering environments that amplify strengths, serving both corporate and athletic communities. As the Sport Psychologist for Clemson University Athletics, he teaches mental skills designed to enhance both athletic and personal success, believing these techniques are equally valuable in business and everyday life. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Lowder is devoted to his family, enjoys outdoor pursuits, and leads Mill Pine, a 350-acre corporate retreat dedicated to personal and team growth in South Carolina.

     Hotel Registration

• AC Hotel Greenville for 199.00 USD per night - Last Day to Book : Thursday, January 29, 2026

AC Hotel Greenville 315 South Main Street Greenville, SC 29601

The American College of Dentists-Carolinas Section

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the American College of Dentists is to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in dentistry.

“The College must be a symbol of the ideals that have made our profession great; the College should be a catalyst…a stabilizer…a resource…to which the profession can turn for guidance in ethics, of philosophy, and of principle… The American College of Dentists has many functions, but its basic mission-its reason for being is leadership.” Philip Blackerby

Seal of the American College of Dentists

 

 

According to the history of Herodotus, among the Egyptians of the Fifth Century, B.C., “some physicians are for the eyes, others for the head, others for the teeth….” This statement indicates that a group of priest-physicians specialized in dental matters. Because of this heritage, early Fellows of the College incorporated a number of Egyptian elements in the design of the seal:

A scroll inscribed with a portion of Ebers Papyrus containing a dental prescription;
An outer border taken from the ornament of an ancient tomb, Hepi in Sawijet el Meitn;
Two Egyptian figures holding the scroll;
A sacred scarab (winged) supporting the moon, a common Egyptian symbol;
Two lotus flowers, typically Egyptian;
Two crocodiles (the fat of which was used for the relief of odontalgia) supporting the sun, another common Egyptian symbol;
Red, blue, and gold coloring, also typically Egyptian.
The seal is a Registered Trademark ® of the American College of Dentists.

 

Policy on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

As health professionals who live our ethical principles, particularly beneficence (to do good) and non-maleficence (to do no harm), we are compelled to embrace and uplift the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our work and profession.

ACD DEIB OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The American College of Dentists (ACD) acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of our history and seeks to actively promote social justice, challenge discrimination, and address disparities and inequities. The ACD is committed to intentional actions aimed at being a fully inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization that respects and values our Fellows, our staff, and the communities we serve. The ACD provides a safe environment where all members of our community can question, learn, and interact with the utmost respect. The ACD is strengthened by the diversity of its Fellows and the communities we serve. The ACD embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to ensure a relevant and sustainable organization and to deliver purposeful value to Fellows, prospective Fellows, patients, and other stakeholders.

 

Information copied from the American College of Dentistry website.

A Message from our Section Director

They say dentists are creatures of habit and I tend to believe this statement. Take for instance, how I ring in each new year. In college, I had a friend and we always went to Edisto Island, SC  for the time between Christmas and New Year’s. Fast forward a few decades later and we’re still going down, just now with our families in tow. This past year as we all sat in the rockers on the back porch, we started discussing our thoughts about the upcoming year. I realized how many milestones were set to take place for me in 2025. I am 50 years old. My husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Our son will turn 10 years old and start middle school. And after 21 years, I was switching dental practices. All good things, but a little overwhelming when I really thought about all this change as a whole. As the conversation continued, someone asked if I had one word to describe what I wanted for 2025. The first word that came to my mind was “intentional”. My vision of being intentional was making deliberate choices to reflect what is most important to me. I want to be more present, and not just feel like I am going through the motions. I also thought it could increase my focus and commitment, which would bring more purpose and meaning into my life. Maybe even help me find more of a work-life balance.

              In March, another milestone came onto the horizon, as I began my year of chairing the Carolinas Section. We convened in Wilmington, NC for our annual weekend meeting. As usual, we began our first day of activities with the Executive Board gathering for a few hours. We were fortunate to have several special guests in attendance this year, Dr. Robert Faiella (current ACD National President) and Mr. Michael Graham (current ACD National Executive Director). Everyone went around the room with the standard “say your name, where you live, what you do”. And that’s when the panic set in. I sat around and listened to the accolades of the people surrounding me. I wondered why I was even sitting at this table, who thought this was a good idea, and what in the world did I have to offer this group of my very accomplished colleagues?  As the meeting continued on and Sunday got closer, I still found myself with a lot of doubts and no real answers. It wasn’t until I finally broke down Sunday morning, literally during the break just before the installation of the new officers, and admitted these thoughts to a friend and colleague of mine also in attendance. I shared I was nervous about this leadership role and what I had to offer; only having been an associate for over twenty years, never being the owner of a practice, and often struggling to find a work-life balance. She laughed and responded, “Don’t sell yourself short. All those fears are exactly the reason of why you are here and serving in this role. Dentistry is changing. More and more dentists aren’t coming out and being sole practitioners. They are coming out as associates or joining group or corporate practices. You are relatable to these newer members and your experiences more similar to their current employment situations.”

              In closing, I want to remind you of the four pillars the ACD defines as their mission. These are to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in oral healthcare. Life is always full of change, whether we want it or not. The challenge is how we handle it and the hope is these four virtues will continue to be our guide. For me, I need a word to help with my focus. As I mentioned earlier, my word is intentional. You’re welcome to share that word with me, but I’d love to hear if you have different words that work for you. Looking forward to a great year and seeing you all in Greenville, SC for our next annual meeting (February 20-22, 2026)!