The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has installed Neil J. Gajjar, DDS, MAGD, of Mississauga, Ontario, as the organization’s new president-elect. Dr. Gajjar, who recently served as the organization’s vice president, was promoted to this new role during a special ceremony at AGD’s Annual Meeting, November 3-5 held in Chicago. Dr. Gajjar will serve in this role for one year and then ascend to president at the completion of his term.

“I am very proud and honored to have been selected to serve as the president-elect of the AGD, the world’s largest dental organization dedicated to general dentists, by the House of Delegates”, said Dr. Gajjar. “We have many challenges and opportunities ahead of us and I look forward to working with our team to continue growth, education and awareness.”

Dr. Gajjar, who is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, has fulfilled other leadership and constituency roles during his tenure as an AGD member. Prior to serving as vice president, Dr. Gajjar served as the board secretary. He has also worked on several AGD committees and councils — AGD Membership, Dental Education, and Group Benefits and Annual Meeting council. On the local level, Dr. Gajjar is the past president of the Ontario AGD, the South Asian Dental Association and a member of the Canadian Dental Association. He has served as the Canada East Regent for the Academy of General Dentist International. In addition, Dr. Gajjar was elected as Councilor and served on various committees with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

He received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Toronto. Dr. Gajjar went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University in Washington, DC, being awarded the Teachers of Oral Diagnosis Award. Dr. Gajjar is a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and holds a certification in intravenous sedation.

Dr. Gajjar has completed his American Dental Association’s National Board Dental Examination Part I and Part II, as well as the National Dental Examining Board of Canada exams. He is currently licensed with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

Dr. Gajjar is passionate about continuing education and has been a committed lecturer on managing medical emergencies in the dental office. In addition, he has formally served as a lecturer of oral pathology at the Canadian Academy of Dental Hygiene and as a clinical instructor in the Oral Diagnosis and Emergency Clinics at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry.

Dr. Gajjar lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with his wife and two children.

About the Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 40,000 general dentists, dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. Founded in 1952, AGD is the second largest dental association in the world, and serves the needs and represents the interests of general dentists. For more information about the AGD, visit, agd.org.