Nicholas J. Russo, DMD
Region 5

Nicholas J. Russo, DMD, is the incoming regional director (RD) chair as well as the RD of Region 5, which represents the constituencies of Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Russo has been a practicing general dentist in Wilmington and Newark, Delaware, since graduating from the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia in 1992.

Russo’s election in November 2017 to the regional director post was a significant milestone in his career with AGD. He has been a proud member of the organization for nearly 30 years, beginning when he was a student member while at Temple. Over the years, Russo has served on his local Delaware AGD board in various positions, including secretary, treasurer, CE chair and two terms as president. Russo’s commitment to dentistry and desire to make a difference have motivated him to seek leadership positions within AGD.

He is excited about the opportunity to utilize his position as RD chair to implement positive change and is actively engaging with the constituencies to understand their concerns and preferences for future initiatives. In his spare time, Russo enjoys spending time with his three children and other family and friends. He is an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, always rooting for Philadelphia sports teams and the University of Delaware football team.

Russo offers this advice for those aspiring to be leaders: “Keep pushing for what you believe is right, do not be afraid to delegate responsibility, which in turn allows you to see the level of talent within your organization, and, finally, be open to new ideas!”