May 5, 2026 (ATLANTA, GA) — The ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science announces the confirmed members of its Advisory Committee and Liaison Representatives. This internationally recognized group will lead the development, updating, and dissemination of dental infection control guidelines and best practices in the United States. The inaugural project, Dental Procedural Water Quality Management, is underway. The first full committee meeting is set for July 23, 2026.
“The Institute exists to protect patients and providers by advancing rigorous, evidence-informed infection prevention in dentistry,” said Eve Cuny, MS, CDIPC, Chair of the ADS Institute and Professor Emerita, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. “This Advisory Committee brings the breadth and depth of expertise required to deliver clear, actionable guidance at a time when the profession needs it most.”
“The talent at this table—spanning oral healthcare, infectious diseases, epidemiology, nursing, microbiology, health policy, and more—will ensure our guidelines are scientifically sound and operationally practical,” said Ashley Quackenbush, MPH, CHES, Executive Director of the ADS Institute. “We’re already moving: our first project is to continue the work started by the CDC Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) focused on dental procedural water quality management.”
Why this is needed:
- Recent clusters of infections linked to dental treatment water underscore ongoing patient safety gaps.
- Control measures are being applied inconsistently across settings, leading to variable assurance of microbiological water quality.
- New technologies for water quality management and quality assurance have changed what “good” looks like.
- Significant developments have occurred since the original Dental Unit Water Quality: Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention White Paper and Recommendations– 2018, warranting an updated, actionable standard of practice.
Advisory Committee Leadership and Members
The Advisory Committee consists of a permanent chair and voting members, with ex officio members and liaison representatives providing additional perspective from key organizations across oral healthcare. Ex officio and liaison representatives are nonvoting.
- Chair: Eve Cuny, MS, CDIPC — Professor Emerita, University of the Pacific, Dugoni School of Dentistry
- Simone Duarte, DDS, MS, PhD — Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, EDI; Professor, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
- Russell Dunkel, DDS, FPFA, FICD, FACD — WI State Dental Director and Chief Dental Officer; Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP — Sr. Director of Occupational Health and Safety; Forsyth Research Subject & Patient Safety Advocate at ADA Forsyth
- Michael Glick, DMD — Executive Director, Center for Integrative Global Oral Health; Fields-Rayant Endowed Professor, University of Pennsylvania
- Julie Lynch, MS, BSN, RN — Director, Institute for Quality Improvement, Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
- Shannon E. Mills, DDS — Retired, U.S. Air Force; Healthcare consultant
- Ramneek Rai, DDS — Director of Health and Safety, UCSF Dental Center
- Jay Shirley, DMD, MS, MSc — Director of Oral Health Research and Advocacy, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- David J. Weber, MD, MPH, FSHEA, FIDSA, FRCM — Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology; Associate CMO and Medical Director of Infection Prevention, UNC Medical Center
- Joyce Moore, BSDH, RDH, CRCST, CDIPC, DISIPC — Treasurer, ADS Institute (ex-officio)
- Ashley Quackenbush, MPH, CHES – Executive Director, ADS Institute (ex-officio)
Liaison Representatives
- Academy of General Dentistry — Eoin Halpin, DMD, MBA, FAGD, FACD, FICD
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — Joe Castellano, DDS
- American Academy of Periodontology — David Wu, DMD, DMSc, FRCDC
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons — David Fenton, DDS, MD
- American Association of Orthodontists — Jackie Dorst, RDH
- American Dental Association — Hana Alberti, DDS
- American Dental Education Association — Rebecca Stolberg, RDH, MSDH
- American Dental Hygienists' Association — Kandis Garland, RDH, MS, CDIPC
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology — Marko Predic, MS, CIC, FAPIC
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Austin Penna, MPH, CIC
- Dental Assisting National Board — Michelle Lee
- Indian Health Service — Damon Pope, DMD
- Joint Commission — Arjun Srinivasan, MD
- National Dental Hygienists’ Association — Ja Nae Jamison Kimbell, M.Ed., RDH
- National Network for Oral Health Access — Alexandra Chan Katz, DDS, MPH, FAGD
The ADS Institute invites clinicians, educators, public health partners, industry, and patients to participate in the July 23 public Advisory Committee meeting (12:00–3:00 PM Eastern, via Zoom). Registration is required; the agenda will specify time for public comment. For updates on the Dental Procedural Water Quality Management Guideline, meeting materials, and future opportunities to engage, visit ads-institute.org. Together we can advance safe, practical infection prevention across every dental setting.
About the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science
The ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2025, ensures dental safety remains a priority by developing and sharing up-to-date, evidence-informed recommendations for dental health care professionals—protecting patients everywhere. The Institute convenes leaders across clinical practice, epidemiology, microbiology, nursing, public health, health policy, and related fields to produce safe, practical guidelines and recommendations for every oral healthcare setting. For more information, visit https://ads-institute.org/
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