Dental Association Appointed New President-Elect
The Virginia Dental Association named a Suffolk-based dentist to lead the professional organization beginning next summer.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in People
In September 2026, the Virginia Dental Association Board of Directors appointed Suffolk dentist Dr. Dani Howell as president-elect. She is set to assume the full presidency of the nearly 4,000-member organization in July 2027.
Why it matters
The president-elect position is a central role for coordinating the association's state-level advocacy and legislative outreach. As the primary representative to the Virginia state legislature, this leader shapes the policy environment for dental practices across the state.
The Virginia Dental Association represents nearly 4,000 members throughout the state. The organization operates as a non-profit entity governed by a Board of Directors that determines key leadership roles.
The players
Dr. Dani Howell
A practicing dentist based in Suffolk who leads the Virginia Dental Association.
Virginia Dental Association
A state-level non-profit professional organization serving nearly 4,000 dental practitioners.
The details
The president-elect of the Virginia Dental Association holds a key leadership function, overseeing the Board of Directors and managing advocacy on professional issues. By serving as the primary liaison between practitioners and the state legislature, the president-elect influences how professional standards and regulatory changes affect dental practice operations in Virginia.
Timeline
September 2026: Dr. Dani Howell was appointed president-elect.
July 2027: Dr. Dani Howell will formally assume the role of president.
Market Landscape
Professional associations frequently update leadership to manage shifting compliance requirements and state-level policy demands. This appointment follows the established governance cycle for the Virginia Dental Association as it manages ongoing advocacy regarding the Virginia Board of Dentistry's scope of practice.
Operators in the dental sector should track legislative updates from the association as Dr. Howell assumes her new leadership capacity next summer. This transition marks a critical point to review the organization's current stance on state-wide regulatory and reimbursement issues.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at state-level professional associations often signal a shift in lobbying priorities that can affect local business regulation. Practitioners should monitor upcoming board communications for new policy positions that could impact clinical compliance in the coming term.
What happens next
Dr. Dani Howell will transition to the role of president of the Virginia Dental Association in July 2027.
Further reading
For more on professional leadership updates, visit the Virginia People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Suffolk News-Herald.
