Cohlmia will replace Dr Kathleen T. O’Loughlin who announced at the end of 2020 her intention to retire at the end of 2021.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has named Raymond A Cohlmia, DDS, dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and a former ADA Board of Trustees member as its executive director, effective November 15, 2021. Cohlmia will replace current ADA Executive Director Kathleen T. O’Loughlin, DMD, MPH, who announced at the end of 2020 her decision to retire at the end of 2021 after 12 years of service.
Cohlmia joined the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry faculty in 2009, after running a private dental practice for 26 years. In 2011, he was named director of comprehensive care at the university and served as assistant dean for patient care from 2013 until he was appointed dean in 2015.
He has served the dental community at the national, state, and local levels, including as a member of the ADA Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2019 and as president of the Oklahoma Dental Association in 2001 and his local dental society in 1997. Colhmia has lead the ADA New Dentist Committee and Council on Membership, serving as chair in 1999 and 2007, respectively. Additional ADA appointments have included the Councils on Annual Sessions and Dental Benefits, as well as the American Dental Political Action Committee. He has also represented his district as a delegate to the ADA’s House of Delegates.
Cohlmia earned his dental degree in 1988 from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He currently lives in Oklahoma City.