Summary: The American Dental Association (ADA) appointed James Schulz Jr. as senior vice president of government and public affairs. Schulz will oversee legislative advocacy, set legislative agendas, and lead lobbying activities from the ADA’s Washington, DC office.

Key Takeaways:

  • New Appointment: James Schulz Jr. named senior vice president of government and public affairs for the ADA.
  • Responsibilities: Schulz will manage lobbying activities, set legislative agendas, and lead strategic legislative advocacy plans from the ADA’s Washington, DC office.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has named James Schulz Jr as senior vice president of government and public affairs.

Role and Responsibilities

In his new role, based in the association’s Washington, DC office, Schulz will oversee lobbying activity, setting legislative agendas, holding staff accountable for performance metrics, and leading the strategic plan in the area of legislative advocacy in collaboration with volunteer agencies and Association leadership and staff in both DC and the ADA’s Chicago office.

“Advocacy is one of the most powerful tools our ADA community has to improve the lives of the profession and the public,” said Raymond Cohlmia, DDS, executive director of the ADA. “Jim’s ability to galvanize stakeholders on both sides of the aisle, coupled with our best-in-class government and public affairs ADA team, ensure future advocacy work that will benefit the public and profession.”

Background and Achievements

For more than 20 years, Schulz served as the director of governmental and public affairs for the New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) and was the executive director of the New Jersey Dental Political Action Committee. During his NJDA tenure, Schulz elevated dentistry and the essential role of the dentist and dental team amongst New Jersey policymakers by highlighting dentists as both small businesses and pillars of their communities. He had integral roles in ensuring dental health care professionals were classified as “essential” during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in New Jersey and securing the reinstatement of a full-time New Jersey Dental Director, by a licensed dentist, for the first time since 1989.

“Now is the time for the ADA to double down on efforts to impact the improvement of the public’s oral health at both the state and federal levels,” said Schulz. “An overwhelming body of scientific evidence shows that improving oral health improves overall health. I am beyond thrilled to share the story of how dentistry is essential, and I look forward to helping shape the future of the profession through our advocacy efforts.”

Previous Contributions and Honors

On behalf of the ADA, Schulz has been an active and highly sought consultant for policy work. He served on the ADA Task Force for Strategic Planning in Public Policy, a cornerstone group for several federal policy initiatives led by the association. He was also a consultant to the ADA Emergency Department Referral Working Group and part of an ADA task force focusing on state strategies to address third-party payer intrusion in dentistry and oral health. In 2019, Schulz was inducted into the International College of Dentists as an Honorary Fellow and one of 100 non-dentist professionals in the College’s 100-year history.

Schulz serves on various non-profit boards and commissions, including the board of trustees for The College of New Jersey, his alma mater. He hails from a bi-partisan political family which has been active at the state and local levels.

Photo via NJDA