ADA Announces Key Strategic Promotions

The ADA promoted Krishna Aravamudhan BDS, MS, and April Kates-Ellison to key positions to help the association meet its strategic goals.

The American Dental Association (ADA) promoted Krishna Aravamudhan BDS, MS, to vice president of the Practice Institute and April Kates-Ellison to the position of chief client services and Tripartite relations officer.

Aravamudhan is tasked with guiding the Institute’s strategic, operational and thought leadership initiatives to accomplish the vision and goals of the ADA.

She will continue to oversee the Center for Dental Benefits, Coding and Quality and lend oversight responsibility for programs organized under the Center for Dental Practice Policy and the Center for Informatics and Standards.

Aravamudhan will also provide leadership to guide the work of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs and the Council on Dental Practice.

“I am pleased to announce the promotion of Dr Aravamudhan to vice president of the Practice Institute,” said Raymond Cohlmia, DDS, executive director of ADA. “She continuously demonstrates strong leadership and a smart, future-forward vision for the Practice Institute.”

In her new position, Kates-Ellison will lead a team responsible for the strategic account management and engagement of multiple stakeholder groups.

Groups include state and local dental societies, select councils and committees and various external associations and groups with which ADA aims to develop or continue to maintain strong relationships with, on behalf of building a stronger, united dental community for all dental professionals.

Additionally, Kates-Ellison will deliver a portfolio of services and offerings that support dental student and dentist member engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion with strategies spanning membership development, leadership development, technology systems and other key services that support the collective growth of the Tripartite.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce April Kates-Ellison’s advancement to Chief Client Services & Tripartite Relations Officer,” said Cohlmia. “A committed veteran of the ADA, April has impressively had the pulse on membership recruitment, retention and outreach across the national, state and local ADA and she will continue to advance business agility and usher in a culture of change, innovation, collaboration and accountability in this new role.”