Col. (Dr.) Richard L. Williams, Director of Dental and Craniofacial Trauma Research and Tissue Regeneration, at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas was selected to participate in the American Dental Association's Institute for Diversity in Leadership 2015-2016 class. The class consists of 16 active leaders of the dental profession from various regions of the county. They were selected by the ADA Board of Trustees for this unique leader development program which will be completed during three on-site training sessions in Chicago.

"It feels great to be selected for this program, and I'm very proud to be a part of it," said Williams. "It's an opportunity for us to get involved at a higher level of organized dentistry and assimilate into those ranks, and hopefully transfer into those positions in the future."

The Institute provides a diverse group of dental professionals with education and experience to develop their leadership skills, strengthen professional networks, and set leadership paths in dentistry and their communities.

"Helping to encourage and inspire the future leaders of our profession through our diversity institute enriches our communities and our association," said ADA President Dr. Maxine Feinberg in an ADA press release. "Many of the program graduates have gone on to leadership roles in the organized dentistry. I'd love to see more leadership development programs like this at the local level."

The ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership is sponsored by Henry Schein, Inc. and Procter & Gamble. A key part of the program is to have each participant design and implement a personal leadership project for their community or profession. For his project, Williams proposed an idea to a local underprivileged school district in San Antonio to promote opportunities in dental or medical education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

"I have already consulted with academic leaders from the 'Promise Zone' from San Antonio's east side. The director for Science and Technology for San Antonio Independent School District and I have already started collaborating and developing a plan to enhance the development and preparation of students of the Young Men's Leadership Academy."

Williams and his class members are scheduled to attend two more sessions at the ADA Headquarters -- one in December and the third in September 2016. During the sessions they will be working with leading educators from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

"I'm looking forward to it, added Williams. "It's an opportunity not too many military dental officers get. It's also a wonderful opportunity for me to represent the Army and the Medical Command."