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NASHVILLE – June 10, 2021 – Following a year-long search, the board of directors and staff of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) are pleased to announce that Leila C. Younger, DDS, MS, has been selected as the new Executive Director of ABPD, effective June 14, 2021. 

Dr. Younger graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, where she was inducted into OKU National Dental Honor Society. She completed her residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and received a master’s degree from Northwestern University. She maintained a solo private practice in Algonquin, IL, for many years, followed by a group practice in the Chicago suburbs. She is a Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at The University of Southern California Ostrow School of Dentistry.

Dr. Younger has been Board Certified since 1998. She served as an examiner for the Oral Clinical Examination since its inception in 2005.  From 2005-2015, she served on the Advisory Committee and the Renewal of Certification Subcommittee. In addition, she served as a Director for ABPD from 2015-2021, having served as President of the Board of Directors from 2019-2020.

She has served on councils and committees for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 1992-2004, including the Scientific Program Committee and Clinical Affairs Committee. Most recently she served on the AAPD Safety Committee from 2018-2021 and the AAPD Nominations Committee in 2020. She was awarded a Master Clinician Certificate in 2013 by ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning. She is a member of the AAPD/AAPD Foundation Kellogg Leadership Cohort VI.

Dr. Younger has served the American Dental Association (ADA) on the ADAT Test Construction Committee in 2017 and 2018, and on the DLOSCE Test Construction Committee from 2019-2021. She became an ADA Evidence-Based Dentistry Champion in 2012 and is a member of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. She is an FBI Trained NCIC Dental Coder. 

“I look forward to serving ABPD as the Executive Director and hope to champion the Board’s efforts in driving the Renewal of Certification Process (ROC-P) toward longitudinal assessment following the guidance of the American Board of Medical Specialties Vision Initiative.” – Leila Younger, DDS, MS

Dr. Younger and her husband, Dr. Terry Younger, reside in Barrington, Illinois. They enjoy biking, hiking, and travel. They are frequent visitors to the Los Angeles area where their two adult children reside.

Please join us in giving her a warm welcome to the ABPD team.  

Click here for a full listing of ABPD staff members.