Senate Concurrent Resolution 686

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING W. MARK DONALD, DMD, MAGD ON BECOMING THE 52ND PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF GENERAL DENTISTRY 2015-2016.

WHEREAS, Dr. W. Mark Donald from Louisville, Mississippi, is a graduate of Mississippi State University and University of Mississippi School of Dentistry and has been in private practice for the past 28 years. Dr. Donald has been a member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) since 1988; and

WHEREAS, the AGD was founded in 1952 with the foundational core principal of continuing education for general dentists to advance their knowledge, education and training in all fields of dentistry through postgraduate continuing education. The AGD is the second largest dental professional organization in North America with a membership of 39,000 and consisting of 62 constituents in the United States and Canada with student and international members; and

WHEREAS, Dr. W. Mark Donald is the first member of the Mississippi Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and Region 12 of the AGD to be elected to office and serve as President. He has served in appointed and elected positions leadership within the AGD since 1996. He was appointed to the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Council in 2000 and served as Chair from 2003 to 2006. He was elected as Regional Director of Region 12 and served for five years. He was elected by his Regional Director peers to serve as Chair for two years. He was elected by the AGD House of Delegates to serve for two terms as AGD Speaker of the House and in 2013, he was elected as the AGD Vice President, which has led to him being the 52nd President of the AGD; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Donald was instrumental in the conception, formulation and implementation of the Academy of General Dentistry Advocacy Strategic Plan, including the introduction and initiation of the AGD Advocacy Fund and the "Academy of General Dentistry Hill Day" and has helped guide the AGD advocacy efforts for general dentists for the past 16 years; and

WHEREAS, members of the Academy of General Dentistry are required to acquire continuing education as a membership requirement and obtain a coveted Fellowship and Mastership in the AGD. Fellows in the AGD make up 4% of all general dentists and only 1% of all general dentists obtain the coveted Mastership Award. Dr. Donald obtained the Mastership Award in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Donald was awarded the first recipient of the Dentist of the Year in his home state of Mississippi in 2010 and was recognized as the 2016 Alumnus of the Year for the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. His is the first and current Project Chair of the Mississippi Mission of Mercy which has provided $1.3 Million of free dental care to 2,800 patients in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Donald has delivered dental care and oral care education to citizens in his local Community of Louisville, Mississippi, for the past 28 years:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate W. Mark Donald, DMD, MAGD on serving as the 52nd President of the Academy of General Dentistry and extend a sincere thank you for being an Ambassador for the State of Mississippi while serving this national organization.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That our state must remain committed to improving the oral health of our citizens and we celebrate the accomplishments, advancements and importance of the general dentists in the dental health care delivery system of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Dr. W. Mark Donald, forwarded to the Mississippi Dental Association and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.