2026 DC Dental Society Candidates
Candidate for President-Elect, Dr. Charlie Coulter
Dr. Charlie, a born-and-raised Washingtonian, is a practicing Pediatric Dentist and has been practicing dentistry since he graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2005. As a specialist in his field, he not only offers a comprehensive understanding of pediatric dentistry, but the compassion needed to put patients at ease. Dr. Charlie has served Washington DC families at his pediatric dental office and orthodontic office in the friendship heights community of Washington DC.
Dr. Charlie, a born-and-raised Washingtonian, is a practicing Pediatric Dentist and has been practicing dentistry since he graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2005. As a specialist in his field, he not only offers a comprehensive understanding of pediatric dentistry, but the compassion needed to put patients at ease. Dr. Charlie has served Washington DC families at his pediatric dental office and orthodontic office in the friendship heights community of Washington DC.
Shortly after completing his residency in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Charlie co-founded D4C Brands, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing dental service organization (DSO) focused on pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. He served as the companies Chief Dental Officer for ten years. He currently still serves as a board member for the corporation’s charitable foundation, D4C Cares. Dr. Charlie has been honored with the Baltimore Humanitarian award for his work with under-served children in Baltimore Community and also served as a member of the DC Dental Society board of directors since 2022.
Candidate for Vice President, Dr. Lucciola Lambruschini
Dr. Lucciola serves as Director of Dental Services at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington and has over 23 years of both general and pediatric dentistry experience as well as clinic management. Dr. L completed dental school at University of San Martin de Porres in Lima, Peru. In 2005, started to volunteer at Spanish Catholic Center, where she found her passion about the importance for everyone to have access to dental care. After graduating from AEGD and GPR at Howard University College of Dentistry, Dr. Lambruschini moved to Shenandoah Valley, where she had the opportunity in establishing, growing, and managing a local community dental clinic. Through both national and international dental health initiatives, Dr. Lambruschini has been able to share her skills in dentistry in providing dental care to many different populations including underserved children and adults. As a bilingual Peruvian dental practitioner also holding a Master of Business Administration from Shenandoah University, Dr. Lambruschini continues to collaborate with various organizations to promote oral dental health as well as direct the dental services program at Catholic Charities Spanish Catholic Center that continues to impact the immense population that is in great need. Currently, Dr. Lambruschini serves on the Board of Directors of the DC Dental Society and as Vice Chair on the Maryland Dental Action Coalition Board, an organization that advocates for underserved populations and promotes access to oral health care for all. Moreover, Dr. Lambruschini was inducted into the International College of Dentists in 2019 as well as participating with MOM Mid Atlantic organization. Dr. Lambruschini serves as a leader in our community’s network of dental care professionals. She had served as a part-time adjunctive faculty at Howard University College of Dentistry and has volunteered with numerous organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area, including the MOM, the Montgomery Volunteer Dental Clinic, the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, Give Kids a Smile Day (VA, MD, DC) and the American Dental Association.
Dr. Lucciola serves as Director of Dental Services at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington and has over 23 years of both general and pediatric dentistry experience as well as clinic management. Dr. L completed dental school at University of San Martin de Porres in Lima, Peru. In 2005, started to volunteer at Spanish Catholic Center, where she found her passion about the importance for everyone to have access to dental care. After graduating from AEGD and GPR at Howard University College of Dentistry, Dr. Lambruschini moved to Shenandoah Valley, where she had the opportunity in establishing, growing, and managing a local community dental clinic. Through both national and international dental health initiatives, Dr. Lambruschini has been able to share her skills in dentistry in providing dental care to many different populations including underserved children and adults. As a bilingual Peruvian dental practitioner also holding a Master of Business Administration from Shenandoah University, Dr. Lambruschini continues to collaborate with various organizations to promote oral dental health as well as direct the dental services program at Catholic Charities Spanish Catholic Center that continues to impact the immense population that is in great need. Currently, Dr. Lambruschini serves on the Board of Directors of the DC Dental Society and as Vice Chair on the Maryland Dental Action Coalition Board, an organization that advocates for underserved populations and promotes access to oral health care for all. Moreover, Dr. Lambruschini was inducted into the International College of Dentists in 2019 as well as participating with MOM Mid Atlantic organization. Dr. Lambruschini serves as a leader in our community’s network of dental care professionals. She had served as a part-time adjunctive faculty at Howard University College of Dentistry and has volunteered with numerous organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area, including the MOM, the Montgomery Volunteer Dental Clinic, the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, Give Kids a Smile Day (VA, MD, DC) and the American Dental Association.
In her spare time, Dr. Lucciola enjoys traveling, cooking, long walks on the beach and spending time with family and friends.
Candidates for DC Dental Society Board Directors (4 seats available)
I am honored to be considered for a director position with the District of Columbia Dental Society. For more than a decade, Washington, D.C. has been at the center of my personal mission: advancing oral health equity and delivering exceptional care to the patients and communities who need it most.
As owner of Smile Services DC, a comprehensive practice committed to serving the Medicaid population, I have seen firsthand the systemic barriers that prevent so many District residents from accessing dental care. With more than forty percent of our local population relying on Medicaid, even small changes in coverage or reimbursement can have severe consequences for those already facing barriers to care. I believe that organized dentistry has both the opportunity and responsibility to protect these patients and support the providers who care for them.
If elected to the Board, my primary goal is to strengthen our advocacy for equitable access while elevating the voices of clinicians throughout the District — especially those practicing in high-need areas. I want to ensure that every dentist, whether new to practice or decades in, has the resources, representation, and community support needed to succeed.
Throughout my career, I have been committed to mentorship, workforce development, and educating the next generation of providers on both clinical excellence and service. Joining the leadership of the DC Dental Society would allow me to continue this work on a broader platform — championing initiatives that improve oral health, fortify our profession, and expand our collective impact in the city.
Thank you for your consideration. I would be honored to serve and support the Society’s mission, our members, and the communities we proudly serve.
Dr. Dan Jones
I have always held a strong belief that if you want to see a change, you must become involved in in your community and help be part of that change. This philosophy has guided me in my involvement in organized dentistry, from my early days of involvement as a member of the Membership Committee to my current role as the chair of the Education Committee.
I have always held a strong belief that if you want to see a change, you must become involved in in your community and help be part of that change. This philosophy has guided me in my involvement in organized dentistry, from my early days of involvement as a member of the Membership Committee to my current role as the chair of the Education Committee.
On a personal note, I am a graduate of HU. I have been in private practice in SWDC for over twenty years. I have been happily married for over 25 years to my best friend and business partner, and I am a proud father of three wonderful teenagers whom I hope one day will choose our wonderful profession as theirs one day. My commitment to giving back goes beyond borders as I organize an annual humanitarian mission to the Amazon providing much needed dental care to the indigenous communities along the Amazon River.
These experiences have not only shaped my understanding of our wonderful profession but also reinforced my commitment to ensuring the highest standards of our beloved D.C. Dental Society.
Dr. Naghmeh "Nina" Latifi
With great enthusiasm and a deep sense of gratitude, I present myself as a candidate for the position of the board of director seat for the District of Columbia Dental Society. Throughout my remarkable journey as an endodontist, I have traversed continents, embraced diverse cultures, and dedicated myself to providing exceptional dental care.
Born in Lincoln, NE and raised in Iran, I embarked on a pursuit of the American dream, returning to the US in 2003. Through diligent efforts and unwavering commitment, I completed dental school and advanced specialty training in endodontics, establishing my practice in the vibrant cities of Boston and Chicago, and ultimately have chosen Washington DC as my cherished home.
Driven by a passion to make a difference, I have eagerly participated in pro bono outreach programs in Nepal and Mexico, extending vital endodontics care to underprivileged communities. These experiences have instilled within me a profound appreciation for diverse cultures and equipped me with a creative problem-solving approach, enabling me to overcome diverse challenges with ingenuity and compassion.
Fortified by my active memberships in multiple dental associations in the DMV area , and within the vibrant dental community, I understood the importance of being involved in an Organized dentistry and being a part of a community that will advocate for our profession and fight to establish public policies to help us excel in our profession and consequently the care we provide to our patients. So here, I seek to contribute my expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence, to our dental society.
Having had the privilege of serving as a chair of a DCDS new member subcommittee for the past 2 years and a member of the board of directors of a Greater Washington academy of women dentists as a sponsorship coordinator and a treasurer for the past 4 years, I am profoundly humbled and honored to have been nominated for this esteemed position of the DCDS board of director seat and I kindly request your thoughtful consideration. Together, let us forge the path towards advancement and progress within the dental community of Washington DC.
Dr. Cassandra Wright
Cassandra Wright is the Specialty Director of Dentistry at Unity Health Care which is one of the largest FQHCs in Washington, DC providing services for populations who desire and need quality dental care. Her interest lies in a vested partnership in understanding multiple populations (and their unique needs) so that there is a comfortable place for all patients to receive care throughout the District. As a public health advocate she strives to develop innovative approaches to advance oral healthcare in the District and beyond. Some of her efforts include participation in a program designed to provide care coordination to target dental populations geared towards seniors, expectant mothers and children through Community Dental Health Coordinators(CDHCs), improving dental sealant measures among children and being an active contributor to a newly formed oral health coalition within the District with focus on education, advocacy and workforce development. She has been a member of DC Dental Society for several years and would like to continue to advance initiatives and promote oral health access for the community.
Cassandra Wright is the Specialty Director of Dentistry at Unity Health Care which is one of the largest FQHCs in Washington, DC providing services for populations who desire and need quality dental care. Her interest lies in a vested partnership in understanding multiple populations (and their unique needs) so that there is a comfortable place for all patients to receive care throughout the District. As a public health advocate she strives to develop innovative approaches to advance oral healthcare in the District and beyond. Some of her efforts include participation in a program designed to provide care coordination to target dental populations geared towards seniors, expectant mothers and children through Community Dental Health Coordinators(CDHCs), improving dental sealant measures among children and being an active contributor to a newly formed oral health coalition within the District with focus on education, advocacy and workforce development. She has been a member of DC Dental Society for several years and would like to continue to advance initiatives and promote oral health access for the community.
In her spare time, Dr. Wright enjoys spending time with her family and advocating for educational opportunities for students. Some of her past advocacy efforts have been serving as an Admission Partner for the United States Coast Guard Academy, the past Vice President of the PTSA for her son’s school and she currently serves as the Membership Chair of the PTSA for her youngest son’s middle school.
Candidates for the Delegation to the ADA House of Delegates
Dr. Clare McGorry, Candidate for Delegate
Dr. McGorry is a third-generation general dentist practicing in Washington, DC. She graduated magna cum laude from Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2016 and completed a general practice residency at the Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2017. She joined DCDS in 2017 and immediately became involved. She served on the DCDS Education Committee from 2018-2020, the DCDS Strategic Planning Committee from 2020-2021, the DCDS Membership Committee from 2018 and has served as chair of the Membership Committee since 2022. She has been a Board Member at Large for DCDS since 2020 and served as an Alternate Delegate to the ADA since 2022. Outside DCDS, Dr. McGorry is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She has served as the chair of the AADSM Education Committee since 2022 and was recently elected to sit on the Board of Directors for the AADSM in 2024. Dr. McGorry was named "Top Dentist" in Washingtonian Magazine in 2023 and was the readers' choice runner-up for Best Dentist in Washington City Paper's “Best of DC” edition in 2024. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she is a passionate Buffalo Bills football fan and comes from a large, blended family. Dr. McGorry has five nieces and one nephew whom she adores. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exercising, hiking, and skiing.
Dr. McGorry is a third-generation general dentist practicing in Washington, DC. She graduated magna cum laude from Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2016 and completed a general practice residency at the Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2017. She joined DCDS in 2017 and immediately became involved. She served on the DCDS Education Committee from 2018-2020, the DCDS Strategic Planning Committee from 2020-2021, the DCDS Membership Committee from 2018 and has served as chair of the Membership Committee since 2022. She has been a Board Member at Large for DCDS since 2020 and served as an Alternate Delegate to the ADA since 2022. Outside DCDS, Dr. McGorry is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She has served as the chair of the AADSM Education Committee since 2022 and was recently elected to sit on the Board of Directors for the AADSM in 2024. Dr. McGorry was named "Top Dentist" in Washingtonian Magazine in 2023 and was the readers' choice runner-up for Best Dentist in Washington City Paper's “Best of DC” edition in 2024. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she is a passionate Buffalo Bills football fan and comes from a large, blended family. Dr. McGorry has five nieces and one nephew whom she adores. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exercising, hiking, and skiing.
Dr. Aliya Kassam, Candidate for Alternate Delegate
I have been an active and dedicated member of the District of Columbia Dental Society since 2014. This prestigious organization is very important to me and I wholeheartedly believe in our mission. As a young dentist and private practice owner, I bring my enthusiasm and energy to our group. As one who speaks highly of our organization, and has written a handful of letters for potential participants, I plan to bring more of my peers into the organization so that we may carry on the torch of the amazing members who have come before us. I am extremely committed to organized dentistry.
I have been an active and dedicated member of the District of Columbia Dental Society since 2014. This prestigious organization is very important to me and I wholeheartedly believe in our mission. As a young dentist and private practice owner, I bring my enthusiasm and energy to our group. As one who speaks highly of our organization, and has written a handful of letters for potential participants, I plan to bring more of my peers into the organization so that we may carry on the torch of the amazing members who have come before us. I am extremely committed to organized dentistry.
My willingness to work for and alongside my peers will be an asset to the Foundation. I will also put forth the effort needed to get projects done efficiently. I am committed to focus on what makes us a better group, and as a faculty member of the Howard University College of Dentistry, I have direct access to not only our future colleagues, but a finger on the pulse of the newest technologies and research breakthroughs. I am a team player, have the ability to listen to others, and constructively solve problems. I endeavor to make objective and fair decisions, and reach a consensus in a timely manner. I promise to continue to exemplify high ethical standards and integrity in all professional and personal interactions. I am honored to be in consideration for this position.
Dr. Patrick Grogan, Candidate for Alternate Delegate
After graduating from Georgetown Dental School, I immediately got involved in leadership with the DC Dental Society. I received the Committee Member of the Year Award in 2007 and was humbled to receive the Sterling V. Meade Award in 2019. I served as President of the DC Dental Society in 2010 through 2011. I have been on the Delegation to the ADA from 2011 through 2023, serving as both Delegate and Alternate Delegate. I have been appointed to several reference committees throughout my tenure as Delegate/Alternate Delegate, including serving four years on the Council for Members Insurance and Retirement Plans, (CMIRP), being appointed Delegation Chair and District 4 Caucus Chair several times, and most recently appointed to the Public /Professional Action Committee, which is an action group of the newly formed ADA Strategic Forecasting Committee.
After graduating from Georgetown Dental School, I immediately got involved in leadership with the DC Dental Society. I received the Committee Member of the Year Award in 2007 and was humbled to receive the Sterling V. Meade Award in 2019. I served as President of the DC Dental Society in 2010 through 2011. I have been on the Delegation to the ADA from 2011 through 2023, serving as both Delegate and Alternate Delegate. I have been appointed to several reference committees throughout my tenure as Delegate/Alternate Delegate, including serving four years on the Council for Members Insurance and Retirement Plans, (CMIRP), being appointed Delegation Chair and District 4 Caucus Chair several times, and most recently appointed to the Public /Professional Action Committee, which is an action group of the newly formed ADA Strategic Forecasting Committee.
I proudly support and represent the DC Dental Society on the national level and will continue to do so in the future.
I have been in private solo practice for 35 years. When I am not working, my winter passion is skiing and during the summer I enjoy boating on the Chesapeake Bay with my wife and our Yorkie, Rocko.
