ATSU-ASDOH student named ASDA national president
Posted: April 1, 2025
A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) student Payal Patel, D3, has been elected as the national president of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) for the 2025-26 term.
ASDA is a student-run organization that connects dental students on local and national levels, working to protect and advance their rights, interests, and welfare, and giving them the training they need to be better leaders and professionals.
Patel, who serves as co-president of ATSU-ASDOH’s ASDA chapter, has been an active and dedicated member of the association for the past three years.
“Her leadership has been exemplary, from serving as our chapter’s co-president to her role as district trustee, where she has worked tirelessly to advocate for dental students and create opportunities for success. Her election as national ASDA president is a testament to her unwavering commitment to our profession and her ability to inspire others,” said ATSU-ASDOH Dean Desmond Gallagher, BDS, MA, FACD.
As president, Patel will join two vice presidents, the speaker of the house, and the executive director, for a year-long term. She will chair the ASDA Board of Trustees, which oversees the development and implementation of the association strategic plan and approves the annual budget, and will serve as chair of the executive committee, which is responsible for managing association business between meetings of the Board of Trustees.
“I joined ASDA as a first-year dental student, never realizing the profound impact it would have on my dental school journey. Through this organization, I’ve met incredible mentors and friends who have reminded me to never underestimate the difference we can make. Leadership, I’ve learned, is about showing up, speaking out, and creating opportunities for others to do the same. Each of us has the power to create change, inspire others, and leave a legacy. I am incredibly excited for this opportunity and hope to continue creating space for other leaders to flourish,” Patel said.
