One Connection At a Time

Hello CFDDA Members,

First, thank you for the opportunity to serve as President of CFDDA for the 2026-2027 year. It is truly an honor and I look forward to working with all of you in the year ahead.

I am a proud third-generation dentist from Pompano Beach, following in the footsteps of my grandfather and father. Today, my wife, Katie, and I live in Gainesville with our three children, where I have been practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery for the past seven years.

During my time in organized dentistry, I've seen our profession tackle a wide range of issues ranging from fluoridation and insurance reform to anesthesia safety and scope of practice concerns. While the challenges may change, one thing remains constant: the strength of our profession depends on the strength of our membership.

Everything organized dentistry accomplishes starts with dentists who choose to get involved. Whether we're advocating for our patients, protecting our profession or shaping the future of dentistry, our success depends on having a strong, engaged membership. Simply put, when membership is strong, dentistry is strong.

I believe that strength starts with relationships. While organized dentistry often begins at the affiliate level, its foundation is really built one connection at a time. In a profession that can sometimes feel competitive, it's important to remember that we are stronger when we support one another. By sharing ideas, offering guidance and building meaningful relationships with our colleagues, we create a stronger dental community for everyone.

Some of my earliest memories of dentistry involve watching my father and grandfather interact with other dentists in their communities. They built friendships, trusted one another and worked together for the good of the profession. While dentistry looks much different today, I believe those relationships are just as important as ever.

So, I have a simple challenge for each of you. Reach out to a colleague. Call someone you haven't spoken with in a while. Invite a new dentist to lunch. Offer encouragement or mentorship to someone just starting their career. Small gestures can make a big difference and those connections help strengthen both our profession and organized dentistry.

I am excited about the year ahead and look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue to strengthen CFDDA, support our members and advance the profession we all care so deeply about.

Thank you for your membership, your involvement and your commitment to organized dentistry.

Sincerely,

Dr. Chris Hambrook