Dr. Lawrence E. Volland, former NYSDA President (2005), has been elected to become the Treasurer of the New York State Dental Foundation, effective 2021. Dr. Volland, who has been a Foundation Trustee since 2016, succeeds Dr. Robert Doherty, who retired at the end of 2020.
 
A 1975 graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Volland has maintained a private general practice in Lockport since 1976. He has also held many academic positions, including with his alma mater. Included in a lengthy list of professional positions he has held are chair of the Empire Dental Political Action Committee as well as the NYSDA Medicaid Advisory Committee. Dr. Volland has a longtime history of involvement and held leadership positions in community organizations and foundations, including the Dale Association and the Lyman Spaulding Society.
 
According to Foundation Chair, Dr. G. Kirk Gleason, “Dr. Volland is taking office at a particularly challenging time for all nonprofits, as the effects of the pandemic will continue to resonate into the new year. But having worked with him for many years, I have every confidence that he will be able to help our Board and staff as we steward our resources into a new era.”
 
Dr. Volland’s family includes wife Judith L. Volland, children Judd, Laura, Allison, Geoffrey, and four grandchildren. 

​ Dr. Robert Doherty, who has served as Treasurer of the New York State Dental Foundation since 2012, has announced his retirement, effective 31 December 2020.
 
Dr Lawrence Volland will become the Foundation Treasurer effective 1 January 2021.
 
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Doherty challenged his colleagues to match his annual $1,000 donation challenge, which affectionately became to be known as “the Doherty Challenge.” Though characteristically jovial, with a wry wit that will be much missed, Dr. Doherty never shied away from posing hard questions, especially when it came to the question of weighing the benefits to the Foundation (in terms of growing good will and increasing support) of potential donations.
 
Prior to serving on the Foundation, Dr. Doherty served in many capacities in the tripartite, culminating in serving as NYSDA President in 2010-11. In retirement, he hopes to spend more time with his family, including his three young grandchildren on the west coast. 

To say this past year has been challenging, chaotic, maddening (well, you get the point) would be a vast understatement. However, it definitely revealed rare opportunities to be thankful.
 
On behalf of the Foundation Board of Trustees and our staff, we extend our sincere gratitude to all who have continued to push through in order to ensure that dental care is seen as an essential service, to those who worked really hard to get dental offices back up and running, and to the many who continue to support our mission to improve the oral health of all New Yorkers.
 
Our generous donors, loyal partners and volunteers continue to inspire us to do more, which we are committed to doing in 2021 and beyond. .
 
We thank you, and we wish you all a happy, healthy holiday season