Wondering what the ADA is doing for you lately? Well let's go straight to the source to find out. We were very appreciative that Dr. David Manzanares was willing to sit down with us to discuss all things organized dentistry.
Dr. David J. Manzanares, a general dentist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the First Vice President of the American Dental Association. Dr. Manzanares has been a member of the ADA since 2009.
Dr. Manzanares served as member to the ADA Council on Communications, where he was also Chair of the Volunteer Engagement Program and the Council Self-Assessment Committee, as well as part of the Spokesperson Review Committee and the Integrated Marketing Workgroup. He is also a graduate of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership.
Dr. Manzanares is involved with numerous other dental organizations, including the New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA), Albuquerque District Dental Society (ADDS) and Academy of General Dentistry. An engaged member of the NMDA, Dr. Manzanares previously served as Secretary-Treasurer from 2015 to 2022, chaired several committees and was the Albuquerque Representative of the NMDA Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2015. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for the NMDA Foundation. Starting in 2020, he became part of the New Mexico Dental COVID- 19 Advisory Team. From 2009 to 2015, he was a delegate of the NMDA House of Delegates and continues to be on the NMDA Council on Government Affairs. His other duties include serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the Southwest District Dental Society from 2010 to 2011, and he has served as Advisor to the Leadership Board with the ADDS since 2015.
Dr. Manzanares is a Fellow in both the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists and was awarded with both a Fellowship in 2015 and a Mastership in 2018 from the AGD. He is a graduate of both the Dawson Academy and the Piper Education and Research Center.
Originally from Espanola, NM, Dr. Manzanares attended the University of New Mexico as a Regent’s Scholar, graduating in 2005. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry in 2009. He has also served as the pre-dental advisor at New Mexico State University and was a faculty member at Dona Ana Community College, teaching radiology to dental hygiene students. Dr. Manzanares comes from a dental family; his father, Dr. Robert Manzanares, was president of the NMDA from 2010 to 2011 and his younger brother, Dr. Michael Manzanares, is also a dentist.