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The CDA has many valued leaders who work to ensure the success of the organization. We extend our sincere thanks to all who contribute their time, energy and resources to further the dental profession and oral health in Colorado.
President
Dr. Carol Morrow graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2006. She was in private practice with her father, Dr. Robert Morrow, until his retirement in 2013. She has been active in organized dentistry since dental school, where she served as American Student Dental Association president. Dr. Morrow has been cochair of the CDA New Dentist Committee, president of the Arkansas Valley Dental Society, cochair of the CDA Government Relations and Membership councils, member of the Colorado Dental Political Action Committee, and board member of the Colorado Mission of Mercy. She also recently served as chair of the ADA Reference Committee on Legislative, Governance, Health, and Related Matters and chair of the ADA’s 14th District. She is a fellow of the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Dr. Morrow is very passionate about access to care and making sure every person in Colorado receives the highest quality of care available.
Immediate Past President
Dr. Michael Varley received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and Master of Science from Wayne State University. Before attending and after graduating from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry, he served on the part-time faculty until moving to Colorado and entering private practice. His Highlands Ranch general dental practice and mission focuses on comprehensive dentistry to improve the lives of his patients. He has been a member of the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society (MDDS), CDA and the American Dental Association (ADA) since 1994. He served as treasurer of the American Equilibration Society for five years and is a past president, treasurer and board member of MDDS and the Metropolitan Denver Dental Foundation. Dr. Varley was the 2011 cochair of the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention and served on the CDA Board of Trustees. He now is past president of the CDA and board member of the CDA Foundation and the Dentists Professional Liability Trust. Dr. Varley has served as an ADA delegate and a reference membership committee member. Recently, Dr. Varley has been inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy and International College of Dentists.
President Elect
Dr. Karen Foster graduated from Texas Tech University in 1997. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2002, then completed residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Texas-Houston Dental Branch in 2004. Dr. Foster moved to Grand Junction in 2004, where she practiced as an associate in a private practice and at Marillac Clinic. In 2008, she opened Saddle Rock Pediatric Dentistry in Aurora. Dr. Foster is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and both the American and International College of Dentists. Chosen multiple times by peers as a 5280 Top Dentist, she has attended annual American Dental Association meetings as a delegate since 2005. She is a clinical associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in the Special Care Clinic. In 2013, the CDA recognized her with its Exceptional Leadership Award. Dr. Foster served on the Metro Denver Dental Society (MDDS) Board of Directors and was awarded with the MDDS Volunteer of the Year award in 2012. She previously chaired the Colorado Dental Political Action Committee, advocating for improvements benefiting patients and the profession.
1st Vice President
Dr. Jeffrey Kahl earned a bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University and his Doctor in Dental Surgery degree at the University of Colorado. He then completed a general practice residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and served two years at China Lake Naval Weapons Station in California. After separating from the Navy, he completed a two-year residency in pediatric dentistry at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, where he is still an adjunct faculty member. Dr. Kahl is a past president of the Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is cochair of the CDA Membership Council. He serves as an examiner for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and as a consultant on several state health coalitions. As the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry public policy advocate for Colorado, Dr. Kahl frequently lobbies on behalf of Colorado children at the state Capital and in Washington, D.C.
2nd Vice President
Dr. Carrie Mauterer graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where she was heavily involved in many leadership positions including class president for two years and president of her school’s American Student Dental Association chapter. Dr. Mauterer is a prominent figure in the Colorado dental community and is an advocate for building a strong healthcare community. She was honored to be awarded fellowships in both the Pierre Fauchard Society and the International College of Dentists. For four years she served the local Metropolitan Denver Dental Society (MDDS) board. While serving as the editor of the Articulator Magazine, she published dozens of editorials and won two awards from the International College of Dentists for her editorial work . She has served the American Dental Association in the positions of alternate delegate and delegate (elected by her peers) for a few years now. She currently chairs the MDDS outreach committee and is a trainer for The Cavity Free at 3 Program. She was awarded MDDS Volunteer of the Year award in 2013 and the MDDS Chair of the Year award in 2017.
Treasurer
Dr. Jason Ehtessabian graduated from dental school in 2005 from the University of Iowa, following an undergraduate education at Marquette University. In 2007, Dr. Ehtessabian spent six months as a volunteer in Tanzania, where he earned the Excellence in the Dental Field Award from the organization HealthCare Volunteer. In 2008, he moved to Burlington, Colo., where he met his wife, Morgan, and established Burlington Family Dentistry. He became a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry in 2013. Dr. Ehtessabian also received an Academic Certificate (C.DSM) from the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines in 2015 and is a candidate for the Diplomate award from both the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorder Disciplines in 2016. Dr. Ehtessabian moved to Castle Rock in 2016, where he recently opened his new office, Refresh Snoring and Sleep Apnea Center. He has served on the Colorado Dental Political Action, American Dental Political Action and Colorado Small Donor committees and as cochair of the CDA Government Relations Council.
Secretary (Photo Coming Soon!)
Dr. Jana Ikeda earned her D.D.S. from Creighton School of Dentistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Colorado. She recently completed her master’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida, with a focus on HPV’s causation to oral pharyngeal cancer. She is actively involved in organized dentistry at the state and local level and has served on the CDA Finance Council for the past five years. She has also served as an alternate delegate to the ADA. Dr. Ikeda is involved in the National Practice-Based Research Network and served on the Practitioner Advisory Committee. Transplanted from Hawaii, Dr. Ikeda maintains a private practice in Boulder, Colo.
Speaker of the House
Dr. David Lurye is a 1985 graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He attended the University of Bergen, Norway Dental School in 1984 through an exchange program. Dr. Lurye served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Public Health Service and worked in three Indian Health Service hospitals/clinics. He is the dental director at Uncompahgre Medical Center in Norwood, Colo., and maintains a part-time private practice in Ridgway, Colo. He is on faculty as an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. He is also part of a U.S. team involved in an international research project on head, neck and dental anatomy. Dr. Lurye is a past president of the Colorado Dental Association and a fellow in the Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He and his wife, Pat, live in Ridgway.
Editor
Dr. Michael K. Diorio graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dentistry in 1985. He served three years in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps as a dentist stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Upon his return to Colorado in 1989, he established a private practice in the Denver area. Dr. Diorio has been active in organized dentistry at both the state and local levels. He served as the Metro Denver Dental Society editor for nine years and won the International College of Dentists 2016 Journalism Award in the Leadership and William J. Gies Award for the most outstanding dental editorial in 2000. Dr. Diorio has been on the consulting dental staff at Craig Hospital since 1995, providing dental care for those with traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries. He is also active in the anti-tobacco community and often presents the CDA’s “Quit the Spit” program to students.
| Dr. Carol Morrow, President | Walsh |
| Dr. Michael Varley, Immediate Past President | Highlands Ranch |
| Dr. Karen Foster, President Elect | Greenwood Village |
| Dr. Jeff Kahl, 1st Vice President | Colorado Springs |
| Dr. Carrie Mauterer, 2nd Vice President | Lakewood |
| Dr. Jason Ehtessabian, Treasurer | Castle Rock |
| Dr. Jana Ikeda, Secretary | Boulder |
| Dr. David Lurye, Speaker of the House | Ridgway |
| Dr. Mike Diorio, Editor | Englewood |
| Dr. Gerald Branes, AVDS | Lamar |
| Dr. David Jackson, BBCDS | Boulder |
| Dr. Gary Field, CSDS | Colorado Springs |
| Dr. Robert Provorse, IMDS | Salida |
| Dr. Zach Alleman, LCDS | Fort Collins |
| Dr. David Klekamp, MDDS | Denver |
| Dr. Cameron Birch, NECDS | Brush |
| Dr. Steve Reck, SECDS | Pueblo |
| Dr. Mark Blue, SJBDS | Durango |
| Dr. Aimee Louise Martinez, SLVDS | Alamosa |
| Dr. Nathaniel Kunzman, WELD | Greeley |
| Dr. Sheena Schoch, WCDS | Hayden |
| Dr. Justin Pearson, NDC | Denver |
| Danny Adler, CU School of Dental Medicine | Aurora |
CDA Councils
The CDA has five standing councils, which provide leadership in strategic areas. Task forces and committees also are established as needed to address emerging issues.
CDA Councils
- Finance
- Governmental Relations
- Membership
- Peer Review
Current Task Forces and Standing Committees
- Colorado Dental Political Action Committee (CODPAC)
- Ethics
To volunteer to serve on a council or committee, please email info@cdaonline.org or call 303-740-6900.
The CDA staff ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly and provide members service and support.
Greg Hill, J.D., Executive Director
Molly Pereira, Associate Executive Director, Operations/Communications
Pam Brockhaus, Associate Executive Director, Finance
Erica Carvin, Director of Membership
Jennifer Goodrum, Director of Governmental Relations
Krysia Gabenski, Strategic Communication Specialist
Mike Masamori, Accounting and Facilities Manager
Geri Mustain, Office Manager