Honoring Excellence and Advancing the Future
As we stand on the brink of a new year, we come together not only to celebrate excellence, but to reaffirm our shared commitment to the future of dentistry.
My name is Dr. Julio Rodriguez, and I am deeply honored to serve as the Global President of the International College of Dentists, and proud to represent my home state of Wisconsin, USA. Today, I’m grateful for the privilege of connecting with each of you.
To our 2025 new fellows, welcome. To our long-standing Fellows, thank you for your leadership, your mentorship, and your unwavering dedication to helping our College grow in excellence.
Each one of us is here because someone recognized not only our clinical skill, but our integrity, our character, and our capacity to lead. Together, we represent 17 sections and nearly 150 countries, a global fellowship united by purpose.
Since 1920, the International College of Dentists has stood for more than recognition. It stands for fellowship. For leadership. For lifelong learning. For humanitarian service. Fellowship is not the finish line; it is a beginning. It is an invitation to lead, to serve, and to inspire.
Dentistry is built on trust; trust that goes beyond oral health to dignity, compassion, and humanity. As fellows, we are the guardians of that trust.
Our College is a bridge across borders, cultures, and languages. And you, each of you, embody that spirit.
Around the world, ICD fellows are leading outreach missions, pro-bono programs, and oral health initiatives that reach far beyond the walls of our practices. What unites us isn’t just what we do, it’s why we do it.
We are the largest dental humanitarian organization on the planet. Think about that for a moment, the largest. And what sustains this work isn’t only science or skill, it is heart.
ICD is a fellowship of people who choose to uplift communities, elevate standards, and serve with compassion. Each of us has taken a path defined by excellence and humanity; and together, we have the power to transform lives and inspire generations to come.
When I think of ICD, I feel pride, but I also feel responsibility. We are not simply members of a profession. We are stewards of health. Champions of smiles. Defenders of dignity.
As we look ahead, let us hold fast to the values that bind us; education, service, mentorship, and a relentless commitment to advancing our field. Let us share what we know with those who will follow in our footsteps, because the future of dentistry is shaped by the people we empower.
The year 2026 marks a new chapter. And in this chapter, we rise.
Together, we will break barriers and build bridges. Together, we will advocate for oral health as essential to overall well-being. Together, we will innovate, embracing new technologies and new possibilities that improve care and transform outcomes. Together, we will lead with integrity, compassion, and courage.
Stay connected. Reach out to the colleague who nominated you. Engage in your section’s programs. Show up, because your participation strengthens our College and amplifies our mission.
Let us honor excellence not only with words, but with action. Let us advance the future of dentistry by the way we serve, the way we lead, and the way we care for every patient, every community, and every colleague.
Thank you for your commitment, thank you for your service, and thank you for being part of this extraordinary fellowship.
God bless you all.
