252: Interview with general dentist and the 160th American Dental Association President, Dr. Linda Edgar

Dr. Linda J. Edgar, a general dentist, is the 160th American Dental Association President and 5th woman to be elected to this honor.  Dr. Edgar has been a member of the ADA since 1992 and was a member of the House of Delegates from 2005 to 2018. She served as the Eleventh District Trustee (2018-2022) of the ADA and is a former member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. She went to dental school at the age of 37 after teaching junior high school and Honors Chemistry for 15 years. Dr. Edgar has been involved with numerous other dental organizations, including the Washington State Dental Association, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International, the Washington Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry, of which she was president in 2013-2014. She served as president of the Seattle King County Dental Society from 2010 to 2011. Dr. Edgar served in private practice for 30 years with her husband, Dr. Bryan Edgar and was involved with the University of Washington School of Dentistry as chair of their $22 million dental school campaign in support of major fundraising for over 10 years. Dr. Edgar earned her dental degree from the University of Washington. Prior to becoming a dentist, Dr. Edgar was a national class marathon runner completing over 45 marathons setting a record of 2:43 in the Seattle Marathon and participating in the first Woman's Olympic Marathon Trials. She has also completed two full Ironman races. Now retired from private practice, she is currently involved with volunteer organizations which couple continuing education with increasing access for veterans and the underserved. She has an adopted son David who is a captain for Alaska Airlines and she has two granddaughters.