Fate鈥攁nd hard work鈥攍ead Dr. OLoughlin to top job at ADA

Dr. Kathleen T. O’Loughlin loves going to work every day.

Her life exemplifies that: from nursing school student to biology major to teacher to dentist while moving from clinical practice to management, from chair side to boardroom.

The incoming ADA executive director explained in an end-of-work-day phone call that “I’ve never had a position or a job that I didn’t absolutely love.”

In a 10-minute conversation it became clear that what she loves is getting things done and being an agent for change.

Her father, Dr. John Treanor, who died 28 years ago, was, like her, a dental graduate of Tufts; he also practiced in Medford, Mass., where Dr. O’Loughlin still lives and where she had a private practice from 1982-2002. Of her seven siblings, she is the only one who became a dentist. She was the first female Tufts dental class president and the first female valedictorian. “I delivered my first child and oldest son Stephen, during my dental school graduation,” she notes.

During her years in general practice, she also earned a master’s degree in public health and health care management from Harvard.

Her transition from private practice to dental benefit plan management came serendipitously. In fact, she says, all her life changes came because another opportunity presented itself.

“The reason I’ve done all the things I’ve done and developed the skill sets I have is fate more than any single factor,” she says. “It wasn’t purposeful. I responded to needs as they were presented to me, and learned and grew from the opportunities. When the objectives were met, I moved on to the next job. I never mapped out a path, but these experiences led me to the ADA.”

Her first transition from private practice to Dental Services of Massachusetts (the state Delta plan) came because she was a member of the plan’s board. “We were successful and wanted to bring more access to more people. The Delta board asked me to become president. It was a leap of faith in my ability. I only had private practice experience and some higher education experience at that point.”

She met the challenge. During her tenure from 2002-07, Dental Services of Massachusetts doubled its reserves and increased its membership by 400 percent. The success included charitable contributions of $53 million.

“I stayed until we accomplished our growth goals.” She followed her Delta position with 18 months of consulting including work at Tufts on curriculum revision and strategic planning. That was followed by her role as advisor to the president at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which included developing a master’s program in public health, overseeing the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene 2009 Commission on Dental Accreditation process and the expansion of the dental hygiene program to the Worcester campus.

“These were terrific experiences that allowed me to expand my skills. And at Tufts, I could still see patients in the emergency department.”

She credits her husband of 35 years, Stephen F. O’Loughlin, with alerting her to the ADA position. He brought the notice to her and said, “This is for you. It’s a perfect match,’ she recalls. “I think the stars were aligned. I’ve been a member of the ADA since dental school and always an active volunteer. I chose the worker bee jobs because I love getting things done.”

Her “worker bee” jobs include volunteering for the Yankee Dental Congress in various roles as well as Give Kids A Smile efforts.

Dr. O’Loughlin’s goal in her new job is to act on behalf of the Board of Trustees, represent the Association members and to translate their needs and their visions to the rest of the world.聽 She also wants to work on the appropriate integration of oral health in the critically important discussion of health care reform. “I want to help the ADA deliver on its promise to advance the public’s health and to support the profession.”

She thinks of her father and how he would feel about her new position. “This is such an honor, the ultimate professional moment in my life and I will do it with the best of my ability.”

While a Massachusetts native, she has also lived in Texas and Maryland, and is ready for a move. “I love Chicago and I can’t wait to get there.” She and her husband, a mechanical engineer, have four children, ages 18 to 28. Her effective start date is June 1.