Our President

Dear Colleague

As the new President of the Georgia Dental Society, I must first recognize and acknowledge the legacy of leadership that paved the way for this opportunity.  I am honored to stand on the shoulders of some of the most esteemed dental professionals in the state of Georgia. I am excited to serve in an organization known throughout the state for fulfilling its mission to offer quality continuing education, mentorship and community service.

We have established a solid history of providing scholarships to dental students and dental hygiene students as well as networking opportunities for both members and nonmembers in order to maintain a sense of community within our dental profession. I have also had the opportunity to talk with many of you and it is rewarding to see the enthusiasm for our past work and future projects.  I hope to continue these conversations as we focus on mentorship programs, increasing membership and promoting the work of the GDS. 

We value your time, your gifts and your talent. Through your volunteer and networking efforts our mentorship programs at various institutions such as Augusta College, Spelman and Morehouse college have successfully inspired young people to strive for this noble profession for many years. These programs embody the essence of the GDS and highlight the value that we place on strengthening the relationships with colleges to help prepare students for success in the field of dentistry. 

Although GDS programs continue to be successful, I would be remiss to overlook our organization's humble beginnings. The GDS was formed out of necessity in the segregated south after African American dentists were denied the right to learn and develop dental skills based on the color of their skin. Although much has changed across America, there is still much work to be done. The greatest disparity of children with tooth decay is seen in African Americans.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans aged 35-44 years of age experience untreated tooth decay nearly twice as often as white Americans.   While this is an unfortunate statistic, it supports the need for GDS to continue with programs that improve and sustain dental health within our communities.

The GDS needs you. As dentists across the state of Georgia, your support is crucial in helping us to continue to fulfill our purpose by providing quality programs that have been the hallmark of this organization for years and scholarships for deserving students.  Your financial support, your volunteer efforts and your commitment to service are necessary for this organization to thrive.  We encourage our members to become mentors, speakers and serve on committees to help us fulfill our mission.

We hope you will attend our annual summer meeting which will be held at the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in Saint Maartin, Virgin Isle on June 7-11, 2023.  You can receive up to 12 hours of continuing education units for attending the meeting. Lastly, please consider joining GDS or renewing your membership today.  You can renew your membership by completing and signing the GDS application on the website.  Please mail it along with your check to GDS P.O. Box 875 Jonesboro, GA 30237 or through PayPal/Zelle on our website at www.georgiadentalsociety.org.

  I look forward to working with you and this entire dedicated membership throughout this next year.

Best Wishes!

Darryal D McCullough,DDS,MPH

Darryal D McCullough,DDS,MPH

McCullough Family Dentistry
Est.1992

EDUCATION

DDS,  Emory University School of   

                            Dentistry,  Atlanta, GA   

MPH, Emory University School of  

                            Public Health, 

  BA,  Vanderbilt University, 

                            Nashville, TN

 JE Brown High School, Atlanta, GA

Professional Organizations

          o     International College of Dentistry

  o     Thomas P Hinman Dental Society, 

                     Treasurer 

  o     American Dental Association, 

  o    Georgia Dental Association, 

  o    Northern District Dental Society,      

                      Treasurer

           o    National Dental Association

           o    North Georgia Dental Society

           o    Pierre Fauchard Academy

           o    A Gathering of the Women Charter 

                  Committee

  o    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc

   o.   Links, Inc 

Cascade United Methodist Church

Married to Major Kelvin McCullough

Two sons, Justin Kelvin and Joshua Kelvin One grandson, Zedekiah Kelvin