GSDM Dean Leone Appointed CODA Commissioner
Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Dean Cataldo W. Leone recently was appointed as a commissioner for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the accrediting body for all dental and dental-related education programs in the U.S., at the conclusion of the annual meeting of the American Dental Association held in October.
Leone was nominated for the position via the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), with the support of then-Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. He served six months as a commissioner-in-training before moving into the commissioner role, in which he will serve until fall 2026. As a commissioner, Leone will review and vote on all final accreditation reports. He also will play a role in reviewing and making policies related to accreditation matters.
As a commissioner, Leone will chair the predoctoral review committee, which reviews findings of site visit teams. He also will chair a new ad hoc committee that will review the commission’s accreditation standards for predoctoral dental education. This committee is being formed in response to a request from ADEA and U.S. dental school deans for a review of standards and how they align to the current climate of predoctoral dental education.
Previously, Leone served on the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) from 2016-20, including as chair for the last year of his term. Under his leadership, the JCNDE implemented two new examinations: the integrated National Dental Board Exam (INDBE) and the Dental Licensing Objective Structured Clinical Exam. Dean Leone also served as an accreditation site visitor for many years.