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Leading with Purpose, Equity, and Power
Dr. Wallace J. Bellamy is honored to serve as the 102nd President of the National Dental Association, bringing a compelling journey of perseverance, leadership, and dedication to oral health equity.
As a first-generation dentist with an aesthetic and general dental practice in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, California, Dr. Bellamy's path to dentistry began with a chance appointment during his high school years that transformed his life trajectory.
A graduate of Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Bellamy has built a distinguished career in organized dentistry, serving in numerous leadership positions including President of the Sacramento Society of the NDA, President of the Sacramento District Dental Society, and as one of twelve Directors of the California Dental Association.
Dear NDA Family,
My name is Wallace Bellamy, and I am honored to serve as the 102nd President of the National Dental Association.
My journey to dentistry and leadership is both interesting and compelling. I am a first-generation dentist with an aesthetic and general dental practice in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, California. Along with my brother Fred, I am the first in both my immediate and extended family to graduate from college—California State University, Sacramento. However, my story begins well before college.
A chance appointment with a caring dentist led to an opportunity to shadow him between two-a-day football practices during my sophomore and junior years of high school. By the end of that two-week summer experience, I knew I wanted to become a dentist.
I am the son of a career U.S. Air Force Sergeant and aircraft mechanic, born in New York City. Because of my father's service, I lived throughout the United States and Europe. I later graduated from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and returned to Sacramento to begin my private practice.
I never considered myself a leader during college or dental school. However, a mentor and friend recognized leadership potential in me as I was building my practice and encouraged me to become involved in organized dentistry.
Since then, I have had the privilege of serving in several leadership roles, including President of the Sacramento Society of the National Dental Association; President of the Sacramento District Dental Society; Vice Regent for the Northern California Region of the International College of Dentists; Chair of the Leadership Development Committee for the California Dental Association; and one of twelve Directors of the California Dental Association.
Beyond dentistry, I am the father of three independent young women, a horseman and cowboy (a term historically rooted in men and women of color), a vintner, an avid reader, and a traveler. Above all, I still love what I do—caring for patients and connecting with people.
Please reach out to me throughout the year. I am committed to meeting and engaging with all members and prospective members as we work together to create meaningful change and deliver exceptional value to your NDA experience.
Warmest Regards,
Wallace J Bellamy, DMD
President - National Dental Association (NDA)
Join Dr. Bellamy and thought leaders across dentistry for conversations on leadership, oral health equity, and the future of our profession.
New conversations with leaders shaping dentistry are on the way.
More voices. More impact. More change.
Building on our foundation, this moment in history demands intentional leadership to dismantle inequities in oral health and to rebuild health and social systems—both internal and external—that truly serve our communities.
As NDA members, we are not merely responding to change; we are uniquely positioned to design and manifest solutions through advocacy, innovation, and collective action. This theme affirms our power to shape the future of dentistry with purpose, equity, and impact.
