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Dear Friends,
As Chair of the Access Dental Care Board, it is with mixed emotions that I announce the retirement of Dr. Bill Milner at the end of the year. While we are happy for Bill as he begins this next chapter, his extraordinary
51-year career as a clinician, educator, and advocate for underserved North Carolinians will be deeply missed.
Bill’s lifelong commitment to special care began in 1977, when he walked
into an Asheboro nursing home to provide care to residents who otherwise had little access to dental services. In the 1980s he created the North Carolina Dental Society’s Committee on Aging, creating one of the first formal forums for addressing the oral health needs of older adults. While serving at the Randolph County Health Department, Bill also started caring for residents from a local group home. This experience gave him first-hand insight into the unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and his desire to provide care for them.
Alongside his clinical activities, he became a respected leader at state and national levels in special care organizations. His public health approach to program building fostered partnerships and deep support by local and statewide networks for Access Dental Care’s mission. In recognition of his decades of service and impact, Bill received the prestigious American Dental Association’s Humanitarian Award in 2023.
Bill shared his retirement plans with us well in advance, allowing our Board and Access Dental Care’s executive team time to engage in thoughtful succession planning over the past six months. As a result, the organization has a focused strategic plan that will move forward under the leadership of Betsy White, ADC’s co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, who will succeed Bill as President and CEO. With Betsy’s leadership, the strength of our mission, the energetic and dedicated staff, and the continued support of our incredible network of partners and organizations, Access Dental Care is well positioned for a strong and vibrant future.
Learn more about Bill and Betsy's partnership that built Access Dental Care.
We are profoundly grateful for Bill’s vision, leadership, and unwavering
commitment to equitable oral health. His lasting legacy of compassion,
innovation, and service will guide our work for years to come.
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