William Prentice, JD, former senior vice president of government and public affairs at the American Dental Association, will serve as the new executive director of the ASC Association and Ambulatory Surgery Foundation, the groups announced today. He will begin his new role with the organizations on Oct. 4.

Mr. Prentice was selected after an "incredibly intensive search and interview process that took way longer than we expected," said ASCA and ASF Board Chair David Shapiro, MD, CASC, in a conference call announcing the decision. He noted Mr. Prentice's "more than 25 years of experience in association management, government affairs, health advocacy and legislation, and public relations" and called him "the right person, at the right time, for this key position in the ASC industry."

Pledging to be a "spokesperson for [the organizations'] concerns and priorities," Mr. Prentice said he was "very much looking forward to working with the ASC industry" and hoped to "attract many more members to the cause" during his tenure.

In addition to his recent role as senior vice president of government and public affairs and director of the Washington office of the 157,000-member American Dental Association, Mr. Prentice previously served as ADA's senior congressional lobbyist, director of government affairs at the New Jersey Dental Association and as a vice president at a large New Jersey public affairs firm. He has 17 years of experience working directly with healthcare organizations and 12 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, according to ASCA.

Mr. Prentice replaces former ASCA Executive Director Kathy Bryant, who vacated the position on Aug. 31 after 12 years of leadership at the industry lobbying group. ASCA spokeswoman Kay Tucker had been filling in as acting executive director during the search for Ms. Bryant's permanent replacement.

Irene Tsikitas

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