Monday, Nov 24, 2025
A Year of Leadership, Laughter, and Lessons: Reflections from Your 2025 President
As my presidential year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting with equal parts gratitude, disbelief, and the kind of emotional whiplash that only organized dentistry can deliver. They say time flies when you’re having fun—but in my case, it also flies when you’re running from committee meetings to board calls, writing resolutions at midnight, answering member emails at 1 a.m., and trying (unsuccessfully) to explain to my toddler why the CDA House of Delegates counts as “important work” and not “Daddy ignoring me.”
But truthfully—what a year. What a community. What an honor.
Serving as President of the Harbor Dental Society has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. When I stepped into this role, I did so with a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and a very sincere promise to keep my jokes just professional enough to avoid reprimands from the bylaws. I hope I succeeded—at least on two out of three.
A Year Powered by People
First, to our incredible team:
Kristin, our Executive Director—thank you for being the calm in every storm, the strategist behind every success, and the person who somehow manages to answer emails faster than any human should be able to. Your guidance anchored this entire year.
And Makayla—thank you for bringing energy, innovation, and the kind of cheerful competence that makes the rest of us look better than we deserve. Your behind-the-scenes work kept our society running smoother than my morning espresso machine.
Together, you both made this presidency not only possible, but joyful.
Our Journey, Our Wins
This year, we strengthened our partnerships, expanded our educational reach, and supported our members in ways that reflect Harbor’s core identity: compassionate, forward-thinking, and rooted in service.
We embraced new ideas, balanced tradition with innovation, and even survived the annual budgeting process—an achievement deserving of its own award. Most importantly, we continued building a society where every dentist feels welcomed, supported, and valued.
Passing the Baton
As I step aside, I do so with full confidence, because I leave you in the exceptional hands of Dr. David Telles—an accomplished oral surgeon, respected leader, trusted colleague, and former President of the Orange County Dental Society.
If leadership is about integrity, vision, and the ability to keep one’s sense of humor during endless committee meetings, then Dr. Telles is more than ready. Harbor is fortunate to have him, and I look forward to seeing how he elevates our society in the year ahead.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To the membership: thank you for trusting me, challenging me, laughing with me, and—when necessary—rolling your eyes at me. Every message, every conversation, every shared moment reminded me why I love this profession and the people in it.
To my family, Aida and Alaina—thank you for letting me chase big goals while reminding me daily of what truly matters.
This isn’t goodbye. It’s simply the start of a new chapter—one where I get to cheer you all on from just one seat instead of all of them.
Here’s to Harbor’s future—bright, bold, unified, and always smiling.
—Dr. Amir Kazim, DDS, FACD, FICD, FPFA
2025 President, Harbor Dental Society