• Natasha Flake, DDS, PhD, MSD, will complete her term as president of the AAE in April.
• Flake serves as associate dean of the UW School of Dentistry.
• She is the sixth UW grad and the fifth woman to serve as AAE president.
• Although they are separate organizations, AAE and ADA collaborate closely on many issues.
• AAE makes informational resources on endodontic topics available for free to the entire dental community.

Natasha Flake didn’t begin her dental education with the intention of becoming an endodontist.

In fact, if it weren’t for what she calls “the only occasion in my life that I can recall having a true ‘aha’ moment,” she might have graduated, had a career in general dentistry, and never served as president of the 8100+ member American Association of Endodontists (AAE).

That “aha” moment came during her time as a dental student at the University of Maryland, where she was assisting in the graduate endodontic clinic.

“Once I observed the resident working through the microscope, I knew that endodontics was for me,” she said. “I had spent many hours at a microscope doing research and I was drawn to the similarity in endodontics. Additionally, endodontics was an excellent fit for my clinical and research interest in relieving patients’ pain. Even today, if a dental student questions the value of assisting in a specialty clinic, I share that a similar experience changed the course of my professional life.”

After receiving her DDS and a PhD in biomedical science from Maryland, she traveled west and received her MSD in Endodontics from the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UWSOD).

She has been a full-time faculty member at the UWSOD since 2007, and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Director of Predoctoral Endodontics, and Associate Director of the school’s Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program. She also has practiced part-time at Northgate Endodontics in Seattle, though she admits her responsibilities at UWSOD and with AAE have cut into her clinical practice time lately.

Getting Involved

Flake’s journey to the presidency of AAE – her term runs through April of this year – began early in her career when a colleague recommended that she serve as a member of the AAE Research and Scientific Affairs Committee.

“That was the beginning of my time spent serving on several committees, then chairing committees, and eventually serving on the Board of Directors. Colleagues on the board encouraged me to become an officer, culminating in my role as president,” she said.

Along the way, she has been involved at some level with almost everything AAE does, including volunteering to serve on the Research and Scientific Affairs, Practice-Based Research Networks, and Educational Affairs Committees. As an AAE officer, she served on several more committees, including Budget and Finance, Constitution and Bylaws, Editorial Board, Public and Professional Relations, Corporate Relations, and Annual Meeting Planning.

“Work on these various committees has provided me with a breadth of knowledge and experience, helping me understand our association well and ultimately serve as AAE president,” Flake said.

She also credits her preparation for officer to the “many supportive mentors, colleagues, AAE members and leaders who encouraged me along the way, including other endodontists in Washington who were active in organized dentistry, like Drs. Jim Johnson, Rick Taylor, Jim McGraw, and Garry Myers.”

McGraw and Taylor were two of the six UW Endodontic program graduates to have served as AAE president and were both practicing in Washington during their terms. (Flake also noted that she is the fifth woman to serve as AAE president.)

Strong Support Network

“I am fortunate to work in a school that values leadership beyond the university. The collaboration of my colleagues and our dedicated affiliate faculty allows me to carry on the great spirit of service associated with the University of Washington,” Flake said, adding that “My family is also amazingly supportive of the time commitment required for the role, making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality.”

Flake and her husband, Larry, a University of Washington neuroscientist, are the parents of three children: Alexa (16), Augie (15), and Jack (10). Flake notes that, despite having two scientist parents, the children so far seem to enjoy studying science but haven’t yet voiced any interest in making science – much less dentistry – a career focus.

There’s no arguing the fact that the time commitment involved with leading a national professional organization is significant. The AAE president serves as the official spokesperson for the organization, representing it to its members, other dental professionals, and the public. The president also presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors and represents AAE at meetings of state components, as well as various national and international meetings.

Of course, this requires a fair amount of travel. AAE’s headquarters are in downtown Chicago near Millenium Park, just a few blocks from the new ADA location.

“The AAE and ADA are independent organizations, though we come together when our missions align to improve patient care, like on water fluoridation and access to care,” Flake noted. “Additionally, endodontists maintain a strong presence in the ADA House of Delegates, with many AAE members actively participating on key committees and councils, some in leadership roles.”

Shared Priorities

That level of cooperation extends to working with WSDA here in Washington, according to Flake, noting her participation in Dental Action Day in Olympia.

“There are key advocacy issues where AAE and WSDA have shared priorities, such as advocating for the enactment of dental loss ratio bills in state legislatures nationwide, support for the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact to streamline licensure and increase worker mobility, and opposing the Corporate Transparency Act that would place an undue burden on small businesses, including dental practices,” she said.

“Further, we continually advocate for the highest standard of professional practice in endodontics by all clinicians – whether generalist or specialist.”

Of course, Chicago and Olympia have been far from the only destinations on Flake’s travel itinerary during her presidency. Flake has participated in meetings on the state, national and international level.

“We kicked off the year celebrating Save Your Tooth Month, with a media campaign that reached a total audience of more than 20 million people,” she said. “Our AAE advocacy efforts have been exceptionally active this year, with volunteer members and the AAE advocacy team engaging key stakeholder groups, including dental insurance directors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Supreme Court, members of Congress, the District of Columbia Council, state legislatures, and others.”

 “We have also hosted outstanding continuing education meetings – in Los Angeles, Austin, and Banff – which collectively brought together over 5,000 members of the endodontic community.”

Supporting Education

Flake is particularly proud of work that AAE and its affiliated AAE Foundation have done in supporting endodontic educators through grants, educational programming, and networking opportunities such as those presented at the annual AAE Educator Workshop.

“One of the biggest challenges facing endodontics – and it’s not unique to our specialty – is the shortage of educators needed to sustain and ensure longevity of our outstanding educational programs,” Flake said. (There are currently 56 CODA-accredited advanced endodontic education programs.)

“I am particularly proud of our support of endodontic educators, through grant funding, educational programming, and networking opportunities.

“Another serious issue that the entire profession must address is the enormous student debt incurred by our graduating residents,” she added.

In addition to tackling these challenging educational issues, Flake is also proud of the AAE’s efforts to share its members’ expertise with the entire dental community. The association makes clinical resources freely available in order to advance endodontic excellence. In particular, she pointed to AAE’s “Colleagues for Excellence” publication. Its coverage of topics such as cracked teeth, neurovascular Injury, and resorption provides evidence-based guidance to help all dentists understand and respond to these challenging cases. All current and past issues are available for free on the AAE website and its “Endo Cases” app.

When asked how a young endodontist should become involved in organized dentistry, Flake’s response mirrors the advice that outgoing ADA President Linda Edgar offered.

“When I began my term in Los Angeles last April, I extended an invitation to all AAE members to consider one way they could further their involvement with our profession in the coming year. A top suggestion was to become active in their local dental society or state component. Another suggestion touched on mentorship – to seek mentorship or to become a mentor to an early career practitioner, a dental student, or a prospective dentist,” she said.

Thinking about her term as president coming to an end, Flake said, “It’s been an incredibly active and productive year for me and for the AAE! Though the president position is demanding, it is also exhilarating and incredibly fulfilling. The job is also made easier by our many dedicated AAE member volunteers and our outstanding staff.”

“It has truly been my honor to serve.”

This article originally appeared in Issue 1, 2025 of the WSDA News.