Fast Facts
Fast Facts - Chicago Dental Society
The Chicago Dental Society was organized in 1864 and incorporated in 1878.
CDS represents the interests of dentists, promotes the science and art of dentistry and advocates for improving oral health for all.
We are part of a tripartite membership relationship with the Illinois State Dental Society and the American Dental Association. CDS tripartite members belong to all three organizations. CDS works locally while the ISDS addresses state issues. The ADA works for dentists on the national level.
Tripartite membership covers Cook, Lake and DuPage counties in Illinois and includes more than 4,000 members.
CDS holds the Midwinter Meeting, its annual dental conference, every February in Chicago.
CDS is comprised of nine branches which are Kenwood/Hyde Park, North Side, North Suburban, Northwest Side, Northwest Suburban, South Suburban, Southwest, West Side and West Suburban.
CDS is governed by a board of directors that comprises five officers, nine branch directors and a New Dentist director. The CDS officers for 2023 are:
- Dr. Michael Durbin, president
- Dr. David Lewis Jr., president-elect
- Dr. Denise Hale, secretary
- Dr. Philip Schefke, vice president
- Dr. Victoria Ursitti, treasurer
- The Midwinter Meeting is among the top three dental meetings in the U.S. and one of the top 20 conventions in Chicago.
- Each year, an average of more than 600 exhibiting companies participate in the meeting, creating one of the largest exhibits of dental products and manufacturers in North America.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Midwinter Meeting was held as a virtual event. The 2022 Midwinter Meeting returned to a live event at Chicago's McCormick Place West Building and was held Feb. 24 – 26. It drew more than 16,000 attendees to the city of Chicago, including more than 4,200 dentists.
- The 2023 Midwinter Meeting was held Feb. 23 – 25. Nearly 21,000 attendees participated. The Exhibit Hall featured more than 450 exhibiting companies and had a total square footage of 160,200 (includes booth space and exhibitor meeting rooms).
- The 2024 Midwinter Meeting will be held Feb. 22 – 24 and will again be held as a live event at McCormick Place West.
- 160th Midwinter Meeting: Feb. 20 – 22, 2025
- 161st Midwinter Meeting, Feb. 19 – 21, 2026
- 162nd Midwinter Meeting. Feb. 25 – 27, 2027
*May be subject to change