Dr. Sulman Ahmed founded DECA Dental Group with the objective of making high-quality dental care available to everyone.
Ahmed is the chairman and CEO of the Dallas-based company, which has expanded nationwide under the Ideal Dental Brand with 150 offices.
The Zimbabwean American’s ascent to the top of the dental business world was reflected in his recent election as president of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO).
“Stepping into this role is an honor, and I am thankful to have been selected by my peers for this position, especially at a time when our industry is at a critical inflection point,” Ahmed said in a news release.
“Alongside the rest of our executive leadership team, we will build upon the work of previous leaders to continue bridging the gap to bring all dentists — from individual practices to large groups — together as we expand access to quality dental care and improve the oral health of communities across the country,” he added.
Ahmed’s role will be to promote the association’s mission of improving dental practices through research, education, and advocacy, the news release explained.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Ahmed as ADSO’s leader during such an exciting time in our industry. While we face economic and workforce challenges, we have so many opportunities to grow, thrive and mold the industry for the future,” ADSO’s Executive Director Andrew M. Smith said. “Dr. Ahmed, a clinician representing the next generation of dentist leaders, is well suited to lead ADSO as we work to elevate dentistry, position DSOs as the preferred practice model, and drive value for our members.”
Ahmed was the keynote speaker at ADSO’s annual summit in Orlando, Florida, in March and is an in-demand speaker for other groups.
A trailblazer in business, Ahmed has led DECA to several awards and honors. The company has been listed in Inc. Magazine’s Top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the nation several years in a row.
It wasn’t always like that. Ahmed worked to overcome debt after opening his first two offices in Garland and Corinth, he said to D Magazine during an interview in February.
He recounted how at one point he was approximately $3 million in debt between college, medical school, a condo, and his two offices.
“That was a moment where I felt like I didn’t know if I was going to make it,” Ahmed told D Magazine. “I have this stuff I’ve built, which is great, but it’s not working out. I remember thinking, ‘I’m probably going have to file bankruptcy.’”
Ahmed was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2017) and made Glassdoor’s Top CEOs list (2021) with a 98% approval rating.
He has built long-standing partnerships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He also has become the provider of free dental services with Kidd’s Kids Organization and Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.
For his undergraduate degree, Ahmed attended the University of Texas at Dallas. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston and now serves on its board of advisors. He also serves on the executive committee of the American Dental Support Organization.
Ahmed said he moved to the U.S. from Zimbabwe when he was 18.
“When you come to the U.S. from that background, you’re thinking about the land of opportunity and the American dream,” Ahmed said in an interview with UT Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management. “When only 10 years later, you’re receiving awards for the company you’ve built, it’s probably one of my proudest achievements yet.”