Glen Cove Woman Named President of American Board of Orthodontists

Dr. Dorothy Whalen of Glen Cove was recently installed as president of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontists, during their annual meeting in Rockport, Maine.

Dr. Whalen, the first woman to serve in this position, has been practicing orthodontics in Glen Cove for more than twenty five years. Many of her patients are the children of her former patients when she first opened her office.

Whalen grew up in Glen Cove and attended St Patrick's Grammar School. She graduated from Georgetown Dental School and received orthodontic training at Columbia University, division of Orthodontics. In addition to this, she  has served as an examiner for the American Board of Orthodontics, is also president of the New-Conn Orthodontic Foundation, a study club for orthodontists.

She has been a guest lecturer at New York University and Columbia University School of Orthodontics. An advocate of education, Whalen regularly attends more than fifty hours of educational seminars each year, and has incorporated many of the technological advances into her own practice.

Aside from her orthodontic achievements, Whalen a  mentor to a young girl in the Glen Cove Schools for the past four years. 

"One of my goals this year is to increase the participation of younger members," said Whalen, as the the CDBA President.

The College of Diplomates was founded in 1979 to stimulate improvement among orthodontists, to encourage orthodontists to become board-certified, and to educate the public and the dental profession on the benefits of board certification.

Whalen is married to Dr. Philip Bonanno, an ophthalmologist, in Glen Cove. They have two sons, Matthew and David, who both work and live in Manhattan.

Whalen is a tri-athlete who competes in Ironman and half Ironman races each year. The Ironman race consists of 1.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run. She placed fifth in her age group.