Dr. Cordero is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Hispanic Dental Association. A graduate of Haverford College pursued dentistry at Temple University School of Dental Medicine graduating in 1983 as the first Hispanic graduate in 30 years. Dr. Cordero is a catalyst for change to improve services and outcomes. The only Spanish-speaking dentist in the South Jersey area at that time, he opened his first practice in Sewell, NJ where he still practices and opened a second practice in Vineland, NJ in 1984 where he serves a large Hispanic migrant population.
Dr. Cordero joined AGD and ADA early in his career. He has received Fellowships from American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Society. He was awarded Diplomate status at American Board of Forensic Dentistry and honored as one of 29 mentors of the Academy of Richard V. Tucker Study Clubs. In 2020, he was appointed the David Satcher Keynote Lecturer to the USPS Dental Division Annual Session. Public Health and service to others fuels his educational drive and professional activities.
After 28 years of serving at all levels with AGD, and receiving the Fellow, Masters, and LLSR awards, he was the first Hispanic elected president of a major dental organization in the USA. One of his proudest moments was when HRSA adopted AGD’s Oral Health Literacy campaign. He was integral to the leadership responsible for diversification and integration of all genders and ethnic groups in AGD and other organizations.
Having witnessed the social unrest and racial/gender biases in 2020, he was among the leaders who created the Diverse Dental Society.