Virginia Dental Association Installs New Leaders from Sandston, Suffolk

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 23, 2026) – The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) today announced new leaders on its Board of Directors: Dr. Marcel G. Lambrechts Jr. is president, and Dr. Dani Howell is president-elect.  

In their roles, Dr. Lambrechts and Dr. Howell will guide the VDA’s advocacy and work to promote oral health in Virginia.  

Dr. Lambrechts practices dentistry at Seven Pines Dental in Sandston and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry in 1991. 

He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Richmond Dental Society (past president), the American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.  

Dr. Lambrechts helped establish the Richmond Dental Society Fundraiser, which helps local families in need receive dental care. 

Dr. Howell is a third-generation dentist in Suffolk and practices at Ralph L. Howell Jr., DDS & Associates. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and business administration from Elon University in 2010, a post-baccalaureate certificate in health sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011, and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2017. 

Dr. Howell served on the Tidewater Dental Association Executive Committee, including as president from 2021 to 2023. She holds numerous professional memberships and affiliations, including fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry.