Dr. Olmsted is a past president of the American Association of Endodontists and was general chairperson of the American Dental Association 2004 Orlando Meeting. He has been active in practice, teaching, lecturing, and professional dental organizations for the past 40 years. John has presented 520 days of scientific sessions with international, national, regional, state dental meetings, and dental schools. He is emeritus in a group endodontic practice in Greensboro, NC, with Dr. Hal W. Mohorn Jr., Dr. Steven G. Mohorn, Dr. Ken Morgan Jr., Dr. Matthew Baird, Dr. Will Stanley, Dr. Leslie Malueg, Dr. H. Wayne Mohorn Sr. (emeritus), Dr. Stuart B. Fountain (emeritus), and Dr. Dennis L. Torney (emeritus). He received his DDS from the University of Iowa in 1975 and was awarded OKU. He earned his MS from the University of North Carolina in 1977 and is currently an adjunct professor in endodontics at the University of North Carolina and the University of Iowa. He is certified by the American Board of Endodontics and obtained his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) in 1984, Fellowship in the International College of Dentists (FICD) in 1989, Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 1993, and Fellowship in the American College of Dentists (FACD) in 1995.

Endodontics