Our Authors

Dr. Aksu is Dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry since July 1, 2008. At the School of Dentistry, he has served as a faculty member and administrator since 1993. He received his B.S. in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University of Michigan Dearborn, his D.D.S. from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and J.D. from Wayne State University, and Masters in Health Services Administration (MHSA) from the University of Michigan.

He received a specialty certificate in Dental Public Health at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Aksu is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and licensed attorney in the State of Michigan.

Dr. Aksu is a former attending staff of Henry Ford Health Systems, a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and is a Fellow with the American College of Legal Medicine and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsion, the Dental Honor Society. Fellow with the American and International College of Dentists, Fellow with the Pierre Fauchard Society, and Fellow with the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Aksu also has served on advisory committee for Delta Dental of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Throughout his career, Dr. Aksu began a number of activities to further the mission of the profession, including manuscripts on dental ethics and the law.

Dean Aksu has served as a consultant nationally, working on cases involving both professional liability and criminal misconduct. Dr. Aksu has been a highly regarded regular contributor to the American College of Legal Medicine as a program presenter for over 14 years. Dr. Aksu serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, most notably, he has served on the Board of Advisors as a non-executive board member for Great Expressions Dental Centers/ Roark Capital Group, Dental Clinics North and as a consultant examiner for the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment.

Dr. Bernadette Alvear Fa is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry and is Director of Local Anesthesia Curriculum and Self-Care Content Coordinator at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.

Dr. Alvear Fa has worked as an associate general dentist in the East Bay (with her father), Long Beach Children's Dental Health Clinic, Faculty Practice at University of Illinois, Chicago College of Dentistry, and the Faculty Dental Service Group at Dugoni Pacific.

Dr. Bennett T. Amaechi is an Associate Professor and Cariology expert in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, Texas. He received his dental degree at the College of Health sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (1986). Dr. Amaechi began his career as a dentist with specialist training and Master’s degree in prosthetic dentistry and dental implantology at Guy’s Hospital, London in United Kingdom (1993), and a PhD degree in Cariology at the University of Liverpool School of Dentistry in United Kingdom (1999). He directs the Cariology course, Caries detection clinic, clinical preventive dentistry module of 2nd year pre-doctoral clinic, and teaches the dental students, residents, and graduate students of biomedical engineering. He has been invited as guest speaker/lecturer in Caries Management and caries diagnostics at local, national and international levels. His research interests include caries clinical trials, evidence based dentistry and development/evaluation of anticaries agents and caries diagnostics. He is a member of the ADA Technical Advisory Group (TAG 106- Dentistry) on dental equipment (TAG 6) and Oral hygiene products (TAG 7). He has published extensively in the scientific literature, including book chapters. He is a member as well as officer of numerous professional organizations and serves on several national committees. He served as an elected member of the Advisory Board of the European Organization for Caries Research (2005-2008), where he served as a member of the international working group for development of a core Cariology curriculum targeted for global adoption. As a member the Cariology Section of ADEA and the CAMBRA (Caries management by risk Assessment) coalition, he serves as the liaison between the American and the European groups on the development of a core cariology curriculum.

Leif K. Bakland, DDS is Emeritus Professor of Endodontics at Loma Linda University in California.  His professional career has been devoted to teaching, research, and patient care. He is author and co-author of more than 90 scientific articles and book chapters. He has lectured worldwide on dental trauma and endodontics including dental fractures.

Dr. Gentry Byrd is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and currently in private practice in Durham, North Carolina. She earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, graduating with Distinction and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honors Society in 2015. She remained at UNC to complete her residency program in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Byrd earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Public Health degrees from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Public Health with a focus on nutrition and policy. Dr. Byrd is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Health at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, and is a contributor to the Baby Oral Health Program (bOHP©).

Dr. Glenn Canares is proud to be on faculty in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and is committed to helping promote its high standards.  He believes in leading with authenticity and transparency.  He is genuine in his affinity for teaching, service and scholarship with the hopes that it brings out the best in his students and colleagues.

Dr. Canares received his dental degree from New York University in 2011 and his master’s degree/certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Washington in 2013.  He has been board-certified in pediatric dentistry since 2014.  His professional work experience includes a year at a community health dental clinic and three years in private practice.  Prior to joining as a full-time faculty member, he served as Dean’s Faculty at the University of Maryland for three years.  He also served on faculty for the NYU Lutheran residency program in Providence, RI where he received the Faculty Award in 2014 for his dedication and contributions to the education of pediatric dental residents.  Dr. Canares has strong research interests in dental education and dental care for children with special health care needs.

Dr. Rosa Chaviano-Moran received her BA in Biology and Biological Sciences from Seton Hall University and her DMD from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. In 2000, she joined the faculty. In addition to her role as Associate Dean, she is a faculty member in the departments of Periodontics and Community Health and directs the school’s Internationally Educated DMD program.   

Dr. Crall received DDS and MS degrees and a certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Iowa, and is a board-certified pediatric dentist. He was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Dental Research Scholar, obtained masters and doctoral degrees in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health, and was the first Dental Scholar-in-Residence at the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality.

Dr. Crall has authored or co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications, chapters, commissioned works and policy briefs, and has been principal investigator for grants and contracts awarded by governmental agencies and private foundations. He served as Director of the HRSA/MCHB National Oral Health Policy Center and as Program Director for several large projects focusing on expanding access to oral health care for underserved children, including the AAPD-Head Start National Dental Home Initiative, UCLA-First 5 LA 21^st Century Dental Homes Project, and the UCLA Medi-Cal 2020 Dental Transformation Initiative.

Dr. Crall joined UCLA as Professor & Chair of Pediatric Dentistry in 2004, and became Chair of the Division of Public Health & Community Dentistry in 2011 and Professor Emeritus in 2022. He previously held faculty appointments at Columbia University, University of Connecticut, and University of Iowa.

Ms. Diluigi is a dental hygienist who practices at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.

Professor
Department of Growth and Development
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Dentistry, Lincoln Nebraska

RENATO SILV^AA,C
TIMOTHY KIRKPATRICK^A
ARIADNE LETRA^A,B,C
ZHEN SHEN^A
JASON KNAPP^A
AUSTYN GRISSOM^A
HAN NA CHO^A
BAILEY WEIGHTMAN<sup>A

A</sup> Department of Endodontics, University of Texas Health Science
Center, School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX
^B Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, University
of Texas Health Science Center, School of Dentistry at Houston,
Houston, TX
^C Center for Craniofacial Research, University of Texas Health
Science Center, School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, TX

Jack Ferracane is Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.  He received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biological Materials from Northwestern University.  He is a founding fellow and past-President of the Academy of Dental Materials.  He is a past-President of the Dental Materials Group of the International Association for Dental Research.  He is a past-President of the American Association for Dental Research (now American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research). He is the recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Wilmer Souder Award from the Dental Materials Group of the IADR, the Founders Award from the Academy of Dental Materials, and the Hollenback Award from the Academy of Operative Dentistry. He is an honorary member of the American College of Dentists and the Oregon Dental Association. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. He serves on the editorial board of ten journals, and is Editor-in-chief of a new journal published by the ADA and Elsevier entitled, JADA Foundational Science. He is a past Associate Editor of the Journal of Dental Research and Odontology. He has served as a regular member of the Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section [ODCS] of the NIH/NIDCR. He has authored a textbook entitled “Materials in Dentistry. Principles and Applications.” He is co-editor of a textbook entitled “Craig’s Restorative Dental Materials.” Currently in its 14th edition. He is a co-editor of a textbook entitled “Summitt’s Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry. A Contemporary Approach,” now in its fourth edition. He has published and lectured extensively on dental materials, including dental composites, adhesives, amalgam, and practice-based dental research.  He has provided continuing education at annual meetings of the ADA, British Dental Association, California Dental Association, Chicago Midwinter, Midwest Dental Conference, Oregon Dental Conference, Pacific NW Dental Conference, Southwest Dental Conference, Yankee Dental Congress, and to other professional dental organizations. His current research interests are in developing new monomers for enhanced dental composites, studying the factors that affect biofilm formation around dental composite restorations leading to the recurrence of caries lesions, and the use of bioactive glasses as potential antimicrobial and remineralizing agents in resin-based dental materials. His research is funded by the NIH/NIDCR as well as private industry.  He also is actively involved in the establishment and operation of networks designed to conduct dental clinical research in the private practice setting, and most currently was involved in a large scale clinical study in the NIH-funded National Dental Practice-based Research Network (The Network) investigating the characteristics and progression of cracked teeth. 

Dr. Andrea Ferreira Zandonáis a tenured professor and chair of the Department of Comprehensive Care at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Zandona is originally from Curitiba, Brazil, where she received her dental degree from Pontifícia Universidade Católicado Paraná. Sheearned her master's degree in Dental Sciences in Operative Dentistry and a PhD in Dental Sciences from Indiana University. She was a faculty member at Indiana University from 1998 until 2013, directing their graduate residency program in preventive dentistry. From 2013 to 2018 she was a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, Department of Operative Dentistry. Over her academic career, she has mentored pre-dental and DDS students as well as postgraduate students and faculty members on their research projects. She has published and lectured nationally and internationally on the prevention and management of dental caries serving on editorial boards and as a reviewer for numerous scientific and dental journals.Dr. Zandona has been part of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System Foundation Committee. She has served on the European Organization of Caries Research advisory board and is currently Vice-President of the CAMBRA coalition. She is a member of the American Association of Dental Research, the International Association of Dental Research, the American Dental Education Association, the Academy of Operative Dentistry and the American Academy of Cariology.

Dr. Fluent is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Her dental career spans 35 years and includes roles as dentist, both as an associate and practice owner, infection control coordinator, office manager and dental assistant. Additionally, she has extensive experience and expertise as a clinical instructor, educator, speaker, author, and consultant.

Dr. Fluent is passionate and deeply committed to improving dental infection control and patient safety. Through her writing, webinars, and invited lectures, she has educated thousands of dental professionals and students nationally and internationally. Dr. Fluent has written numerous articles on infection control in the dental setting, OSHA compliance and responsible antibiotic prescribing. She serves as Education Consultant for the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP).

Dr. Fouad obtained his DDS, Certificate of Endodontics and MS at the University of Iowa.

He served on the faculty and in various administrative roles at University of Connecticut, the University of Maryland, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently Professor and Chair, Department of Endodontics, Director, Advanced Endodontics Program, and Interim Director, Health Information and Business Systems (HIBS) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Fouad has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 25 textbook chapters, and 145 abstracts. He edited and co-authored the textbooks: Endodontic Microbiology (now in its second edition), as well as the fifth and sixth editions of Endodontics: Principles and Practice. He is a Diplomate and Past President of the American Board of Endodontics, and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Endodontics, Dental Traumatology and Frontiers of Dental Medicine – Endodontics. He received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the International Association of Dental Research in 2017, and the AAE President’s Award in 2022.

Associate Professor Department of Diagnostic Sciences
Creighton University School of Dentistry

Dr. Amyot, EdD, serves as Associate Dean and Professor of Instructional Technology and Faculty Development, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), School of Dentistry. Dr. Amyot has been a full-time faculty member at UMKC since 1993 serving two years as Interim Vice Provost of Online Education. She served three years as Director of Graduate and Degree Completion Studies and five years as Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene. She teaches at all levels of the curriculum; doctoral, predoctoral, graduate and undergraduate. Dr. Amyot has received numerous distinguished teaching awards from the School of Dentistry and is a recipient of the university wide Elmer Pierson Outstanding Teaching Award. Her research interests include: portfolio assessment of student competency, community-based service-learning, access to care and distance and online education. Her service to the university and profession is extensive. She served as Chair of the Council on Research for the American Dental Hygienists’ Association for several years. Dr. Amyot served as an educational consultant for the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. She has held several offices in the UMKC Alumni Association and served on numerous committees throughout the university.

Mia L. Geisinger, DDS, MS is a Professor and Director of Advanced Education in Periodontology in the Department of Periodontology in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry. Dr. Geisinger received her BS in Biology from Duke University, her DDS from Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, and her MS and Certificate in Periodontology and Implantology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Geisinger is a Diplomate in the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow in the International Team for Implantology. She has served as the President of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, as the Chair of the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, and on multiple national and regional organized dentistry committees. She currently serves as the Vice President of the AAP, as a Board member for the ADA Science and Research Institute, and on numerous AAP and ADA committees and task forces. She has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and her research interests include periodontal and systemic disease interaction, implant dentistry in the periodontally compromised dentition, and novel treatment strategies for oral soft and hard tissue regeneration. She lectures nationally and internationally on topics in periodontology and oral healthcare.

Henry A. Gremillion, DDS, MAGD passed away in May 2020. He was a Louisiana native, 1977 graduate of the LSU School of Dentistry (LSUSD), clinician and researcher, and was the sixth dean since the founding of the dental school in 1968. Dr. Gremillion came from the University of Florida College of Dentistry where he was the Parker E. Mahan Endowed Professor of Orofacial Pain in the Department of Orthodontics and a member of the dental staff of Shands Teaching Hospital. He also served for 17 years as the director of the UFCD Parker E. Mahan Facial Pain Center and its fellowship program in craniomandibular dysfunction. In 2005, he was appointed as associate faculty at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Education. Since 1986, he has also been a member of the associate faculty of the L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Dr. Gremillion served as a consultant on temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain to the Malcolm Randall Veterans Administration Hospital, the United States Army, Navy and Air Force, and to the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Practice. Dr. Gremillion began his professional career practicing general dentistry in Cottonport, Louisiana from 1977 to 1989. He was named Cottonport Citizen of the Year in 1989. He also served on the city council. In 2000, he received the LSUSD Alumnus of the Year award. In 2009, the Academy of General Dentistry honored him with the Thaddeus V. Weclew award for his “exceptional contributions to the art and science of dentistry and for promoting the principles and ideals of the academy.” Since 2002, he had been co-investigator in four research projects with funding in excess of $3,000,000. He authored seven scientific articles and textbook chapters. In October 2008, Dr. Gremillion succeeded Dr. Eric Hovland, who served as dean for fifteen years.

KIMATHA GRICE, OTD OTR CHT
Associate Professor - Occupational Therapy
UTHealth - San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Associate Dean for Patient Care and Professor
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
San Antonio, Texas

STEVEN E. HAAS, DMD JD MBA
Associate Dean
College of Dentistry
University of Nebraska Medical

Dr. Lea Hachem is an Associate Professor and Director of the Pre-doctoral Division of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. Dr. Hachem received her Doctor in Dental Surgery Degree at Université Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon, and Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies in Periodontology and Master of Science in Oral Biology at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Hachem is a Board-Certified Periodontist and practices at Orbis Dental Group.

Dr. Hachem currently serves as Chair of Predoctoral Directors Organization of the American Academy of Periodontology, and on the boards of the Southwest Society of Periodontists, and the San Antonio District Dental Society. She is a fellow of the International College of Dentists.

Dr. Hachem is the recipient of the “10 Under Ten Award” from the Massachusetts Dental Society and the “Bud and Linda Tarrson Award” from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, awarded to dentists that have made a significant impact and contribution to the profession and the community.

Dr. Paul Hansen graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in 1975.  Dr. Hansen took training in oral surgery and endodontics through the Air Force prior to long term training in prosthodontics.  Dr. Hansen completed a three year program in prosthodontics through the Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center and the University of Texas – San Antonio College of Dentistry finishing in 1984.  He became board certified in prosthodontics in1986.

Dr. Hansen completed a 20 year career in the United States Air Force, retiring from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in 1996. He directed the graduate prosthodontics program at the University of Missouri – Kansas City from 1996-2000. He began a private practice in conjunction with the University of Kansas Hospital in 2000, and retired from this practice in 2007. Dr. Hansen returned home to the University of Nebraska in 2007 to become the director of the prosthodontics section, and dental implants at the Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. Dr. Hansen is a full professor, currently teaching at the University of Nebraska on a part time basis.

Dr. Hansen has multiple teaching awards, elected as the most influential teacher for the dental classes of 2017 and 2018 at the University of Nebraska. He has authored over 25 articles in peer reviewed journals. He has lectured on fixed prosthodontics, occlusion and maxillofacial prosthodontics throughout the world.

Dr. Michaell A. Huber is an Associate Professor and Oral Medicine Subject Expert, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dental School, San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Huber received his DDS from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, San Antonio, Texas in 1980 and a Certificate in Oral Medicine from the National Naval Dental Center, Bethesda, Maryland in 1988. He is certified by the American Board of Oral Medicine. As an officer of the Dental Corps, United States Navy, Dr. Huber’s assignments included numerous ships and shore stations. He served as Chairman, Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology and Director, Graduate Program in Oral Medicine, National Naval Dental Center, Bethesda, Maryland. In addition he served as Specialty Leader for Oral Medicine to the Surgeon General of the United States Navy, Washington, DC; and Force Dental Officer, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

Since joining the faculty in 2002, Dr. Huber has been teaching both pre-doctoral and graduate dental students at the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, San Antonio, Texas. He is currently serving as Vice President of the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Dr. Huber has accepted invitations to lecture before many local, state, and national professional organizations. He has published in the several journals, including Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology; JADA; Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice; Clinics in Dermatology, Dental Clinics of North America, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, and Quintessence International.

Tija is an expanded functions dental assistant/office manager in O'Fallon, MO. She has over 38 years of experience, is the director of the Dental Careers Institute, and a member of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), where she holds the honor of Master. She is also the Illinois Dental Assistants Association president elect. She is founder of the Dental Assistants Study Club of St. Louis and the St. Louis Dental Office Managers Study Club.

Dr. Huynh-Ba received his DDS in 1999 at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He completed his residency in Periodontics in 2005 at the University of Bern, Switzerland and received his master’s degree in Periodontics in 2008. From 2009 to 2018, he joined the department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) as a full-time faculty.  Dr. Huynh-Ba is a board-certified periodontist of the Swiss Society of Periodontology, the European Federation of Periodontology and the American Board of Periodontology. Since 2018, Dr. Huynh-Ba maintains a full-time private practice limited to periodontology and implantology in the greater Seattle area.

Harold Jennings received his A.A.S. Dental Hygiene degree from New York University College of Dentistry, his B.S. Biology degree from UNC Chapel Hill and his M.A. Education from New York University Steinhardt School of Education Dental Sciences.  He has passions for equity, inclusion, and social justice, all of which him to a career in dental hygiene education. At Plaza College he is the Assistant Director of the Department of Dental Hygiene, Director of the Part-Time Evening and Weekend AAS Track, and Advisor for the BSDH program. He teaches Microbiology, Preclinic, Clinic I, Leadership & Management in Healthcare, and Program and Curriculum Planning, Development, and Evaluation.

Dr. Arthur Jeske is currently Professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health and Associate Dean for Strategic Planning & Continuing Dental Education at the UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, where he teaches local anesthesia and dental therapeutics.  Dr. Jeske received his B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and his Ph.D. (Pharmacology) and D.M.D. degrees from the Medical College of Georgia.  He is Editor-in-Chief of Mosby’s Dental Drug Reference and serves as Section Editor (Pharmacology), Cranio—The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice.  He holds Fellowship in the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  He is past Editor of the Journal of the Greater Houston Dental Society, the Texas Dental Journal and is a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.  His honors include membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Delta Sigma Delta, and he is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry.  Dr. Jeske has been in the part-time practice of general dentistry for over 35 years. 

Dr. Kalenderian received her DDS-degree from Rijks Universiteit Groningen, in The Netherlands in 1983. As a Fulbright Scholar, she completed her Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency from Boston University in 1986 and received an MPH from Harvard in 2007. In 2013, she obtained a PhD from University of Amsterdam, defending her thesis on dental diagnostic terminologies.  After a nine-year period at Harvard School of Dental Medicine as Clinic Dean and Chair she became Professor and Chair of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at University of California, San Francisco in 2016. She is Principal Investigator on several NIH funded grants, focused on patient safety, quality metrics, and quality improvement in the dental setting. In August 2021 she became Dean of the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) in the Netherlands.

Dr. Kalenderian prolifically publishes in peer-reviewed journals and is frequently asked to be a speaker at conferences on Leadership, Quality Improvement, Dental Diagnostic Terminologies, and Patient Safety.

Dr. Kalkwarf received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Nebraska, College of Dentistry. He continued his postgraduate training in a General Practice Residency at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Veterans Administration Medical Center and then received an M.S. degree and a Certificate in Periodontics from the University of Nebraska.

Ken served The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio from 1987 to 2013 as Dean of its Dental School after previously holding faculty positions at the University of Nebraska and the University of Oklahoma. He is the principal author of over 175 articles, chapters and abstracts published in professional journals and has presented more than 260 lectures and continuing dental education courses throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Mid-East, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Ken received the American Dental Association’s highest award – The Distinguished Service Award – in 2009, and the American Dental Education Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2014. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and has served in various leadership capacities including as the President or Chair of the American Dental Education Association; the Commission on Dental Accreditation; the Joint Commission of National Board Dental Examinations; the American College of Dentists; the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society; the Western Conference of Dental Examiners and Dental School Deans; the Southwest Society of Periodontists; and the Southern Conference of Dental Deans and Examiners.

Dr. Karakousoglou was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She attended dental school at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, and later worked as a general dentist, gaining experience working closely with orthodontists. She moved to the U.S. in 2018 to pursue further training in orthodontics, completing a 3-year residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSA) School of Dentistry. There, she also earned her master's degree in Dental Sciences. As an additional part of her training, she completed a 2-year fellowship in lingual orthodontics while at UTHSA.

Rachel K. Henry RDH, MS is an associate professor and chair of the Division of Dental Hygiene at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.  She holds a BS in Dental Hygiene and a MS in Allied Medical Education from the Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the use of technology in education. She teaches ethics, professionalism and courses in the education specialization to undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene students.

Dr. Keiser is a past Director of Advanced Education in Endodontics, Department of Endodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He received his dental degree from Indiana University in 1981. After 12 years of maintaining a general dental practice in New England, Dr. Keiser completed his endodontic residency at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1995, and a Master of Science from the Horace Rackham School of Graduate Studies in 1996. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dr. Keiser was the Director of Undergraduate Endodontics at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. He is a past Director and Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. Dr. Keiser retired from private practice limited to endodontics in New Braunfels, Texas in 2021.

Dr. Khandelwal completed her dental training in India and was in private practice before she moved to the USA. She then completed her M.S. in Clinical Investigation from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Following her Master’s program, she moved to the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and completed her specialty training in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry. During residency, Dr. Khandelwal trained extensively in multidisciplinary approach and was also involved in multiple research projects. She has presented at regional, national, and international meetings. She is a recipient of Michael J. Deasy Scholarship for academic and clinical excellence and is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology. Her research areas of interest are dental implants in medically compromised patients and Aggressive Periodontitis. Dr. Khandelwal also completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program and is now pleased to join the faculty at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine

Dr. Gary D. Klasser obtained his dental degree from the University of Manitoba (Canada) in 1980. Over the next 22 years, he enjoyed the practice of general dentistry from both a public health and private practice perspective until he returned to graduate studies in 2002. In 2004, he completed his training and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Certificate in Orofacial Pain. In 2005, he completed a fellowship in Oral Medicine/Oral Oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). From 2005 – 2011, he was an Assistant Professor and Director of the Oral Medicine/Orofacial Pain clinic at the College of Dentistry in the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry. Dr. Klasser has published numerous peer reviewed scientific articles while contributing many chapters to various textbooks. He also serves as an associate editor or as an editorial reviewer for a number of journals. He is also co-editor of several textbooks related to oral and facial pain and is a Past-President of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Lalla is Professor of Oral Medicine and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He is a board-certified clinician and scholar who conducts clinical research on oral complications of cancer therapy. In addition to clinical care and research, Dr. Lalla is also involved in clinical and classroom teaching of Oral Medicine and directs a course on Evidence-based Decision Making. Dr. Lalla has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, many of them dealing with oral complications in cancer patients. He is a Past-President of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), an international professional organization of healthcare professionals from over 60 countries. Dr. Lalla also serves as a consultant on various topics including oral complications in cancer patients. He has received several awards including the IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award and the ADA/AADR Evidence-based Dentistry Accomplished Faculty Award.

Dr. Ira B. Lamster received his D.D.S. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (1977), his M.M.Sc. from Harvard University (1980) and a Certificate of Special Training in Periodontology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (1980). Dr. Lamster served as Dean of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine from 2001 to 2012, and Senior Vice President of Columbia University Medical Center from 2006 to 2012. From 2012 until 2017 he was in the Department of Health Policy & Management of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Lamster is currently Dean Emeritus, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, and Clinical Professor, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. He is also a member of the Santa Fe Group.

Dr. Lamster’s research efforts have focused on diagnostic testing and risk assessment for periodontal disease, the interrelationship of periodontal disease and systemic disease, the oral health care needs of older adults and the future of dental education and practice. His research has been supported by NIH, corporations, and foundations.

Dr. Lamster is the author of more than 200 manuscripts and book chapters and has delivered more than 200 guest and invited lectures. He is the Editor of “Improving Oral Health for the Elderly,” published by Springer U.S. in February 2008, both the January 2011 and October 2012 issues of the Dental Clinics of North America (addressing “Contemporary Concepts in the Diagnosis of Oral Dental Disease”, and “Primary Health Care Activities in the Dental Office”, respectively), and Editor of “Diabetes Mellitus and Oral Health: An Interprofessional Approach” published by Wiley/Blackwell in 2014. Dr. Lamster served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Dental Journal from 2015 through 2021.

Dr. Letra received her DDS from Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1995, and a certificate and a MS degree in Endodontics from State University of Rio de Janeiro in 2003. She later obtained a PhD in Oral Biology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2007, followed by a postdoctoral training in Human Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, where she also served as Assistant Professor. Dr. Letra is currently Associate Professor in the Departments of Endodontics, and Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Letra’s research program focuses on Genetics of Complex Oral Traits, and she has published numerous peer-reviewed publications in the field of Endodontics and Human Genetics.

Stanley F. Malamed is a dentist anesthesiologist and emeritus professor of dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, located in Los Angeles, California, USA. Dr. Malamed graduated from the New York University College of Dentistry in 1969 and then completed a residency in anesthesiology at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center in the Bronx, New York before serving for 2 years as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. In 1973, he joined the faculty of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry (now the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of U.S.C). Dr. Malamed retired from full-time teaching at the university in 2013.

Dr. Malamed is a Diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology; a recipient of the Heidebrink Award [1996] from the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology; the Horace Wells Award from the International Federation of Dental Anesthesia Societies, 1997 (IFDAS), and the Leonard M. Monheim Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists (2015).

Doctor Malamed has authored more than 170 scientific papers and 17 chapters in various medical and dental journals and textbooks in the areas of physical evaluation, emergency medicine, local anesthesia, sedation and general anesthesia.

In addition, Dr. Malamed is the author of three widely used textbooks, published by CV Mosby: Handbook of Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office (8th edition 2022); Handbook of Local Anesthesia (7th edition 2020); and Sedation - a guide to patient management (6th edition 2017) and two interactive DVD’s: Emergency Medicine (3rd edition, 2018) and Malamed’s Local Anesthetic Technique DVD (2004) (edition 2 - 2012). The textbooks have been translated into 22 foreign-language editions.

In his spare time, Doctor Malamed is an avid runner, exercise enthusiast, and admits an addiction to the New York Times crossword puzzle, which he has done daily since his freshman year in dental school.

Dr. Miguez is Assistant Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Oral Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adams School of Dentistry. She received her DDS from Brazil in 1997 and her certificate in Periodontology from the same University in 1999. She then came to the US to study at UNC-CH and received her master’s degree in Operative Dentistry in 2003 and a PhD in Oral Biology and certificate in Periodontology in 2011. She started her academic career as Assistant Professor of Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in 2011. In 2014, Dr. Miguez returned to UNC where she established her research laboratory to study bone and dentin biology, disease and regeneration. She is an active clinician in periodontology, implantology and restorative dentistry.

Dr. Miller is Professor of Oral Medicine College of Dentistry, and Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. He is a clinician, clinical translational scientist, and University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Molinari received a B.A. in Biology from St. Vincent College and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He was awarded Professor Emeritus at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he served for 32 years in the School of Dentistry as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Director of Infection Control. Dr. Molinari was later Infection Control Director for THE DENTAL ADVISOR in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 2009-2018. He has published over 500 scientific articles, text chapters, and abstracts in the areas of microbiology and immunology, and lectures nationally and internationally on topics dealing with infectious diseases and infection control. He is a founder and Past-President of OSAP, and is also co-author of the text Cottone’s Practical Infection Control in Dentistry. He has served as a consultant for the CDC, ADA Council on Scientific Affairs, Council on Dental Practice, and regional hospitals.  Dr. Molinari also was Chairman of the State of Michigan Governor’s Risk Reduction and AIDS Policy Commission. Previously, he was the Infection Control section editor for The Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, a member of the Editorial Board for The Journal of the American Dental Association and contributed a monthly column for Dental Economics. In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Molinari was inducted as an honorary member of the Michigan Dental Association, the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, and was a recipient of the ADA Golden Apple Award.    

Dr. Brian Muzyka is a Professor and the Director of Hospital Dentistry at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina. Dr. Muzyka is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine.

Dr. Noureldin BDS, MSD, MS, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Cariology in Department of Public Health Sciences of College of Dentistry Texas A&M, specializes in three areas of dentistry, operative dentistry, preventive dentistry and cariology (caries management).

She received her dental degree (1993) at Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Noureldin began her career as a dentist and a faculty and earned Master of Science degree in Operative Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt (1998). Earned Master of Science in Biomaterials (2003) from Baylor College of Dentistry (Texas A&M University, USA) and PhD degree in Operative dentistry (2007), joint supervision between Baylor College of Dentistry and Faculty of oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University.

Dr. Noureldin is a dentist, scholar, educator and a dedicated mentor. Currently, a Currently as Associate Professor her responsibilities include pre-doctoral/postdoctoral didactic and preclinical/clinical Cariology and Prevention teaching with administrative responsibilities as Vice Department Head and Director of Pre-doctoral Program. Amal has special passion in mentorship both within and outside COD, and at international level. She is the program director of Summer Research Group) for undergraduate students.

Her research interest, which is on dental caries and white spot lesion prevention and treatment, has been supported by Industry contracts and intramural grants. She published in peer-reviewed journals. Noureldin is the elected President of the (AADR)-Dallas Chapter. In recognition of her leadership qualities and accomplishments, Noureldin was honored with Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award (2016) and honored with Clinical Faculty Research Award in 2019 by Texas A&M College of Dentistry.

Dr. Thomas Oates is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics at the University of Maryland.  He is active in clinical education and research focusing on the interactions between oral and systemic health and improving our understanding and use of implant dentistry for our patients.

Professor Pharmacy Practice
Creighton University School of Pharmacy

Dr. Perdigão received his DMD degree from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 1985. In 1992 he finished a Master's degree in Operative Dentistry from the University of Iowa, and in 1993 he received a Certificate degree in Operative Dentistry also from the University of Iowa. In 1995 Dr. Perdigão defended his PhD dissertation in Dental Materials at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Dr. Perdigão is currently Professor of Operative Dentistry at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Perdigão is actively involved in research of new dental materials mainly in the area of dentin bonding and new composite resins. His research has involved clinical trials of dentin adhesives, posterior composites, and new treatments for dentin sensitivity. Dr. Perdigão has delivered over 240 lectures in Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America and has published over 140 scientific articles in international journals. He is also author of 25 book chapters, including the Sturdevant's Art and Science of Operative Dentistry (Mosby). He is editor and author of the recent books Restoration of Root Canal Treated Teeth: An Adhesive Dentistry Perspective and Tooth Whitening: An Evidence-Based Perspective (Springer). Dr. Perdigão is Associate Editor in the Journal of Adhesive Dentistry. He serves in the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Dentistry, Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, and the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. He has been a consultant for several manufacturers worldwide in the development of new adhesive dental materials and has served as a mentor to numerous international postdoctoral research fellows and graduate students. Dr. Perdigão served as a consultant to the ADA Committee for Scientific Affairs from 1999 to 2016. He was recently featured as one of the "10 Professors Changing Dental Technology" in the USA (http://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/dental-lab-technician/10-professors-changing-dental-technology) and was awarded the 2017 IADR Dental Materials Group Peyton-Skinner Award for Innovation and the 2021 International Academy of Adhesive Dentistry Honorary Membership.

Dr. Herminio Perez received his DMD degree from RSDM and his MBA in Healthcare Systems from the Silberman College of Business, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Perez, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, joined RSDM as an instructor in 2008. In addition to his academic and administrative responsibilities, he is a member of the Diversity Leadership Council at RBHS and co-chairs sections of the Antiracist Taskforce and the RBHS University-wide Diversity Strategic Planning Process. 

Assistant Professor
Adult Restorative Dentistry Department

Dr. Marsha Pyle is dean and professor emerita of the UMKC School of Dentistry.  She is currently Senior Scholar in Residence at the American Dental Education Association and President of the ADEAGies Foundation.  She continues to work with the ADEA Council of Deans on initiatives advancing dental education.

Dr. Quinonez earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology/Zoology in 1992 and her Doctorate of Medical Dentistry in 1996 from the University of Manitoba. She earned her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, Masters of Science, and Masters in Public Health and Administration at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). Dr. Quinonez proceeded to complete a NIH Fellowship in Oral and Systemic Diseases. Her academic and research interest include the interface between medicine and dentistry, perinatal and early childhood oral health, and economic analyses related to children’s oral health. Dr. Quinonez returned to full-time academics in the summer of 2006 and served as Director of the Pediatric Dentistry Pre-Doctoral Program from 2007-2017. She is currently the Associate Dean for Educational Leadership and Innovation and directs the Baby Oral Health Program (bOHP©) at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry.

Assistant Professor Department of General Dentistry
Director of Emergency Services
Creighton University School of Dentistry

Dr. Redding is Professor and Emeritus Chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. He is a graduate of Davidson College, the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and the University of New Orleans. He completed a General Practice Residency at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and a Clinical Research Fellowship at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System. His research has focused on oral infectious diseases including Herpes Simplex, Candidiasis, and Human Papillomavirus and salivary/oral diagnostics particularly for oral cancer. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed articles.

Dr. André Ritter is Professor and Chair at the Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care at New York University, in New York City. He received his dental doctorate degree from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil (UFSC), in 1987, a MSD degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2000, and a PhD from Positivo University in 2019. Dr. Ritter also has two Certificates in Operative Dentistry, from UFSC and UNC, and an MBA in HealthCare Management from Northeastern University. He is actively involved in clinical and laboratory research, particularly in the areas of biomaterials and caries risk assessment and management. He also maintains a part-time intramural practice devoted to restorative and esthetic dentistry. Dr. Ritter has published numerous journal articles, research abstracts, and book chapters. He is a member of several dental organizations, including the American and International Associations for Dental Research, the European Caries Organization, and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Ritter has presented many scientific papers and continuing education courses regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director, Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency
Center for Oral Health Care and Research
Ut Health Science Center at San Antonio

Dr. Asra Sabir has lived in Jeddah, KSA since 1992. She graduated from Batterjee Medical College in 2015 earning her DDS degree. Dr. Sabir started her career as a clinician, practicing general dentistry as well as managing complex restorative cases and cosmetic dentistry procedures. She attended the University of Michigan in 2019 to pursue Post-Doctoral Certificate Program in Restorative Dentistry. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry. She won the International Award of Excellence in dental expertise as a Young Achiever in 2020. Besides her clinical expertise, she has published numerous clinical research papers in the Top-notch publishing groups including the Journal of Texas Dental Association, Journal of Michigan Dental Association, & Clinical Dentistry Reviewed Springer Publication. She consistently presented her research work at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED), and Greater New York Dental (GNYDM) meetings since 2018. She also served as a volunteer for providing administrative services at the AGD 2022 & GNYDM meetings respectively.

She loves traveling, and photography and is now working on launching her entrepreneur venture Tooth Shop Avenue.

Dr. Kenneth Sadler is a general dentist in a multi-specialty private practice serving Winston-Salem and surrounding areas for more than 40 years. He is committed to providing comprehensive, high quality, preventively oriented, personalized care. Dental Care that makes you smile. He is currently serving as consultant to his practice for operations.

Dr. Sankar received her DMD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (Rutgers School of Dental Medicine) in 1994. She did a General Practice Residency and was Staff Dentist in the Infectious Disease Clinic at UMDNJ. After a few years of private practice in New Jersey, Dr. Sankar then went on to earned her Certificate in Oral Medicine from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Bethesda, Maryland in 2001. She is certified by the American Board of Oral Medicine. During her 6 years at NIDCR, she was a recipient of the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation Fellowship, was involved with several clinical trials and investigations at the Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic. She received her Masters in Health Science degree from Duke University in 2001.  Dr. Sankar was a tenured Associate Professor and Oral Medicine Clinic Director at University of Texas Health Science School of Dentistry at San Antonio before becoming Clinic Director of the Oral Medicine and Dentistry clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Co-Director of the Oral Medicine and Oncology clinic at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She is now Division Director for Oral Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She has professional affiliations with the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the American Board of Oral Medicine, and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Sciubba received his dental undergraduate education at Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Ph.D. in Pathology from the University of Illinois, followed by a fellowship in Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at the ADA. He has served as a full Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pathology and Dermatology at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and at the SUNY Stony Brook, School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sciubba was the Director if Dental & Oral Medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital as well during his tenure at Johns Hopkins. Prior to moving to Johns Hopkins Dr. Sciubba served as Emeritus Chair of Dental Medicine at The Long Island Jewish Medical Center and was accorded Emeritus Professor recognition at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine in 1999.

He has over 40 years of experience with oral and head and neck cancer patients and those with oral diseases and conditions as a clinician and pathologist and has published extensively in the areas of oral cancer, oral mucosa! and salivary gland diseases, jawbone pathology and dental education. He is currently in part time private practice in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology and is a team member and active consultant at The Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Cancer Center located at The Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where an active program exists in the diagnosis, comprehensive management, and rehabilitation of oral and head and neck cancer patients.

Dr. Sciubba has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide scope of oral, jawbone and salivary diseases. He remains active as an editor, associate editor and reviewer of several journals including Oral Oncology, where he now a senior advisor for editorial policy. He remains or was active with The Compendium of Continuing Dental Education, The Journal of Dental Research I Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine, The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and The Journal of the American Dental Association, Oral Diseases, Head and Neck Surgery, Archives of Otolaryngology, Oral Oncology, The Laryngoscope, The Journal of Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Pathology and The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He served as the Oral Pathology editor of "Triple O" for six years, where he remains as an ad hoc reviewer and was an Associate Editor of The Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine for 13 years.

He has authored or co-authored seven textbooks, including seven editions of the Textbook of Oral Pathology (Elsevier) and over 300 peer reviewed papers, abstracts and chapters, and has lectured extensively throughout the US, Central and South America, Europe and Asia.

Dr. Sciubba is presently President of Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC) and was instrumental in the founding of this organization in 1991, as well as a co-founder of The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation in 1983.

Dr. Silva received his DDS from the University Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1994. He pursued endodontic training and certification from both Brazil (University Gama Filho) and US (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston). Dr. Silva also received his Masters (2002) and PhD (2006) in Oral Sciences from University of Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Silva completed his post doctorate training in Human Molecular Genetics and also was an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Silva is currently Associate Professor and chair at the Department of Endodontics, at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Silva has also edited a textbook about Endodontic retreatment and has published several peer-reviewed articles in the field of Endodontics and human genetics. He also maintains a faculty practice limited to Endodontics.

Tory Silvestrin, DDS is the Department Chair and Program Director for Endodontics at Loma Linda University where he serves as Professor. He completed his Masters of Science in Dentistry and Endodontics Certificate at Loma Linda University in 2015. Doctor Silvestrin completed his Masters of Science in Health Professions Education at Loma Linda University in 2014. He is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Dentistry, class of 2012. He is devoted to teaching, patient care and research pursuits.

Dr. Sollecito is the Professor and Chair of Oral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine and Professor of Oral Medicine in Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine. He is an Attending in Oral Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow in Hospital Dentistry, a Diplomate in Special Care Dentistry and a Diplomate in Oral Medicine. He is a Consultant on the ADA Council of Scientific Affairs.

Dr. Stoopler is a Professor of Oral Medicine at Penn Dental Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies at S.U.N.Y Binghamton in 1994 and earned his DMD from Penn in 1999. Dr. Stoopler completed a General Practice Residency at the Brooklyn VA Hospital in 2000 and an Oral Medicine Fellowship at Penn in 2002. Dr. Stoopler holds Fellowship in The American Association of Hospital Dentists, The International College of Dentists, The Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh, England), The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow) and is a Diplomate of The American Board of Oral Medicine and The American Board of Special Care Dentistry. Currently, he maintains an active clinical oral medicine practice at Penn Medicine and is a Consultant to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Stoopler received the University of Pennsylvania’s Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Martin S. Greenberg Teaching Award for Oral Medicine, the Basic Science Teaching Award and the Alumni Award of Merit from Penn Dental Medicine. Dr. Stoopler is the only member of the dental school faculty in Penn Medicine’s Academy of Master Clinicians. He is a Past President of The American Academy of Oral Medicine, a Site Visitor Consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and a Consultant to the Council of Scientific Affairs for the American Dental Association (ADA).

Dr. Stoopler has published over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, scientific abstracts, books, book chapters, monographs, expert viewpoints and web-based educational materials on various topics related to oral medicine. He is an Editor of Little and Falace’s Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient, a contributing author to Burket’s Oral Medicine, Contemporary Oral Medicine and ADA Guide to Dental Therapeutics. Dr. Stoopler served as Editor of the Medical and Dental Clinics of North America and Dermatologic Clinics. Dr. Stoopler serves on the Editorial Board for the Special Care in Dentistry Journal and as a reviewer for several prominent dental and medical journals.

Dr. Stoopler’s primary research interest is development of post-doctoral oral medicine education. He is a co-investigator on a multi-center, NIH-sponsored grant for inter-professional education regarding acute and chronic pain management. His clinical research involves evaluating oral complications associated with hematologic malignancies, chemotherapeutic agents and development of a herpes simplex virus-1 vaccine. He has presented his research on this topic in regional, national and international forums.

Dr. Norman Tinanoff received his dental degree from the University of Maryland in 1971. After receiving his certificate and Masters Degree in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Iowa, he spent another year at the V.A. Hospital in Iowa City in a research fellowship. Dr. Tinanoff's two-year military service was at the Army Institute of Dental Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. For 23 years he was at the University of Connecticut Health Center where he was director of the Pediatric Dentistry graduate program for 16 years. From 1999 to 2016 he was Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the Department of Health Promotion and Policy at the University of Maryland. Dr. Tinanoff has authored or co-authored over 215 publications, primarily on fluoride mechanisms, antimicrobials, caries risk factors, early childhood caries and prevention.  His current interests are concerned with preventing dental caries, oral health access for underserved child populations and developing clinical policies and guidelines.

Dr. Tam Van is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from UTHSCSA, she completed a one year General Practice Residency at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple, Texas. Later, she received Geriatric Dentistry Fellowship training directed by the UTHSC, Department of Medicine and the Audie L. Murphy Veterans' Administration Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She has been an U.S. Air Force dental officer, a private practice associate, and Director of a community dental health clinic before joining UTHSCSA. Dr. Van is currently Director of the Geriatrics Dental Clinic and teaches Geriatric Dentistry as part of the pre-doctoral education.

Muhammad Walji is the Associate Dean for Technology Services and Informatics and Professor of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences at the UTHealth School of Dentistry in Houston. With funding from NIDCR and AHRQ, Dr Walji’s research interests are focused on using informatics approaches to improve the safety and quality of oral healthcare, with a particular focus on using data from electronic health records. He has provided informatics expertise in the development and maintenance of the SNODDS Dental Diagnostic terminology. He also leads a multi-institutional team that has developed the BigMouth Dental Data Repository, which currently contains data on over 4 million patients derived from EHRs from 11 dental institutions.

Dr. Rick Walter is Clinical Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. He received his DDS degree from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Brazil) in 2000 and MS degree in Operative Dentistry from the UNC in 2005. From 2006 to 2011, he was full-time faculty member in the Department of Operative Dentistry at the UNC. In 2011, he moved to UPenn where he was Assistant Professor until early 2014. Dr. Walter returned to UNC in 2014. Dr. Walter is active in laboratory and clinical research in dental materials, mainly in resin-based restoratives. He also maintains an intramural practice devoted to restorative and esthetic dentistry.

Dr. Debra Woo is an Assistant Professor and Director of Operations for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the University of the Pacific, Dugoni School of Dentistry’s Union City Dental Care Center. San Francisco. She is a 1986 graduate of the Dugoni School of Dentistry and maintained a successful, private practice until joining as faculty in 2012 to pursue her passion for clinical dental education. 

She continues to be actively involved in numerous leadership roles on committees, boards and delegations for the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association.  In addition, she was selected and appointed to the Dental Board of California and was recognized by the Governor and Legislative Women’s Caucus for Leadership in Public Service.

B.S. Human Biology,  University of California, Davis
M.A.  Health Sciences, San Jose State University
D.D.S. University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Fellowship in American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy, Academy of Dentistry International