Dr. Michael Harner has been with the University of Illinois for over 23 years. He joined the University of Illinois College of Dentistry’s (UIC COD) leadership team as the Associate Dean of Finance and Business Administration in 2015.

Dr. Harner holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a master’s degree of Business Administration, a master’s degree of Art and a doctorate in Education. Dr. Harner’s role at UIC COD is responsible for overseeing state appropriations, tuition and fees, administrative operations, gifts and endowments and grants and community contracts. In his spare time, Dr. Harner enjoys spending time with his family and training for triathlons.

Jamie Hirshey serves Kansas City University (KCU) as Vice President of Human Resources and Joplin Campus Administration. She joined KCU, in January 2016, as its inaugural hire on the Joplin campus, where she played a crucial role in leading recruitment efforts that established the foundational faculty and staff team necessary for the campus to successfully launch.

Prior to her tenure at KCU, Ms. Hirshey spent 12 years in human resources leadership at Freeman Health System in Joplin, MO. Her extensive experience in health care administration has been instrumental in shaping her leadership at KCU.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hirshey has progressively assumed broader responsibilities, including recruitment and retention strategies, benefits administration, fostering institutional culture and inclusivity, enhancing employee engagement and recognition programs as well as overseeing comprehensive orientation, onboarding, professional development and performance management initiatives.

In her current role, she not only leads the university's human resources function, but also supports finance and operations at the Joplin campus, contributing to the overall strategic direction and operational excellence of KCU.

Ms. Hirshey earned her bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern State University and holds a master's degree in health care administration from Bellevue University. Her academic achievements complement her practical experience, enabling her to effectively navigate the complexities of higher education administration and health care management.

Dr. Marnie Oakley serves as the Dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (Pitt SMD). After graduating from Pitt SMD, in 1992, she served an active-duty, four-year tour as a Dental Officer in the United States Navy. Dr. Oakley was responsible for the development and implementation of Pitt SMD’s Comprehensive Care Program. She also served as the Site Visit Coordinator during the successful 2010 American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) site visit.

Dr. Oakley served as Chair of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session Planning Committee for two consecutive years, for which she received a Presidential Citation. As a graduate fellow of the ADEA’s Leadership Institute, she served in officer positions in several ADEA committees and groups. She is also a Senior Consultant for Academy of Advancing Leadership (AAL)—where she offers one-on-one consulting services and seminars on various leadership topics to academicians across the country. Dr. Oakley works extensively in various areas of leadership development that include creating a positive culture, leading difficult conversations, resolving conflict and managing change. As a proud alumna of the Berkeley Institute of Executive Coaching, she leverages her certification and experience to help executives discover and reveal the best versions of themselves.

Dr. Oakley maintains membership in numerous professional organizations, including the ADA, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the Dental Society of Western Pennsylvania and Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Dr. Oakley was awarded the 2024 Impact Award and was recognized as a 2024 Trailblazer in Health Care by City & State Pennsylvania.

Dr. Suzie Bergman is President-elect of the American Association of Women Dentists. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Bergman is a Fellow of the TMJ Foundation, a global consortium and online fellowship program for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, where she serves as Selection Chair, Advisor and Honorary Program Faculty. She is a Visiting Research Scholar at Oregon Health Science University in the Department of Neurological Surgery as a Co-investigator in research surrounding the differential diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia and temporomandibular disorders. Dr. Bergman serves as a subject matter expert and consultant for Academic Health Associates, an Execudent Company. She is the U.S. Director of Dental Education for Immersify Education, an EdTech platform delivering education to dental and nursing schools through immersive experiences and augmented reality. She is a thought leader in the interprofessional education space with a focus on medical, dental and behavioral health integration and Dr. Bergman speaks internationally on this topic.

Dr. Bergman received her D.D.S. degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry and holds advanced certificates in Orthodontics and Orofacial Pain.

Precious Ettah, D.D.S., M.M.Sc., joined ADEA in October 2024 as the new Director of Cultural Engagement and Inclusive Analytics within the Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion (ADI). Dr. Ettah brings a strong background in oral health care, public health, data analysis, and program management. In this role, she works closely with ADI leadership to design and manage workshops, training sessions, and activities that promote cross-cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity,  and inclusive excellence across the ADEA community. Additionally, Dr. Ettah oversees the data analytics function of ADI, producing critical datasets that inform strategies for DEIB operational and business initiatives.

Dr. Ettah has a wealth of professional experience in the dental field, including clinical practice as a general dentist and work in public and community health centers. She recently completed her dental public health residency at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, focusing on epidemiology, social determinants of health, program administration, and health policy. She previously completed her general practice residency at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Ettah holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Alabama and a D.D.S. degree from Howard University College of Dentistry. Additionally, Dr. Ettah earned her Master of Medical Science in Dental Education and a Certificate in Dental Public Health from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Hiroe Ohyama is an Associate Professor and the Predoctoral Director of Operative Dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). Dr. Ohyama earned her D.D.S. degree from Tohoku University, School of Dentistry in Japan. After graduation, she completed clinical and research training at HSDM, where she obtained both a certificate in general dentistry and an M.Sc. degree. She then returned to Japan to pursue a Ph.D. in oral biology from Tokyo University, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ohyama joined the faculty of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM in 2000, where she discovered a passion for teaching alongside her research endeavors. Her passion led her to pursue a D.M.D. at HSDM. This enhanced her ability to educate future dental professionals with a deeper understanding of the dental curriculum in the U.S., further advancing her career as a dental educator.

Dr. Ohyama is a dedicated educator and an accomplished clinician-scientist, serving as a role model in both domains. Dr. Ohyama has made substantial contributions to student-centered scholarly activities, with over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has received numerous awards for her excellence in research, teaching and patient care, including the HSDM Distinguished Faculty Award, the HSDM Outstanding Faculty Award and the Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Award. Dr. Ohyama is nationally recognized as an excellent educator and received the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Excellent Teaching Award, the ADEA Project Pool Grants and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Stephen H. Leeper Teaching Award.

Dr. Margaret Scarlett is a dentist, futurist and health outcomes leader. Dr. Scarlett transitioned to private practice and consulting after 23 years as a dental officer in the US Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and US Army. Her last assignment was to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Department of Health and Human Services, addressing the use of big data for health. 

A member of the American Dental Association Standards Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Dentistry, Dr. Scarlett was a leading contributor to the December 2022 ADA Whitepaper, “Overview of Artificial and Augmented Intelligence Uses in Dentistry.”  She continues to evaluate the scientific and ethical uses of AI, lecturing around the globe.  

Her career focus has been on health and overall health outcomes through health data to reduce the impact of chronic and infectious diseases. 

Sara Bendoraitis is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Learning at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). In this role, Sara champions the importance of a diverse and inclusive environment and leads the creation of strategies to foster a strong sense of belonging and create a welcoming, safe, equitable, and inclusive culture in academic dentistry. 

Sara was formerly with OPTICA, where she was Director of Membership Program Development. From 2011 to 2018, she was Director of Programming, Outreach and Advocacy at American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. She began her work at American University as Director of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center in 2007 till 2011. Sara has an M.S. in Education Administration from Texas A&M University and a BA in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. 

Sara has presented at national conferences on student identity support and advocacy, gender-neutral housing best practices, academic and student affairs collaboration, assessing Safe Zone programs, leadership, unconscious bias and women’s and gender centers. Sara also been a consultant for various federal government agencies, national and international non-profits, higher education institutions, and the United States Naval Academy. 

She has served as a board member the NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women, a NASPA Regional Representative, the Education, Advocacy, and Outreach Chair and Co-Chair for the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Resource Professionals, and a member of the Council on the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education Board of Directors. In her spare time, Sara can be found spending time with her family as well as running the HY-Swap, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and circulating items in good condition within the community, providing savings for local families and reducing waste.

Sarah Jackson is the Head of Education and Professional Relations for Curaden USA Inc. For more than 25 years, she has held various roles within the dental team, including dental assistant, front office staff and dental hygienist. Ms. Jackson is a Professor Emeritus at Eastern Washington University, where she taught for 20 years and ultimately served as a tenured full Professor and Program Director. She is a researcher, published author, international speaker and active leader in the dental hygiene association.

As a health and wellness advocate, Ms. Jackson co-founded the Abundant Life Wellness Hub to help other professionals live abundant, healthy lives. She strives to inspire positive change among oral health care providers worldwide. As a certified instructor with Curaden Academy, Ms. Jackson is dedicated to re-invigorating homecare education and disease prevention while advancing the mission of iTOP. She aims to empower dental professionals to elevate their roles as health coaches, deliver exceptional oral hygiene education and make a meaningful impact on patients’ oral and overall health. 

Laura Ebert has over 15 years of experience in the health care industry. She joined Dentsply Sirona as Head of Digital Platform Programs in February 2021 to lead the digital and organizational transformation of the company’s equipment, software and cloud platform business. In her current role as Vice President Operatory Solutions at Dentsply Sirona, she is responsible for the company’s Treatment Center, Instruments, Infection Control and Dental-dedicated Magnetic Resonance Imaging businesses.

Previously, Ms. Ebert spent more than 10 years in strategy consulting at Siemens AG with a focus on health care and digital transformation. Her most recent role was Vice President for the health care industry. She completed several longer term international work assignments in the United States, Netherlands and Denmark. Ms. Ebert holds a degree in Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich and regularly holds educational lectures on innovations in health care at academic and business-related events.

Dr. Satya Nadimpalli is an Endodontist turned Product Marketing Manager at Komet USA, bringing a unique blend of clinical expertise and business acumen to the dental industry. With a master’s degree in Business Administration from Babson College, majoring in Business Analytics, she leads the strategy, launch and lifecycle management of Komet's Endodontic portfolio in the United States.

With years of experience practicing clinical dentistry in India and a deep understanding of global dental markets, Dr. Nadimpalli bridges the gap between innovative product development and customer needs. At Komet USA, she’s known for spearheading high-impact product launches like BioSeal, BioRepair and FQ, and for building key relationships with thought leaders in the endodontic space.

Her passion lies in combining data-driven decision-making with real-world dental insights to create solutions that empower clinicians and improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Brandy Cowen is a Clinical Assistant Professor and DH1 Clinic Coordinator at Texas A&M College of Dentistry's Dental Hygiene Department. She has a decade of experience as a registered dental hygienist and has been a dental hygiene educator since 2016. She is the course director for Preclinical Dental Hygiene, Clinical Dental Hygiene I, Health Education & Behavioral Sciences, and co-course director for Local Anesthesia & Nitrous Oxide Conscious Sedation.

Prof. Cowen earned her Associate of Science from Grayson County College, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Science in Health Studies with an Emphasis in Dental Hygiene from Texas Woman’s University.  She is trained through the Mental Health First Aid course through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and recently received her Dental Infection Prevention & Control Certification through the Association for Dental Safety and Dental Assisting National Board.

Prof. Cowen’s professional interests include infection prevention and control, workplace safety, quality assurance and fostering a sense of belonging in dental hygiene education. She has presented many safety and infection control topics at the local, state and regional levels. She is passionate about empowering dental hygiene students to cultivate and lead a culture of safety, asepsis and accountability throughout their education and professional careers.

Prof. Cowen currently serves as Chair for the Texas A&M School of Dentistry Infection Control Committee, Dental Hygiene Clinic Coordinators of Texas, Educational Programs for Texas Dental Hygiene Educators and Past-Chair of the ADEA Clinical Coordinators Special Interest Group. Additionally, she is an active member of the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Association for Dental Safety.

Dr. Harrison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. He currently serves as the Group Manager (Team Leader) in the comprehensive care clinic where he co-manages forty dental students  

Dr. Harrison earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 2004. Following dental school, he completed a one-year AEGD residency at the University of Cincinnati Hospital. He spent 10 years in private dental practice before returning to academics.
In 2015, Dr. Harrison joined the faculty at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. He is responsible for the practice management curriculum at his school, where he uses Dental Simulation.  The students get to run a virtual dental practice to help them understand the relationship between management decisions and practice outcomes.  He serves as a faculty advisor for the local chapters of the American Student Dental Association and American Dental Education Association student group.  
Dr. Harrison has published research on factors affecting dental students’ career plans, helped develop personal financial planning online competency modules and recently edited a book entitled “Business Basics for Dentist”. He is actively involved with ADEA, having chaired the Section on Practice Management, and currently serving as chair to the council of sections. Dr. Harrison has received multiple teaching awards and recognition for his service and leadership contributions to the advancement of dental education.

Dr. Antanious White is an educator, researcher and ADEA Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) with over a decade of experience advancing equity and inclusion in education and professional organizations. As a scholar, his work explores the intersectionality of race, gender and place-based identities, examining their impact on educational outcomes and health disparities while highlighting pathways of resilience.

Committed to advancing DEI, Dr. White has led innovative initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and promoting social justice in education. His teaching philosophy emphasizes racial equity, critical thinking and collaboration, fostering an inclusive classroom environment where students are encouraged to engage deeply with complex social issues.

Dr. White continues at ADEA to lead transformative efforts that advance diversity and inclusion in higher education. With a collaborative and solutions-driven approach, he is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities and inspiring systemic change through education, research and DEI leadership.

Sara Bendoraitis is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Learning at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). In this role, Sara champions the importance of a diverse and inclusive environment and leads the creation of strategies to foster a strong sense of belonging and create a welcoming, safe, equitable, and inclusive culture in academic dentistry. 

Sara was formerly with OPTICA, where she was Director of Membership Program Development. From 2011 to 2018, she was Director of Programming, Outreach and Advocacy at American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. She began her work at American University as Director of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center in 2007 till 2011. Sara has an M.S. in Education Administration from Texas A&M University and a BA in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. 

Sara has presented at national conferences on student identity support and advocacy, gender-neutral housing best practices, academic and student affairs collaboration, assessing Safe Zone programs, leadership, unconscious bias and women’s and gender centers. Sara also been a consultant for various federal government agencies, national and international non-profits, higher education institutions, and the United States Naval Academy. 

She has served as a board member the NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women, a NASPA Regional Representative, the Education, Advocacy, and Outreach Chair and Co-Chair for the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Resource Professionals, and a member of the Council on the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education Board of Directors. In her spare time, Sara can be found spending time with her family as well as running the HY-Swap, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and circulating items in good condition within the community, providing savings for local families and reducing waste.

Dr. Patty Xirau-Probert is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Involvement for the University of Florida College of Dentistry. With a Ph.D. in Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, she has expertise in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, emotion regulation and community engagement initiatives. She has developed programs at the University of Florida related to well-being, resiliency, effective communication, leadership development and stress management. She supports curriculum development, strategic planning, community outreach and other initiatives focused on student success and the institutional mission. Her teaching experience includes an inter-professional biopsychosocial education course for health professions, wellness practices and crisis intervention/suicide prevention for University of Florida health faculty, staff and students. She is trained as an educator in Implicit Bias and Crucial Conversations. Along with colleagues from other health science center colleges, she facilitates a course on the science of well-being and happiness among health professionals- we call it the Happy Course, and it is one of her favorite projects to date!

Dr. Isabel Rambob is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, the Immediate President of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) and a Career Development Strategist. She is also a prolific speaker who has lectured in the USA, Europe, Asia and South America. 

Dr. Isabel Rambob received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the State University of Feira de Santana, Brazil. She completed a one-year program in advanced education in comprehensive dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry then completed a one-year residency program in advanced education in general dentistry at Howard University College of Dentistry. Dr.Rambob moved to University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry after 15 years at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry where she served in innumerous roles including Co-Director of Interprofessional Education, Vice-President of the Faculty Senate, Behavioral Dentistry Course Director and Assistant Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program. 

Dr. Isabel Rambob is very passionate about teaching, mentoring, coaching, collaborating, and volunteering. She is an avid knowledge seeker who believes that commitment to professional development is one of the keys to professional success. 

Dr. Perez serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. 

In addition to his academic and administrative responsibilities, He is a member of the Diversity Leadership Council at Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences and Member of the American Dental Association Board of Trustees' Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Dr. Perez has been an active member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and has served as Chair of the ADEA Section on Student Affairs and Financial Aid. Currently, he holds the position of Councilor for the ADEA Section on PRIDE, Promoting Respect for Identity Dignity and Expression, and Chair-elect of the ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association Board. Dr. Perez has several research interests related to improving dental students' experience during their academic years.

Dr. Abou-Arraj is a 2003 graduate of the Université Saint Joseph School of Dentistry, Lebanon. Holder of two Periodontology Certificates (Lebanese University and University of Alabama at Birmingham-UAB) and a MS degree (UAB), Dr. Abou-Arraj is a Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UAB. He is a Diplomate and Examiner of the American Board of Periodontology and the recipient of several teaching and service awards. He maintains an active practice of periodontology and implant surgery.

Dr. Yonca Korkmaz Ceyhan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics. She teaches Dental anatomy, Operative dentistry, Biomaterials and Esthetics. Dr. Ceyhan is also Course director of Dental Anatomy. 

She is principal investigator/collaborator/mentor in several research projects in the field of Dental materials. She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers, and she received the Kuraray Young Investigator Award in 2004. Dr. Ceyhan continues to be active in peer-reviewed publications, both as an author and a reviewer. Dr. Ceyhan lectures nationally and internationally on various topics associated with restorative materials and teaching in operative dentistry. She also serves in UTSD senate as a vice chair and is a member of UTHealth Interfaculty Council. Dr. Ceyhan is currently doing both the ADEA Leadership Institute and the UTHealth Health Educators Fellowship Program. 

Leticia Chaves de Souza is an associate professor of the Department of Endodontics and the director of predoctoral Endodontics. She earned her dental degree and certificate in Endodontics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also obtained a certificate in Endodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has a Master’s degree in Endodontics and a PhD degree in Materials Science. 

Her research focuses on the physical-chemical, mechanical and biological properties of endodontic materials and instruments, as well as on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying apical periodontitis. She has published almost 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts in Endodontics and one book chapter in endodontic filling materials.

Dr. Milda Chmieliauskaite is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and the Graduate Program Director of the Oral Medicine MSD/residency program.She obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degrees, and Oral Medicine residency training from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chmieliauskaite currently teaches predoctoral and postdoctoral students on topics within research, oral medicine, and orofacial pain. Her scholarly work focuses on orofacial pain and Burning Mouth Disorder, along with oral cancer, and public health topics.

She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and an active member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine chairing a committee and serving as a board member.

Dr. Lindsey Hamil is Assistant Dean of Student Success and Associate Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina’s James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and an M.S. in Communications. In addition to her administrative roles, Dr. Hamil directs courses for the predoctoral and postdoctoral programs at MUSC. 

Dr. Hamil has published several articles in The Journal of Dental Education focused on predoctoral dental and interprofessional education. She has served on the ADEA Council of Faculties since 2019 and received MUSC’s Earl B. Higgins Leadership in Diversity award in 2021. Dr. Hamil is an advocate for case-based learning and writing. In 2013, she was named as a Fellow of the Southeast Case Research Association (SECRA).

Dr. Karo Parsegian is an Associate Professor and Predoctoral Periodontics Program Director in the Department of Surgical Dentistry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He received his DMD degree at the First Tashkent Medical Institute (Tashkent, Uzbekistan), completed Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, Master of Dental Science, and Certificate in Periodontology at the University of Connecticut Health (Farmington, CT), Health Educators Fellowship Program and Certificate in Clinical Research at the McGovern Medical School (Houston, TX), and Certificate in Quality and Safety from the University of Colorado (Aurora, CO). 

Dr. Parsegian is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a CDCA-WREB-CITA site examiner, and an AADOCR Ambassador. He is a peer reviewer and a member of the editorial board for several journals, including the Journal of Dental Education. Dr. Parsegian received the American Dental Education Association Colgate Junior Faculty Award, the AAP Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring, the Dean’s Excellent in Teaching Award, the AAP Award in Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Development, and other recognitions. He has an extensive track of conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and book chapters on periodontics, educational technology, dental pulp, and kidney diseases.

Dr. Kecia Leary is the Associate Dean for Clinics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Clinical Professor in Pediatric Dentistry.  She is a 2004 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. In 2007 she obtained a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master's in Dental Public Health. She then obtained her Diplomate status from both the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Board of Dental Public Health. Before her academic position she was the Pediatric Dental Director in a Federally Qualified Health Center.  

Dr. Adriana Semprum-Clavier is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the College of Dentistry. Her expertise lies in the early management and treatment of dental caries, and she instructs various technique courses in operative, restorative, and digital dentistry. Her research at the College focuses on the remineralization and demineralization of hard tissues in a high-risk population for dental caries.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Semprum-Clavier serves as the Director of the Advanced Standing DMD Program, where she oversees curriculum development, design, implementation, and evaluation of student outcomes, among other duties. 

She earned her D.D.S. degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas in 1996, followed by her U.S. DDS from the University of Detroit Mercy. Dr. Semprum-Clavier completed post-graduate training in Advanced Restorative Dentistry at the University of Michigan in 2001 and holds a Master’s in Clinical and Translational Sciences from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Furthermore, Dr. Semprum-Clavier is the Faculty Advisor for the Hispanic Dental Association Student Chapter.

Dr. Dan Burch is a Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Special Care Dentistry Fellowship, and the Associate Department Head in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Since 2015, he has taught didactic and clinical courses in Pediatric and Special Care Dentistry. He has published several articles and presented at several local and national conferences. He is a member of numerous professional organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Special Care Dentistry Association and is Vice President of the Academy of Dentistry for People with Disabilities. He is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He has consulted for several organizations including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Special Care Dentistry Association, and several dental schools. He serves as an attending staff at the Children's Medical Center- Dallas and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. He currently holds medical staff privileges at Baylor University Medical Center, HHM Health, and Los Barrios Community Clinic. He has served as an expert consultant for more than a dozen academic and federal institutions in the areas of primary care dentistry, pediatric dentistry, faculty development programs, and community-based programmatic implementation/evaluation. This has allowed him to foster duplicate efforts in other communities and academics centers across America. He previously served as Chief Dental Officer in private practice, managing roughly $58 million annually. His research interests focus on reducing oral health disparities, health service research, oral health policy, and educational training in the area of special health care needs management. These interests have led to $17 million in successfully funded institutional grants and expanded external clinical services for TAMSOD. Dr. Burch received his DDS from UTHSC-Memphis, Residency Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Howard University, and Fellowship Certificate in Special Care Dentistry from Texas A&M School of Dentistry.

Dr. Roopsi Kaur is a globally recognized educator, clinician, and leader in dental education, with a career that spans continents and disciplines. After earning her dental degree in India and completing an advanced internship, she pursued a master’s degree and certificate in operative dentistry from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since 2012, Dr. Kaur has been a cornerstone of East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine, serving as Assistant Dean for Engagement and Clinical Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry. Through her leadership in administration, teaching, research, and patient care, she continues to shape the future of dental education.

Dr. Kaur chairs several committees at ECU and holds positions on national boards, including National CAMBRA, National CODE, and the North Carolina Dental Society's DEBI Taskforce. Her exceptional contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the ECU Health Sciences Author Recognition Award, Colgate Oral B Scholar, and the ADEA Minority Dental Faculty Development Grant. She is also the recipient of the inaugural ADEA Leadership Institute Award and a Fellow of the ADEA Leadership Institute, Class of 2024-2025. Her research focuses on caries risk management and innovative teaching and mentoring methodologies.

Dr. Salwa Mekled is an Associate Professor and Clinic Director at Kornberg School of Dental Medicine, Temple University. In this capacity, she provides restorative dentistry to dental students, and coaches them to become more familiar with CAD/CAM technologies. Dr. Mekled received her dental degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Dr. Mekled had one year of general practice residency, and one year of orofacial pain residency at the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry. Dr. Mekled is member of American Dental Educator Association, and a fellow of American College of Dentists.

Madhu Mohan is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). She has a DMD from RSDM and a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry also from RSDM. She is board certified in Pediatric Dentistry and is a fellow of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She is currently Program Director of the Pediatric Dentistry residency program. She is currently also serving as undergraduate clinical director in pediatric dentistry. She participates in all aspects of clinical care with the residents and dental students. She is involved in many resident research projects. Her recent research focus has been on uses of AI in pediatric dentistry and the evaluation of the oral microbiome in the pediatric patient population. 

Dr. M. Teresa Pulido, D.D.S., M.S., is the Associate Dean for Preclinical Education at Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine in Arizona, with over two decades of academic and clinical experience. A specialist in operative dentistry, she holds advanced credentials including a Master of Science and Certificate in Operative Dentistry from the University of Iowa and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Universidad Europea de Madrid.

Dr. Pulido is a leader in curriculum development, faculty calibration, and innovative teaching strategies, enhancing student learning outcomes. Her research spans over 50 abstracts in refereed journals, focusing on materials and technologies for clinical applications, including adhesives, bleaching treatments, and universal shade composites. A recognized speaker and mentor, she actively contributes to professional organizations and advances dental education and practice globally.

Dr. Kumar C. Shah is a Professor of Clinical Dentistry and a Board-Certified Prosthodontist & Maxillofacial Prosthodontist in the Section of Prosthodontics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his dental degree from The National University of Singapore and earned his Master of Science degree and a certificate in Prosthodontics at The Ohio State University. He completed Maxillofacial Prosthetics fellowship training at UCLA thereafter. He also completed a Certificate Training Program in Translational Science through the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute. He recently completed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Illinois. Dr. Shah is Director of the Graduate Prosthodontics Residency Program at UCLA, Advanced Prosthodontics and Implantology Preceptorship Programs for international dentists as well as Previous Director of the Faculty Group Dental practice at UCLA. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics, Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists and Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI). He has been on Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations within Dentistry. In addition to being a co-editor of this textbook in Dental Implant therapy released in 2015 and 2022 and is a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and has been an ad hoc reviewer in multiple peer-reviewed journals in Dentistry. Dr. Shah currently practices in the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice. He practices all areas of restorative and esthetic dentistry (fixed and removable prosthodontics), including full mouth rehabilitation/reconstruction with a special emphasis on implant prosthodontics.