Dr. Cristin Haase is the President of nonprofit The Society of American Indian Dentists. Dr. Haase graduated, in 2017, with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and master’s degree in Public Health degree from A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dental & Oral Health. She is currently training as a Pediatric Dental Specialist.

Dr. Haase grew up in the great plains of rural North Dakota and is of Lakota heritage (Cheyenne River Sioux). In 2015, he was recognized as a “Dreamstarter” by the Running Strong for American Indian Youth Organization (founded by Billy Mills) as a dental student, and received the additional honor of being named “Dreamstarter GOLD” in 2020 for organizing The AI/AN Pre-dental Admissions Workshop (PAW) program at A.T. Still University.

Dr. Haase spends her free time hiking, snowboarding and streaming all Taylor Swift’s albums.

Dr. Teague Rutherford is the first enrolled Aaniiih and Nakoda tribal member from Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to become a dentist, having graduated in May 2024 from A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. Dr. Rutherford grew up on his reservation in Northcentral Montana where he faced traumatic experiences in the dental chair at Indian Health Service. These experiences, followed by pain-free dental experiences at a private-practice clinic, are what pushed him to pursue a career in dentistry. Using his skills, along with a master’s degree in Public Health attained at the University of Montana, Dr. Rutherford is focused on developing better oral health care for Indigenous people across the nation.

Currently, Dr. Rutherford is participating in a General Practice Residency in Fresno, Calif., to help gain more clinical and administrative experience in dentistry. His overall goals are to return home and practice dentistry within his reservation and help other Alaskan Native/American Indian students accomplish their dreams in holistic health care. 

Dr. Frances Kim is the Student Programs Manager for Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID). She received her D.D.S. from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. After a one-year General Practice Residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she received her master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Family and Community Health and Doctorate in Public Health in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Kim completed a dental public health residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

As a dental public health consultant, she has been involved in various activities in both the private and public sector, has been appointed as adjunct faculty in several schools—providing instruction in public health as well as mentoring for dental public health residents and predoctoral students—and has been involved in epidemiologic research and analysis. Dr. Kim is a Past President of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health.

Dr. Jenn Luca is a pediatric dentist. While in dental school, she conducted research in dental education and co-founded My Dental Key, a dental education company.  She found and led the Sustainability Committee, made up of students, faculty, and staff, while at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She used her experience organizing institutions around sustainable matters at Nationwide Children’s Hospital/The Ohio State University during her residency by creating the NCH Green Team and advocating for “Green Healthcare.” She volunteers with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare as a facilitator of the Sustainable Dentistry course to promote dental professional education and works with the ADEA SIG Sustainable Dentistry Group.  She has presented on Sustainable Dentistry at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Student Dental Association annual conferences. Dr. Jenn is dedicated to integrating environmentally sustainable practices into the dental profession and cultivating a community that supports the well-being of everyone, including our planet.

Dr. Toni Roucka is Professor Emerita at Marquette University School of Dentistry. She served as an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2013 to 2023. Her undergraduate degree is in Nursing. She received her D.D.S. from the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry and an M.A. in Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin.  

Dr. Roucka's expertise in dental ethics is widely recognized, as evidenced by her numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and her role as a national speaker. She is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. She currently serves on the American College of Dentists Board as an At-large Regent.

Dr. Yaara Berdan is the Co-Chair of the Department of Endodontics and Periodontics at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and the Director of Predoctoral Endodontics. She received her D.D.S. from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, a certificate in pediatric dentistry from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a certificate in endodontics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She recently obtained her M.B.A. and Certificate in Business and Sustainability from the USC Marshall School of Business.

She co-founded the ADEA Sustainability in Dentistry Special Interest Group and is currently serving as Chair. Dr. Berdan is the faculty advisor to the Ostrow Sustainability Group and is a member of the USC Practice Greenhealth Group and a member of the USC Presidential Working Group for Sustainability Education.

Dr. Mark S. Wolff is the Morton Amsterdam Dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and a Professor in the Department of Preventative and Restorative Dentistry. Formerly he was a Professor and Chair of the Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care and Associate Dean for Pre-doctoral Clinical Education and Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at the New York University College of Dentistry.  He has designed, developed, and implemented an extensive curriculum in caries risk assessment and has designed dental information systems to assist dental schools in monitoring the risk of the entire dental patient population.  Dr. Wolff has completed numerous national and international research and oral health assessment programs.  Dr. Wolff started his dental career as a private practitioner, creating a family practice that focused on the medically compromised and disabled patients of all ages.  He has been a lifelong advocate and educator for individuals with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities through the lifespan.

Dr. Wolff received his DDS degree and PhD in Oral Biology and Pathology from Stony Brook University.  He has served as the principal or co-principal investigator on multiple bench top and clinical research projects investigating dental caries, novel re-mineralizing agents, dental erosion, periodontal disease, dental materials and dentinal hypersensitivity.   He has co-authored over 100 scientific papers, text chapters and edited multiple textbooks.  Dr. Wolff lectures world-wide and is a frequent consultant to industry.  He has been the principal or co-principal investigator on more than $9.0 million in industrial and National Institute of Health funded research.  Prior to joining the NYU College of Dentistry in 2005, he served as Associate Dean at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, where he helped develop and implement the first completely computerized dental record.  Under his leadership, Penn Dental Medicine  implemented extensive clinical programs of caries and health risk assessments, minimal intervention dentistry, tobacco cessation, evidence based dental education, community-based dentistry and dental care for all patients through the life-cycle.  He frequently serves as a media source for information on consumer issues and hosted an annual radio series on dental issues on satellite radio.

Dr. Russ Bergman is the Vice Chair of the Department of Dentistry and GPR Program Director at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. In this role he is responsible for the clinical, educational, and financial performance of the Department of Dentistry. Dr. Bergman has spent his career building strong relationships with Attending Dentists and Residents to create well-respected, highly regarded educational and clinical programs, currently at Newark Beth in New Jersey and previously at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania. Dr. Bergman practiced General Dentistry in Essex County NJ for over 20 years. Dr. Bergman is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, and the Dental Residency Program at Newark Beth Israel. Dr. Bergman is on the Board of Directors of ADEA, representing the Council of Advanced Education Programs. Among other career awards and distinctions, he was inducted to the American College of Dentists.  

Mr. Donato serves as Chair on the ADEA Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year. He is a first-generation Filipino American and a community college transfer student. After completing his prerequisites, he transferred to the University of California, Berkeley where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology. Through his predental journey, he became involved in ADEA through his Educational Student Pathways Internship. ADEA has helped to foster his interest in academic dentistry and to meet like-minded colleagues who aim to prepare future generations of health care professionals.

Elyse received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and her doctoral degree in Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut. Upon dental school graduation, Elyse was awarded the American College of Dentists Outstanding Student Leader Award, the American Academy of Oral Medicine Award, and the American Prosthodontic Society Award. Following dental school graduation, Elyse completed a General Practice Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is now a first-year Prosthodontics resident at the University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health.

Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation. 

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.

Yolanda Jones serves as the Director of Advanced Dental Education Application Service and the Staff Liaison to the ADEA Council of Advanced Education Programs, bringing 28 years of dedicated service to ADEA. In her role, she oversees the strategic development and operations of ADEA PASS (Postdoctoral Application Support Service). Yolanda leads the ADEA PASS Advisory Group and works closely with application services staff to drive continuous innovative, ensuring and improved and streamlined application process for all stakeholders. 

Speaker agrees that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.

Manavi Nagai obtained her DMD from Boston University School of Dental Medicine in 2022 and is currently doing her training in prosthodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She was born and raised in Massachusetts.

Dr. Paurazas is a Clinical Professor and Program Director of Graduate Endodontics at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.  Responsibilities include advising of graduate student research and graduate Endodontic admissions. Her interests focus on evidenced-based endodontics.  Dr. Paurazas holds a Masters degree Endodontics and a D.D.S. degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Masters degrees in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is a Board Certified endodontist.  Dr. Paurazas has served on multiple committees of the American Association of Endodontists, including the Research and Scientific Affairs committee and the Educational Affairs Committee. Dr. Paurazas is actively involved in the American Dental Education Association and serves on the Council of Advanced Education Programs, and is past president of the ADEA Section on Endodontics. Dr. Paurazas maintains a private endodontic practice in New Baltimore, Michigan.

Dr. Wingrove is currently an endodontics resident at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Wingrove moved to the United States in 2013 to attend Boston University’s predoctoral program. After graduation, he completed a General Practice Residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. Following his residency, he worked as a restorative dentist in private practices across central Massachusetts, downtown Boston, and the MetroWest area.

Dr. Wingrove is passionate about teaching both at the dental school and mentored young dentists through local and national dental associations. He currently serves on the American Association of Endodontists’ Public & Professional Relations Committee. He is also the past chair of the Massachusetts Dental Society Membership Committee and a guest member of the Board of Trustees. Presently, he co-chairs the Yankee Program Committee. For his leadership and contributions, Dr. Wingrove received the prestigious “Top 10 Under 10” Award, recognizing dentists who have been in the profession for less than 10 years and have made a significant impact on the field, their community, and organized dentistry. Dr. Wingrove is a fellow of the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Lorel Burns is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. She is a full-time faculty member at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry and engages in part-time private practice in New York. Dr. Burns earned her DDS degree at NYU College of Dentistry (2015), completed her specialty training in Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (2017) and was awarded her master’s degree (MS) in clinical investigation by NYU School of Medicine (2019). In 2019, she was selected as the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Foundation’s Endodontic Educator Fellow. In 2022, she recognized with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Junior Faculty Award. Additionally, Dr. Burns participated in the 2023 cohort of the ADEA Leadership Institute as the ADEA/ AAE Foundation Scholar. 

Dr. Burns is a clinician-investigator, and her research program has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the ADEAGies Foundation. Dr. Burns has used social media to study access to dental care and has researched the influence of social media on clinical dental education. Her research in the area is published in JMIR Formative Research and the Journal of Dental Education. 

Dr. Min-Wen Fu is a dedicated and highly skilled dentist with over 10 years of experience in the field of dentistry. He holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and a Master degree in Oral Biology from Taiwan (Chung-Shan Medical University and National Defense Medical Center). Dr. Fu earned his endodontics certifications from New York University in 2021 as he had a passion for both clinical practice and education, he pursued a career in Dental Education at New York University.  

For the past years, Dr. Fu has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the New York University, College of Dentistry. In this role, he has mentored and taught hundreds of dental students and residents, sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise in endodontics. His commitment to education is reflected in his innovative teaching methods, which blend traditional techniques with the latest advancements in dental learning with social media habits. 

Outside of his professional life, Dr. Fu is passionate about community service. He volunteers his time to provide dental care to underserved populations through various local and international outreach programs. 

Karen North, Ph.D., is a recognized expert in digital social media and in psychology. Dr. North is the Founder and former Director of University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg’s Digital Social Media program—the world’s first master’s degree program and research center focused on the leadership, management and development of digital products, platforms and communities. Dr. North is a Clinical Professor in the USC School of Communication with primary interests that include digital and social media, business and product strategy, privacy and safety online, Artificial Intelligence, brand building and reputation management. She regularly appears as an expert on national, international and local news, including television, newspaper, radio, podcast and online news outlets.

Trained as a clinical and social psychologist with considerable experience in federal telecommunications policy and practice, Dr. North’s interests come together in the digital world where entrepreneurs and large companies use social and digital media to bring people together, exert influence and form groups, and where these efforts impact our social, cultural and business worlds. She also focuses on governmental and regulatory efforts domestically and internationally. Dr. North teaches at USC and works with small and large companies, foreign and domestic governments and assorted projects in this sector. Prior to USC, Dr. North was the Assistant Dean of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Policy. 

Dr. North previously worked during the Clinton Administration, in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Domestic Policy Council. Before that, she worked for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) who was then the Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

As a frontier leader and dental artificial intelligence expert, Dr. Mina Ghorbanifarajzadeh, worksat Overjet, one of the top 5 software companies reported by Dental Products Report. As serving Senior Clinical Manager for Overjet she helps shape the industry standards for what we can expect of Artificial Intelligence today and where we can expect it to go in the future.

With a background in technology, health care, and world-class service, Dr. Ghorbanifarajzadeh’s passions align with the mission that technology will bring to dentistry. She is energized by the growing technologies that will not only improve patient dental care but overall healthcare as well. Dr. Ghorbanifarajzadeh is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and was the recipient of the Oral Maxillofacial Radiology Award. Also, she currently serves as a Wellness Ambassador for the ADA.

Brittany Marino works for Align Technology as a University and Early Career Education Manager, supporting University dental schools and New Grad GPs as they integrate Invisalign and iTero into their practice workflows. She has been with Align for nearly 7 years working across the company in clinical, sales, and customer support capacities. Prior to Align, Brittany worked as a public school teacher. However, her most important educator role to date is teaching her 4-and-7-year old children how to get along. 

Kim O’Connor is the Director of Operations with Aspen Dental supporting the practices in Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. She's held several roles in the organization, learning operations from the ground up.  Her contributions and passion for patient care has been recognized with many awards throughout her tenure at Aspen Dental. Kim currently supports 30 practices in the Midwestand is instrumental in developing patient-centric field and office teams, by supporting a culture of leadership within the practice.

Dr. Eileen R. Hoskin is full time faculty and Director of the Division of Operative Dentistry within the Restorative Department at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). Positions at RSDM include course directorships, Director for Academic Affairs and Group Practice Administrator. Until two years ago she was also in private practice in New York City. Dr. Hoskin earned a dental degree from New Jersey Dental School (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine); attended a General Practice Residency at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and attained a master’s degree in dental education through American Dental Education Association (ADEA) /Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL) and the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. She completed a teaching certificate in effective college instruction through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and has participated in many ADEA programs, including the Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders, and the Institute for Teaching and Learning. She has also completed the ADA/ Forsyth School program in Evidence Based Dentistry. 

Dr. Hoskin has published research in the Journal of Dental Education, Evidence-Based Dentistry, and Nutrition and Gerodontology and is a peer reviewer for many dental journals including Operative Dentistry and for the Academy of General Dentistry. Within dentistry and dental education, her focus is pedagogy and cariology. Updating cariology curriculum and researching best methods for student outcomes are her passion. She has presented programs at ADEA’s Annual Session & Exhibition, including Short Talks and Workshops.
Her leadership roles include Past President of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association, Secretary/ Treasurer of the Academic Assembly at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and past Chair of the ADEA Cariology Section   She is an active member in the American Academy of Cariology (AAC), Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CaMBRA) and the Consortium of Operative Dentistry Educators (CODE). She is a member of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry and an examiner for CDCA-WREB- CITA. 

Donald Lapine, D.M.D., FAGD, FACD received his dental degree in 1997 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now known as Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM).  Dr. Lapine currently holds a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Lapine maintains memberships and leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, New Jersey Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Dental Education Association [ADEA]. He is currently the Chair of ADEA’s Section on Cariology.  He has published numerous poster and abstract publications and has had the honor of lecturing nationally on Restorative Dentistry and Dental Education.
Dr. Lapine holds a full-time faculty appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine where he is the director of numerous preclinical Operative Dentistry Didactic and Laboratory courses. Additionally, he is a clinical attending for 3rd and 4th year students in Fixed Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry. 

Dr. Jan K. Mitchell is a 1979 graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry. She completed a two year Comprehensive Dentistry Residency in the US Navy, twice receiving their Award for Clinical Excellence. She served on active duty for 26 years, including assignments overseas, on ships, and in teaching programs. She is certified as a Master by the Academy of General Dentistry and is a Diplomate of both the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry and the American Board of Operative Dentistry, which she has served as President. 

Dr. Mitchell is a retired Professor in Restorative Sciences at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta, where she was inducted into the Georgia Health Sciences Academy of Educators. The 2015 recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award at the Dental College of Georgia, Dr. Mitchell also lectures nationally on many topics, including new concepts in caries, vital pulp therapy, dental materials, and treatment planning with risk assessment. She lives in Augusta with her husband, Dr. David Snyder. 

Cameron L. Randall, Ph.D., is a clinical health psychologist and Assistant Professor of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle. His NIH-funded research focuses on pain, dental fear, health behavior, and providers’ implementation of evidence-based practice. He has published more than 50 journal articles and book chapters on these topics, and his scholarly work has been recognized with awards from the NIH, the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Randall also researches and speaks nationally and internationally on topics related to workforce well-being. He serves in leadership positions in the International Association for Dental Research, and he is a member of the editorial boards for Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology and JDR Clinical and Translational Research. He was a lead author on the Consensus Statement on Future Directions for the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Oral Health and was a contributor for the recently released NIH Report, Oral Health in America. At the University of Washington School of Dentistry, he teaches behavioral science topics in the predoctoral and resident curricula. Dr. Randall completed his undergraduate studies (BS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his graduate studies (MS, PhD) at West Virginia University, and his clinical psychology internship training at the University of Washington, where he was a resident in behavioral medicine and neuropsychology.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Dr. Carter Bruett (he/him/they/them) received his B.S., M.Ed. and D.D.S. degrees from the University of Utah. He then set off to New York City where he was trained in oral and maxillofacial pathology at New York Presbyterian/Queens. Returning to the University of Utah, he now is an assistant professor at the School of Dentistry where he teaches predoctoral students, directs several pre-dental pathway programs, and sees patients with clinical oral pathology needs through the University faculty practice. Dr. Bruett is an active participant in several academic associations, including ADEA, where they currently serve as the secretary for the PRIDE section. 

Dr. Nathalia Garcia is a Periodontist, Professor, Assistant Dean for Career Development, Chair of the Applied Dental Medicine Department, and Section Head of Periodontics at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Garcia is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Saint Louis University.

With a deep commitment to dental education, Dr. Garcia is actively involved in both pre-doctoral and postdoctoral teaching. Her academic pursuits include a diploma in University Teaching and Education, reflecting her dedication to advancing innovative teaching methodologies and curriculum initiatives in the field of periodontics.

As the department chair, Dr. Garcia plays a pivotal role in faculty professional development, mentorship, and fostering external collaborations for research endeavors. She has contributed significantly to clinical and educational research, participating in various projects funded by private industry and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including the Human Microbiome Project, and was the SIU PI of the multi-center study supported by the NIH-NIDCR entitled Biomarkers of periodontal disease progression. These research efforts have culminated in numerous publications.

Dr. Garcia's contributions to the dental community have earned her prestigious accolades, including membership in the OKU Dental Honor Society, fellowship in the International College of Dentists, and recognition as a fellow of the American Dental Association-ADEA Leadership Institute. In 2017, she was honored as the ADEA Enid Neidle Scholar. Acknowledged for her outstanding contributions to inclusion, equity, and diversity, Dr. Garcia was named a SIUE Phenomenal Woman in 2020. Subsequently, in 2022, she received the American Academy of Periodontology Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring in Periodontics at Saint Louis University. Notably, Dr. Garcia was a runner-up for the one-time piece ADEA President Centennial Award for Oral Health Education.

Beyond her academic and research roles, Dr. Garcia actively serves the dental community. She is a test constructor for the Integrated National Board Dental Examination for the American Dental Association and contributes to the American Academy of Periodontology's Educational Committee. Dr. Garcia holds leadership roles as the chair-elect of the ADEA Women in Leadership Section, the SIU-ADEA Woman Liaison Officer, and a representative to the ADEA Council of Faculties. She also co-chairs the American Dental Education Association - ADEA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and is a member of the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment group. She was recently invited to be part of the ADEA Task Force on Envisioning and Transforming the Future of Oral Health and Education. Dr. Garcia's commitment to diversity is further evidenced by her certification as a Diversity Facilitrainer (CDFT) by NCCJ Saint Louis.

Dr. López-Fuentes, D.M.D., M.P.H., FACD, FICD; is a tenured Professor, at the Community Dentistry Section of the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (UPRSDM). She is currently the 2024-2025 Immediate Past-Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors, 2023-2024 Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors.Dr. López-Fuentes served as Dean of the UPRSDM from 2014-2018. At the UPRSDM, she serves as President of the Infection Control and Quality Assurance Standing Committees. She earned a certificate in dental infection prevention and control fromOSAP and the DALE Foundation. She is a member of the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment (CDECA), and UPRSDM’s ADEA Women Liaison Officer since 2006. She is Site Visitor for the ADA Commission on DentalAccreditation (CODA), and Ex-officio member/Consultant to the Board of Trustees of the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA). Dr. López serves as faculty advisor to the HDA and the American Association of Women Dentists Student Chapters.

Dr. López-Fuentes served as Co-Chair of ADEA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee from 2014-2021, ADEA’s Annual Session Program Committee (2018-2021),Immediate Past Chair of ADEA’s Women in Leadership Section, and Councilor to the Council of Sections representing the Women in Leadership Section. From 2018 to 2019,represented the HDA in the American Dental Association Presidents’ Summit for Diversity and Inclusion. She served as faculty advisor to the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), fellowship from 2018-2022.

Dr. López-Fuentes has served as faculty representative to the Academic Senate at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, to ADEA’s Council of Faculties, UPRSDM Curriculum
Director, Community Dentistry Section Chief and UPRSDM Associate Dean. At the university level, she represented the Medical Sciences Campus (MSC), Academic Senate at the President’s Board and was appointed Executive Secretary to the UPR President’s Board. She directed the first dental assistant program at the University of Granada, Spain; resulting from a collaboration between the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Granada, Spain. Dr. López-Fuentes is an alumnus of several leadership programs: ADEA’s Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders, ELAM and the Bell Leadership Institute.

As Dean of the UPRSDM, she was instrumental in amending the local dental law, implementing the electronic health record, the approval of the Periodontics Graduate
program and the first Dean of the UPRSDM to be elected to ADEA’s Council of Deans Administrative Board. She is the Recipient of the 2018 Chair of the ADEA Board of
Directors Citation for significant contributions to dental education.

Dr. Carlos Smith is the inaugural Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence, Ethics, and Community Engagement and an Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. A national voice in dentaland health professions education, he is a member of the board of directors of the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care and currently serves as President-Elect of the American Society for Dental Ethics. An active ADEA member, he has served on the Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment, which led the first ever dental education-wide climate stud. He has served as previous chair of the section on Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues, and was recently elected secretary of the section on Minority Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion. Also an ordained clergy, Smith completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Duke Medical Center, with emphasis on providing care and crisis management to families of cardiac pediatric patients. A sought after speaker, he has provided keynote and seminar presentations for the National Dental Association, ADA, American College of Dentists, ADEA, Virginia Health Catalyst, Virginia Dental Association, dental schools, hospital systems, and oral health advocacy groups. He has a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. He graduated from Hampton University, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and Duke Divinity School. His scholarly activity currently focuses on conceptualizing a reimagined professionalism inclusive of critical consciousness and identity, the history of racism in healthcare, inclusive excellence in dental education, and provider wellbeing and burnout. Dr. Smith continues as a general dentist within the VCU Dental Faculty Practice, is co-advisor to the VCU chapter of SNDA and supports the Aligned and Allied student group.

Dr. Katherine Velasco, a Colombian national, graduated in dentistry in 1998, spent 10 years in private practice and served the community for three years in Colombia. Later, she became part of the educational force of the Dental Academy where she instructed more than 900 students at Roseman University, during which time she received recognition as outstanding faculty and faculty of the year.

Dr Velasco has been included in the bibliographical compendium of who's who in America as a person of interest who has dedicated part of her life to the improvement of the profession and dental education.

Currently Dr. Velasco is an assistant professor and clinical team leader in the International Graduate Dental - IDG -program at NOVA Southeastern University and serves on the student progress committee, and practice dentistry one day a week.

Dr. Velasco, having only been at NSU for a short time, she already obtained the dean's award for diversity, integrity, leadership, and excellence.

In addition to her academic career, Dr. Katherine Velasco is an active member of ADEA where she has been Chair of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care IPECC and currently the Chair-Elect of Minorities Affairs Diversity and Inclusion Section.

Dr. Velasco is an active member of the Hispanic Dental Association where she fulfills different leadership roles at the national, state, and institutional levels.

Her greatest satisfaction is seeing others progress and succeed in something she was able to contribute to.

Dr. Velasco knows how to balance work and family life, she enjoys the beach, hiking, painting, doing projects, and exploring new places.

Dr. Tanya Wright is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist who graduated from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN.  She completed her oral pathology residency training at The New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens in Flushing, NY. Dr. Wright has shared her expertise in oral and maxillofacial pathology with numerous students and residents. Currently, she is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Surgical Dentistry at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. 

Dr. Kimberly Ruona serves as the dental director for Harris Health System’s Community Dental Services. Since 2020, she has led the partnership and clinical practice team that provides general dentistry in six community health centers across the Houston metropolitan area. Dr. Ruona is an assistant professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry where she was the Associate Dean for Patient Care from 2015-2020. Prior to relocating to Houston in 2010, she practiced in northern Michigan and Washington state. She is a proud 1992 graduate of University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Speaker agrees that neither I nor any member of my family have a financial arrangement or affiliation with any corporate organization offering financial support or grant monies for this continuing education program, nor do I have a financial interest in any commercial products(s) or service(s) I will discuss in the presentation.

Dr. Thomas A. Servos, Professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health was appointed Chief Clinical Officer of UT Dentists, the clinical practice enterprise, in July 2021. 

In this role, Dr. Servos oversees the UT Dentists’ clinical operations which consists of the clinical practice plan located at UTHealth Houston, School of Dentistry, and a dental service line consisting of multiple community dental clinics through a UT Dentists collaboration. He supports ongoing initiatives and progress as UT Dentists continue with expansion efforts into the Houston and surrounding area.

UT Dentists was established in 2006, and Dr. Servos served as their first Clinic Director and he also served as Director of Patient Assessment, Vice-Chair of the former Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Interim Head of Radiology.

Dr. Servos was raised in Houston and graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio Dental School in 1983.  Upon graduation Dr. Servos practiced in the Houston Medical Center until he joined the UT Health Houston School of Dentistry in 1995.

Dr. John A. Valenza is dean and professor of the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD) where he has been a member of the full-time faculty since 1987. He has served in numerous administrative roles, including GPR director, clinical dean, department chair, executive associate dean and, since 2009, dean. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, and a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Greater Houston Dental Society, American Dental Education Association and the American Association of Hospital Dentists.