Dr. Hiroe Ohyama is an Associate Professor and Predoctoral Director of Operative Dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). She earned her DDS from Tohoku University, her MMSc and DMD from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and her PhD in Oral Biology from the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Ohyama joined the faculty in Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at HSDM where she developed a strong passion for teaching alongside her research activities. Dr. Ohyama’s work focuses on student-centered learning and evidence-based operative dentistry. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards recognizing excellence in teaching, research, and patient care, including the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Excellence in Teaching Award, the HSDM Distinguished Faculty Award, the Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Award, , and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Stephen H. Leeper Teaching Award. Dr. Ohyama also serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Dental Education and is a graduate of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute.

Dr. Tatiyana Trowbridge, D.D.S., M.Ed., is an Associate Professor and Director of Preclinical Faculty at the Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona. She earned her DDS from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and a Master of Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Trowbridge provides academic leadership for preclinical faculty and curriculum, overseeing simulation-based education and the development of foundational clinical competencies for dental students. She teaches extensively in the simulation clinic and didactic curriculum and serves as course director for Dental Anesthesia, where she developed integrated didactic, simulation and clinical training experiences. Dr. Trowbridge has led multiple curricular innovations, including OSCE and competency assessment improvements, implant and anesthesia training initiatives, and expanded function dental auxiliary education programs. She is an active contributor to dental education scholarship with peer-reviewed publications in the Journal of Dental Education and regularly presents continuing education programs. Her leadership and commitment to teaching excellence have been recognized with multiple institutional awards and fellowship in the American College of Dentists.

Dr. Panagakos received his DMD from UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (now Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine) and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (now the Rutgers University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences) in 1992. He received his Master’s in Education from Seton Hall University in 1999 and his Master’s in Business Administration from Lehigh University in 2007.

Dr. Panagakos was a full-time faculty member at New Jersey Dental School for 13 years, holding several administrative positions, including Group Practice Administrator, Director of Environmental Safety, and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He also maintained a private dental practice in Westfield and Newark, NJ during this time.

In June 2005, He joined the Colgate Palmolive Oral Care Clinical Research Department as an Associate Director. He worked at Colgate until September 2017 as the Global Director of Scientific Affairs.

In August 2018, Dr. Panagakos joined the West Virginia University School of Dentistry as the Associate Dean for Research, where he led the institution’s research efforts. He served as interim dean from July 2020 until May 2021.

Since May 2022, Dr. Panagakos has been the Founding Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, WA.

Dr. Margrit Maggio is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Workman School of Dental Medicine. She is a Clinical Professor and also serves as the Director of Simulation Learning. She joined High Point University in 2024 before their first cohort of students began. Prior to that, Dr. Maggio had been a dental educator at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine for 28 years where she served as Director of Preclinical Education, Director of Operative Dentistry, a Clinical Primary Care Unit Leader, and a Faculty Practice clinician. Dr. Maggio has over 20 years of experience in the use of advanced simulation technology as well as haptics technology in dental education for psychomotor skill training. 

Dr. Frank W. Licari has been dean and professor of the Roseman University College of Dental Medicine since 2013. He has over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator and clinician. From 2019-2021, he simultaneously served as the interim chancellor of the Roseman University Utah campus. He previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and professor at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois, and has also held several leadership positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, Marquette University School of Dentistry and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). He is an internationally known speaker, author and consultant. Dr. Licari has worked with over 80 dental schools on curriculum development, student competency assessment, accreditation, and faculty development in the United States, Canada, Chile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He formerly served as the chair of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and as chair of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Dr. Licari holds three advanced degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), including Doctor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health, and Master of Business Administration. He has been recognized with the International Association of Top Professionals as Top Academic Leader of the Decade, Utah Business Health Care Hero Award for Innovation, UIC Distinguished Dental Alumnus Award, Pierre Fauchard Certificate of Merit, memberships in Delta Omega, Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Sigma Xi honor societies, and fellowships with the Pierre Fauchard Academy, American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.