5 dentists to know

Five dentists making moves in the industry:

Editor's note: This list is meant to highlight notable things dentists are doing. If you would like to recommend a dentist for a future list, please email Riz Hatton at rhatton@beckershealthcare.com.

Tom Blake, DDS. Blake Aesthetics Family Dentistry (Fort Wayne, Ind.). In April, Dr. Blake was named president-elect of the Indiana Dental Association. He is the owner of Blake Aesthetics Family Dentistry.

Heera Chang, DDS, MD. Hawaii Dental Service. In May, Dr. Chang was appointed as the first female dental director of dental benefits provider Hawaii Dental Service. She previously served as an associate surgeon at Oahu Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Honolulu.

Rosa Roldan, DMD, MD. Liberty Dental Plan. Dr. Roldan was appointed as Liberty Dental Plan's chief dental officer in May. She is a pediatric dentist and physician.

Alexandre Vieira, DDS, PhD. University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Vieira is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in the department of oral and craniofacial sciences. The American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research appointed him as president for 2023-24 in April.

Cynthia Wong, DMD. Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center. In April, Dr. Wong was named chair of pediatric dentistry of the Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is an associate professor and alumna of the university.

Checkout out the dentists previously recognized by Becker's:

Sulman Ahmed, DMD. DECA Dental Group: Dr. Ahmed is the CEO, founder and chair of DECA Dental Group, a clinician-led DSO. He was named president of the Association of Dental Support Organizations in March.

Marcelo Araujo, DDS, PhD. American Dental Association: Dr. Araujo currently serves as chief science officer of the American Dental Association and CEO of the ADA Science & Research Institute. On May 15, he will begin his new role as dean of the University at Buffalo (N.Y.) School of Dental Medicine.

Tonya Cook, DMD. Star Community Health (Allentown, Pa.): Dr. Cook was recently appointed to be Star Community Health's first chief dental officer. She oversees Star Community Health's dentists, dental residents and dental hygienists at three clinics and three mobile dental vans.

Joshua Segal, DDS. Staten Island University Hospital (New York City): Dr. Segal was recently appointed chair of the dental medicine department at Staten Island University Hospital. He previously served as program director of the oral and maxillofacial residency program at New York City-based Long Island Jewish Medical Center of Northwell Health.

Victoria Yu, DDS. Walmart Health. Dr. Yu joined Walmart Health as its chief dental officer in March. She previously served as the chief clinical officer of Mid-Atlantic Dental Partners, a DSO that was acquired by Sonrava Health in 2022.

Vladana Babcic Tal, DMD. Cameo Dental Specialists (Chicago). Dr. Babcic Tal was appointed chief clinical officer of Specialized Dental, the parent company of US Endo Partners and Specialized Dental Partners, in February. She is also a practicing endodontist at Cameo Dental Specialists.

Tan Bui, DDS. Sage Dental. Dr. Bui is the lead dentist at Sage Dental' Woodstock, Ga., office which opened in January. Prior to his dental career, he served in the Marine Corps from 2007 to 2011.

Michael Crowton, DDS. Crowton Dental (Ogden, Utah). Dr. Crowton is the owner of Crowton Dental. He affiliated his practice with Gen4 Dental in January.

Atoosa Nikaeen, DDS. Nikaeen Orthodontics (Los Angeles). Dr. Nikaeen is the owner of Nikaeen Orthodontics. She opened a second California location in Woodland Hills in February.

Kimberley Wu, DMD. D4C Dental Brands. In February, Dr. Wu was appointed executive vice president and national clinical director of orthodontics at D4C Dental Brands. She is an affiliate practice owner with the DSO and previously served as clinical director of California.

Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, PhD. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Dental Medicine (Alton): Dr. Drukteinis was appointed dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Dental Medicine in January. He previously served as a professor and associate dean for academic affairs at the school.

Howard Howell, DDS. Harvard School of Dental Medicine (Boston): Dr Howell will be retiring from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine at the end of January after serving the school for more than 45 years. At the school, he served as a course director, led literature reviews, participated in national and international symposia and oversaw student teaching clinics.

William Lobb, DDS. Marquette University School of Dentistry (Milwaukee): After serving Marquette University School of Dentistry for nearly 30 years, Dr. Lobb is the longest-serving dental school dean in the country. He will be retiring from his position June 30.

Angelo Mariotti, DDS, PhD. Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry: Dr. Mariotti began serving as dean of the Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry Jan. 3. He was previously a professor and department of periodontology chair at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in Columbus.

Theresa Wang, DDS. ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers: In January, Dr. Wang was selected to be the chief clinical and development officer of ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers. She has been a part of ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers since 2012, when she was the owner and lead prosthodontist at a center in Schaumburg, Ill.

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