ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Ms. Bell is a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Dental Hygiene Studies and serves as Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education (IPE) at Pacific University. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dental hygiene from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry.

Ms. Bell joined Pacific University as a full-time faculty member in 2010 and teaches both junior and senior students. In her role as Associate Dean for IPE, she oversees foundational IPE educational programming, promotes scholarship in IPE and works to establish external collaborations for the IPE program at Pacific University. Ms. Bell serves on the editorial review board for the Journal of Dental Hygiene and is former Chair of the Research Grant Review Committee of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). She has taught many continuing education courses and has published extensively.

She is an active member of ADHA, ADEA and Sigma Phi Alpha.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Botta is an Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. She serves as the Director of the Division of Operative and Dental Materials and as Course Director of Cariology and Operative Dentistry.

Dr. Botta earned her D.D.S. and advanced degrees (M.S. and Ph.D.) in Operative Dentistry from São Paulo State University, Brazil. She was also a visiting research scholar at Case Western Reserve University. She was awarded with a fellowship from the Leaders in Medical Education Fellowship Program, a 16-month faculty development program designed to support outstanding scholars, educators and leaders within Stony Brook University and throughout the community.

Dr. Botta has didactic, clinical and research experience in ergonomics, cariology, dental bonding, CAD/CAM technology and restorative materials. She is also a member of several organizations and committees and is currently acting as Chair of the Clinical Technology Product Review Committee.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Bottino is a tenured Associate Professor and Director of the Postgraduate Program in Regenerative Dentistry (Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics Department) at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

He has received Young Investigator Awards from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), the prestigious Clinician-Scientist Career Award and R01 grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as numerous foundation-sponsored grants. He is currently a member of the Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Study Section of NIH.

Dr. Bottino has been the principal investigator for several NIH, foundations and industry grants. He is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials and the President of the Dental Materials Group of the IADR. He is a member of the editorial boards of several journals, including the Journal of Endodontics, and consistently publishes in top-tier tissue-engineering journals.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Brownstein received her D.M.D. from the University of Florida School of Dentistry in 2000 and practiced general dentistry until 2009, when she began her academic career at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry. She has been at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona for the past 10 years and is currently serves as the Director of Preclinical Faculty.

Dr. Brownstein directs or co-directs more than 15 courses and is active in curriculum construction and research. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Arizona Dental Association, the International and American Associations for Dental Research, the American Dental Education Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society.

Dr. Brownstein is a 2016 Costin Leadership Institute graduate and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. She completed a Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree from Northern Arizona University in December 2019.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Chung is a Research Professor and the Director of SURF Research Program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry (UW SOD). She obtained her Ph.D. in Pathobiology from the University of Washington and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in UW SOD.

In addition to SURF Research Program, Dr. Chung directs two Foundations Curriculum for predoctoral students, focusing on molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and microbiology. She also participates in postdoctoral teaching and training. Her research areas are oral innate immunity, epigenetic regulations in periodontal health and disease and novel antimicrobials in dentistry—for which she holds a patent. Her research expertise has yielded over 125 published manuscripts, book chapters and presentations.

In addition to her teaching and research responsibilities, she contributes her time to the UW Faculty Senate as well as the UW Faculty Council and she is an officer of the regional chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the National Dental Honor Society.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Danciu is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She received her D.M.D., D.M.Sc. and certificate in oral and maxillofacial pathology (OMP) from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

She is an alumna of the Harvard Macy Institute, where she enhanced her expertise in conducting innovative educational research. She is the Director of the OMP Biopsy Service, maintains an active practice in diagnostic surgical and clinical oral pathology and holds leadership positions in her specialty. Dr. Danciu’s main research areas of expertise are translational studies of oral epithelial dysplasia, health learning system technologies for chronic pain and ADEA-funded educational research.

Dr. Danciu leads several studies on curriculum innovation and assessment and is the recipient of renowned teaching awards at Harvard and the University of Michigan.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Dehghan is a graduate of Texas A&M College of Dentistry. She is currently a tenured Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of General Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry.

She has held several national leadership positions, including as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association for Women Dentists ([AAWD] 2017-19), an AAWD representative for the American Dental Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2016-18) and as a member of the University Relations Committee of the AACD (2014-17).

Dr. Dehghan also served on the Academy of General Dentistry/Glasko Task Force “to determine guidelines for detection and treatment of tooth erosion” (2016-18). She has received several national awards for her research and service, including the 2018 UT Research Foundation Maturation Fund, the 2015 AAWD Procter & Gamble and Gillette Hayden Memorial Foundation award and the 2015 American Dental Association Council of Dental Education Scholarship. Her recent articles have been published in several professional dental journals including the Journal of General Dentistry.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Fenesy is Vice Dean of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine. She oversees Academic & Student Affairs; Admissions, Diversity & Inclusion; Registrar; Support Services; Pre- & Postdoctoral Curriculums; Continuing Education; Faculty Development and the Office of Institutional Assessment. On a university level, she has led the strategic planning of Interprofessional Education (IPE) curriculums.

Dr. Fenesy was awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) $2.5-million grant for the “Special Populations Interprofessional Care Experiences” (SPICE) program, which built the foundation for IPE in eight health professions and social work curriculums, positively impacting vulnerable populations. SPICE resulted in publication in the Journal of Dental Education and national presentations and webinars through ADEA, HRSA and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative.

Dr. Fenesy was appointed as one of six dental faculty to the ADEA Compendium of Clinical Competency Workgroup, an initiative to modernize the dental licensure process. In 2017, she received the Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors Citation for her significant contributions to dental education and to ADEA.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Ferguson is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (Columbia CDM). She is the Clinic Director of OMS and Course Director for the second-year Introduction to OMS series and teaches oral surgery (third year), local anesthesia and facial pain management as well as anesthesia simulation. 

Dr. Ferguson was recently selected as Secretary of the ADEA Section on OMS, Anesthesiology and Hospital Administration. She was also selected for the 2016 ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders.

Dr. Ferguson was awarded Columbia University’s 2018 Edward V. Zegarelli Award and the Henry Sage Dunning Award in June 2017 and June 2019, respectively—both for teaching. Dr. Ferguson is a Chair on the Columbia CDM’s Pharmacy Committee and serves on various academic committees. She maintains a busy clinical and faculty practice. She received her D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, completed her OMS residency at the Naval Medical Center and attained the rank of Naval Commander.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Garcia is the Department Chair of Applied Dental Medicine and Head of Periodontics at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Graduate Periodontics Program at Saint Louis University (SLU). She received her D.D.S. and diploma of Specialist in Periodontics from the Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. She also obtained a diploma in Teaching and a certificate in University Teaching Skills from SLU.

Dr. Garcia has participated in many research initiatives, including the Human Microbiome Project with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomarkers of Periodontal Disease Progression Study with National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

As the 2017 ADEA Enid Neidle Scholar, she conducted a study to analyze the association between gender and NIH award(s) in dental academia. She has been honored as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and the International College of Dentists. She is serving ADEA in the Council of Faculties, as a member of the Dental Industry Association of Canada and as a Southern Illinois University Women Liaison officer. She also serves the American Dental Association as a test constructor.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Givan joined the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (UAB SOD) in 1998 where he is a Professor, Associate Chair for the Department of Restorative Sciences, Division Director of Prosthodontics, and Director of Digital Dentistry and Clinical Laboratory Services. He received his D.M.D. from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry in 1992 and completed a general practice residency followed by a residency in prosthodontics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics (ABP) and earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with emphasis in dental materials from UAB SOD. He is actively involved in clinical research and application of technology to dentistry in the graduate and undergraduate curricula. He has lectured nationally and internationally on occlusion, implantology and digital dentistry.

Dr. Givan has served as the elected chair of his school faculty multiple times and is active in policy and shared governance. He is Chair of the university-wide Faculty Policies and Procedures Committee and a member of the Executive Council of the University Faculty Senate. He maintains an active faculty practice limited to prosthodontics and is a member of numerous professional organizations. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP). He has held numerous leadership positions at ACP and is Secretary of the Board of Directors. He is also Chair of the Council for ABP.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Godley is the Vice Chair of the Restorative Clinical Sciences Department and the Director of the Somers Clinic at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (UMKC SOD). He received his D.M.D. at the University of Florida School of Dentistry in 1997. He worked in private practice in Naples, FL until he moved to Kansas City, MO to become an Assistant Clinical Professor at UMKC SOD. In 2017, he went back to school and received his Master of Education in Integrated Curriculum from the American College of Education.

Dr. Godley has received numerous teaching awards and was honored as a 2018 Fellow of American College of Dentists. He is a board member of the Greater Kansas City Dental Society and is a delegate to the Missouri Dental Association House of Delegates. He has served as a test constructor for the National Board Dental Examinations Part II and the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination for the American Dental Association.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Goolsby is an Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, Director of Student Recruitment, Course Director for Cariology and a member of the clinical faculty in predoctoral clinics at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry (VCU SOD).

She led state and nationwide recruitment efforts for VCU SOD’s D.D.S. program to obtain highly competitive applicants from diverse backgrounds with diverse interests and to provide leadership and support for the school and university career-pipeline programs. She also is implementing a goal to increase student diversity among underrepresented and marginalized students from 2% in the class of 2018 to 15% for 2023.

She participated in the ADEA AAL Exceptional Executive Leadership for Women in 2016, the ADEA/W.K. Kellogg Foundation Minority Dental Faculty Development and Inclusion Program in 2016 and the AAL Chairs & Academic Administrators Management Program in 2018. Dr. Goolsby has also been Faculty Chair at VCU SOD, a member of the Board of Directors for the CAMBRA Coalition and a member of the ADEA AADSAS® Advisory Group.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Haley graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry (UIC COD) in 2007. He practiced full time for five years prior to joining UIC COD faculty in 2012, where he is Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Group Facilitation. His role in Group Facilitation involves overseeing the development, implementation and evaluation of active learning educational environments within UIC COD, including team-based learning, problem-based learning and small group learning-based courses and course components.

Dr. Haley will earn a Master of Education in Health Professions degree in May 2020 from Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in Leadership. In addition to teaching at UIC COD, he practices dentistry and acts as a preceptor at Howard Brown Health in Chicago, an organization dedicated to eliminating disparities in health care experienced by members of the LGBTQ community.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Horvath is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (Pitt SDM).

As the Director of Faculty Development at Pitt, her responsibilities include overseeing, designing and implementing a comprehensive faculty development program at the university. She created a two-year Academic Career Track Area of Concentration certificate program to train future dental educators at the predoctoral level. She offers various courses in didactic and clinical teaching as well as educational research.

She regularly publishes in the Journal of Dental Education and other peer-reviewed publication venues. She served as Principal Investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded Center of Excellence in Pain Education: Pain Challenges in Primary Care and oversaw the development of virtual cases in pain education and their interprofessional implementation in five health sciences schools. Dr. Horvath has served on and chaired numerous committees at local and national levels.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Kabani is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry (Texas A&M Dentistry). He directs undergraduate dental hygiene research at the college and leads several student research projects. He enjoys teaching to diverse learning styles in didactic and clinical environments. Under his mentorship, students achieved accolades at state and national competitions for three consecutive years and have published in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Kabani graduated with a dual M.H.A./M.B.A. from University of Texas at Arlington. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. His research focuses on cultural competence, evidence-based practice and educational research. Dr. Kabani has a passion for faculty development and diversity and inclusion in dental education. He chairs and participates in several related initiatives at Texas A&M Dentistry.

Dr. Kabani has received ADEA’s Junior Faculty Award, Texas A&M Dentistry’s Teaching Excellence Award, Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Teaching Award for Interprofessional Excellence and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Educator of the Year Award.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Khan is Director of Student Affairs and Professionalism at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU SDM). An Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at CU SDM, she is also Co-Director of the Comprehensive Care Clinic and Cariology.

Dr. Khan is a member of the Admissions Committee, Faculty Senate and the Advisor of the Women’s Dental Club at CU. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at NYU College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) and did her general practice residency at Montefiore Medical Center. She practiced as a full-time associate dentist in New York, a part-time faculty member at NYU Dentistry and as an instructor in simulation courses and Patient Care Clinics at the College. She served on Admissions and as an advisor for Xi Psi Phi National Dental Fraternity.

Recently, she participated in the ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders and is enrolled in the CU’s School of Business master’s degree program. Dr. Khan maintains membership in the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Metro Denver Dental Society, ADEA, Academy of General Dentistry, CAMBRA and International College of Dentists.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Lakhani is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at Boston University Henry. M Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). She received her D.M.D in 2006 and completed her residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at GSDM. She is currently working as a private-practice clinician and as a Practice Leader at the school.

Dr. Lakhani is an integral part of the Continuing Education (CE) Committee at GSDM and has been invited to lead many CE courses. She has also been a CAD/CAM mentor for the Dental Assistant Training & International Preceptorship program. Dr. Lakhani participates in research programs and has initiated a research project, The Impact of Peer Mentoring on the Professional Development of Dental Students.

In 2019, she was awarded a scholarship for the Advancement of Women Faculty in Clinical Professions by AAL’s Institute of Teaching and Learning. She was also inducted as a Fellow in the prestigious International College of Dentists.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. McLaren is an Associate Professor of Dentistry and Pediatrics at The Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester (URMC). He graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He then completed a two-year general practice residency program and a pediatric dentistry residency program at The Eastman Institute for Oral Health at URMC.

He has been a Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director and is currently the Chair of Pediatric Dentistry at the Institute. Dr. McLaren has helped develop a teledentistry program at the Institute and has spoken and published on the use of teledentistry.

He is a board-certified pediatric dentist, member of the American Dental Association, ADEA, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Panchal received his D.D.S. from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and his M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Panchal also earned a Master’s degree in Science Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University. He competed his Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern/Parkland Hospital.

He currently is Section Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Section Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Panchal’s clinical interests include maxillofacial reconstruction, dental implantology, craniofacial trauma and trigeminal nerve surgery.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Pfeifer is Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry, serving as Course Director for Dental Materials. She is also a graduate faculty member of Pediatric Dentistry and Biomedical Engineering. She obtained her D.D.S. and Ph.D. in 2001 and 2007, respectively, from the University of São Paulo-Brazil.

Dr. Pfeifer then was a post-doctorate Fellow at the University of Colorado. She has over 85 publications in Dental Materials Sciences and Polymer Chemistry and serves as a standing member of National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) study section. She is involved in governance of the American Association for Dental Research, serving as Councilor from 2014 to 2017, a Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors, and as Group Program Chair. She has served as Secretary and President for the International Association for Dental Research’s Dental Materials Group and President of the Portland Section.

Dr. Pfeifer is a Fellow and Treasurer of the Academy of Dental Materials. Her research, which focuses on innovative polymeric materials, was recently funded with the prestigious NIDCR Award for Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research (R35).

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Quick is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (U of M SOD). She serves as Director of the Division of Dental Public Health and Director of Global Programs at U of M SOD. 

Prior to being named Director of the Division of Dental Public Health, she directed the Division of Comprehensive Care and co-chaired the Department of Primary Dental Care on an interim basis. Her research expertise and interests include academic learning environments, decision-making processes and health equity. She focuses her teaching on professional development, clinical ethics and interprofessional teams.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Ribeiro received her D.D.S. from University of Brasilia, Brazil in 2006. From 2007 to 2012, she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Oral Rehabilitation from São Paulo State University (UNESP). She became a tenured professor at the University of Brasilia’s Department of Dentistry in 2012 before joining the University of Florida College of Dentistry (UF COD) Department of Restorative Dental Sciences in the Operative Dentistry Division as a Clinical Assistant Professor in 2016.

She is currently the Director of Curriculum for the Department of Restorative Dental Sciences. She received the Exemplary Teaching Award from UF COD in 2018 and the UF Superior Accomplishment Award in 2019. She is still involved in research, particularly in the area of dental material biocompatibility, adhesive dentistry, cariology and educational/public health research. She is the Course Director for Operative I, Chair of the Student’s Affair Committee, Vice-Chair of Curriculum Committee, an ADEA Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education liaison for UF COD and member of Fellowship Committee for International Association for Dental Research.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Santos is a tenured Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Dental Education at Western University Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Schulich Dentistry). Dr. Santos earned his D.D.S. in 1986 and his Master of Science in Dental Clinics in 1999 from Federal University of Bahia in Brazil. He also earned his Ph.D. in Oral Rehabilitation in 2003 from the University of São Paulo with research credits from University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry.

Dr. Santos has served in many administrative capacities in Schulich Dentistry, including Assistant Director of Clinical Affairs, Chair of Continuing Dental Education and Chair of Division of Restorative Dentistry.

He was a recipient of the W.W. Wood Award for Excellence in Dental Education by the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. He has had more than 70 peer-reviewed articles published in international journals and mentored graduate and undergraduate students in the area of biomaterials research.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Seitz is an Associate Clinical Professor at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (UT Health SA SOD) and currently serves as Assistant Dean for Students. She graduated from UT Health SA SOD in 2003, after which she began her private practice. Later that year, Dr. Seitz became a part-time faculty member and, in 2010, she decided to devote all her efforts to the SOD.

Dr. Seitz’s focus is the school’s Digital Dentistry program. She also serves as Director for the Predoctoral Surgical Implant Selective. She served as Chair of the Curriculum Committee Years 3/4 and for the Commission of Dental Accreditation’s Accreditation Standard 3 Committee. In her role as Assistant Dean for Students, Dr. Seitz serves as Chair of the Scholarship Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the Academic Performance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and the Student/Faculty Relations Committee. Her primary ambition at SOD is student success.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Subar is an Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Director of the Special Care Clinic/Hospital Dentistry Program at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (Dugoni School). He serves on several committees at the University and the Dugoni School and is a tenured faculty member, teaching three core courses in the predoctoral program.

He has received numerous teaching awards, including the California Dental Association Foundation’s Annual Arthur A. Dugoni Faculty Award. In 2014, he became a Fellow of the American College of Dentists.

Dr. Subar graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He received his D.D.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry and completed his hospital training at the UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Subar took on additional studies and, in 2009, received his Doctor in Education and Professional Leadership from University of the Pacific’s Benerd School of Education.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Thomason is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU SDM) where she has been full-time faculty since 2013.

She was recently named Division Director for Comprehensive Care. She developed courses on critical appraisal of translational literature and is the Director of Pre-Clinical Hand Skills Acquisition. Dr. Thomason is a Past Officer in the ADEA SIG Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technologies.

She was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award in 2014 and 2018, the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015 and 2017, Outstanding Dental Didactic Instructor in 2016 and the Altruism Faculty Recognition Award in 2018. She was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society and named honorary alumnus of CU SDM in 2019.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. van der Hoeven joined University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston in 2012 after receiving her Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 2008 from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.

Dr. van der Hoeven directs and teaches many courses for dental, dental hygiene and graduate students. Research in Dr. van der Hoeven’s lab focuses on characterizing novel inhibitors of EGFR as therapeutics for the treatment of oral cancer. She has produced 17 peer-reviewed publications in esteemed journals, 29 published abstracts, 85 poster/oral presentations, one patent and contributed to a book chapter. Dr. van der Hoeven serves as the Councilor for the ADEA Section on Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

She is a graduate of the 2018 Institute for Teaching and Learning program by AAL and, in 2019, she was awarded the ADEA Faculty of Color Tuition Scholarship for Professional Development to attend the ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Leaders.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Rick Walter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Oral Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry (UNC SOD).

He is a native of Brazil, where he received his D.D.S. from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in January 2000. In 2005, Dr. Walter received his M.S. in Operative Dentistry from UNC SOD. He primarily taught Operative Dentistry at UNC SOD from 2005 to 2011. From 2011 to 2014, he was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he was a member of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences. In 2014, he returned to UNC SOD. Currently, Dr. Walter serves as Associate Dean for Clinical Education. Throughout his career, he has taught many preclinical and clinical courses in Operative Dentistry and published in the area of restorative dental materials.

He is co-editor of the textbook, Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, and an active reviewer for several dental journals.

ADEA Leadership Institute 
Class of 2021

Dr. Yelick is a tenured Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). She completed her Ph.D. in 1989, was a postdoctoral Fellow at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute from 1989 to 1991 and was a Research Associate at the Harvard Biological Laboratories from 1991 to 1993. She joined the Forsyth Institute as an Assistant Member of Staff in 1993 and as an instructor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Yelick was promoted to Associate Member of Staff in 2004. In 2006, she joined TUSDM as an Associate Professor with tenure and Director of the Division of Craniofacial and Molecular Genetics. She was promoted to full Professor in 2008. Dr. Yelick holds adjunct appointments in the TU Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She served as Program Leader for the Cancer Biology Program, Tufts Cancer Center and the Tufts Medical Center.

In 2018, Dr. Yelick was appointed Director of the Genetics Program at the Sackler School. Her research focuses on craniofacial and skeletal mineralized tissue development, disease and regeneration, using molecular genetic approaches in zebrafish. She also studies dental pulp derived stem cells and tissue engineering approaches for regenerative dentistry and medicine. Dr. Yelick has served on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant Review Panels since 1997, and for the National Science Foundation, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the March of Dimes. She reviews for dozens of journals including PNAS, Science, Development, Cell, Developmental Biology and the Journal of Dental Research.

Dr. Yelick has received NIH funding since 1990 and was awarded the 2004 William J. Geis Award in Biomaterials & Bioengineering Research and the 2017 IADR Distinguished Scientist Isaac Schour Memorial Award.