Special Interest Groups
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2025-26 ADEA Special Interest Groups
An ADEA Special Interest Group (SIG) is a group of ADEA members with similar professional specialties who come together to exchange ideas and keep themselves informed about current and discrete developments in the field of dental education. The activities of an ADEA SIG are planned by its members and elected officers and provide a clear indication of the diverse interests and needs of its members.
Through participation in an ADEA SIG, you can help design what, in essence, are small professional organizations within the association. Only ADEA members can belong to an ADEA SIG, though each member can belong to as many SIGs as desired.
The goals and objectives of this Special Interest Group are to provide a forum for faculty to communicate about the various aspects of integrating CAD/CAM into dental curriculum for the betterment of their universities.
Community email: adea-SIGCadCamTech@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Michelle Thompson, D.D.S.
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
michelle.a.thompson@uth.tmc.edu
Chair-elect
Onkamon Budsabong, D.D.S.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
onkamonb@bu.edu
Secretary
Alexandra Rodriguez, D.D.S., M.S.
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
alerod@uic.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Career Development for the New Educator addresses the teaching, service, research and professional development needs of recently appointed dental and allied dental faculty.
Community email: adea-SIGCareerDev@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Khairunisa Hashmani, Ed.D., M.A., RDH
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
Khairunisa.M.Hashmani@uth.tmc.edu
Chair-elect
Clarissa Souza Gomes da Fontoura, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
fontoura@umich.edu
Secretary
Kimberly Lintag-Nguyen, Ed.D., M.S.D.H., RDH
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
lintagkb@vcu.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Dental Hygiene Clinical Coordinators addresses issues affecting the clinical aspect of dental hygiene.
Community email: adea-SIGDHCC@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Jessica Suedbeck, RDH, B.S., M.S.D.H.
Old Dominion University School of Dental Hygiene
jsuedbec@odu.edu
Chair-elect
Ashley Hobbs, RDH, B.S.D.H., M.S., ECP II
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry
ajhobbs@umkc.edu
Secretary
Heather Tuthill, M.P.H., RDH
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
hmtuthill@vcu.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Forensic Odontology and Forensic Science promotes knowledge among dental educators regarding the rights and responsibilities of the dental professional when assisting legal agencies as experts regarding the oral and paraoral structures.
Community email: ADEA-SIGFOFS@ConnectedCommunity.org
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Graduate Dental Hygiene Education Programs explores and examines opportunities, challenges and best practices in admissions, recruitment, curricula and scholarship related to graduate dental hygiene education.
Community email: adea-SIGGradDenHyEd@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Jennifer Brame, RDH, M.S., Ed.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry
jennifer_brame@unc.edu
Chair-elect
Amber Hunt, B.S.D.H., M.S., RDH
Old Dominion University
awalter@odu.edu
Secretary
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Internationally Educated Oral Health Professionals provides a forum for administrators, staff and faculty involved in the formation, teaching or administration of international dental programs to meet and communicate information and concerns of mutual interest, and to represent, assist, and advocate on behalf of our internationally educated colleagues.
Community email: adea-SIGIEOHP@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Shirin Khoynezhad, D.D.S., D.M.Sc.
Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry
skhoyn@lsuhsc.edu
Chair-elect
Sohini Dhar, B.D.S., M.P.H., FICD
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
dhar@uthscsa.edu
Secretary
TBD
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care explores and shares resources focused on interprofessional education and laboratory coursework and promotes activities and curricula for dental professionals to collaborate and communicate with other health care professionals to enhance patient safety.
Community email: adea-SIGIPECC@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Abrielle Lamphere, RDH, M.S.
Indiana University School of Dentistry
alampher@iu.edu
Chair-elect
Samantha Parad, D.M.D., RN, PNAP
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Samantha.Parad@tufts.edu
Secretary
Lara Coseo, D.D.S.
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
thurman@tamu.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Lasers in Dentistry is a forum to explore the safe and effective use of lasers in all areas of dentistry and to help integrate and evaluate the knowledge and skills required to use all laser light technologies and techniques within the dental curriculum and practice.
Community email: adea-SIGLasers@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Gregory Schuster, D.D.S., M.Ed.
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona
gschus@midwestern.edu
Chair-elect
Natalia Elson, D.D.S.
NYU College of Dentistry
ne354@nyu.edu
Secretary
Aous A. Abdulmajeed, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
aabdulmajeed@vcu.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Sustainability in Dentistry focuses on the need for oral health care providers to recognize and act on the environmental impact of the dental profession and the oral and systemic health impacts of climate change.
Community email: ADEA-SIGSustain@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Jennifer Luca, D.M.D.
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
leejenn94@gmail.com
Chair-elect
Ivy Lin, D.M.D., M.P.H.
University of Washington School of Dentistry
ivylin2@uw.edu
Secretary
Lisa Greene, D.D.S.
Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry
greeneli@ohsu.edu
The ADEA Special Interest Group on Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technology focuses on the exploration of and use of new and emerging technologies, and their use in dental education teaching and learning.
Community email: adea-SIGTeachLearnET@ConnectedCommunity.org
Chair
Hugo Campos, D.D.S., D.M.D., M.S.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
hugo.campos@tufts.edu
Chair-elect
Angelica Gil-Levin, D.D.S., D.M.D.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
angelicamaria75@aol.com
Secretary
Michael Lampe, Ed.D.
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
michael.lampe@cuanschutz.edu