A collection of the best speakers available today, and they have never been assembled into one program like this one!
Dr. Rolf G. Behrents, DDS, MS, PhD, PhD (Hon)
Dr. Behrents is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Dental Education at St. Louis University where he also serves as Professor, Program Director, and Chair of the Department of Orthodontics.
Rolf G. Behrents received a B.A. from St. Olaf College, his dental training at Meharry Medical College, and his orthodontic training and Master of Science degree from Case Western Reserve University. He received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan for work conducted at the Center for Human Growth and Development. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary degree (Doctor Honoris Causa) by the University of Athens in Greece. In 2003, he was elected Chair Emeritus of the Planning and Review Committee for the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. He has received several awards for his research, has authored and co-authored numerous articles pertaining to clinical orthodontics and facial growth, and has lectured extensively across the country and abroad. He served on the faculty of Case Western Reserve University from 1978 to 1984. He joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1984 and served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthodontics until 1997. From 1998 to 2003 he was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry. He continues to serves as a Research Associate at the Bolton-Brush Growth Study Center of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, as a Research Scientist in the Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, and Co-Director of the G.O.R.P. (Graduate Orthodontic Residents Program).
Debbie Best, BS, MBA
Debbie Best, a practice management consultant and co-founder of Consulting Network has over 34 years of experience in the dental and orthodontic field. Debbie facilitates workshops and lectures throughout the United States and abroad and has authored a line of customizable manuals for administrative systems and marketing. As a part of her consulting program, Debbie evaluates practices to develop a strategic plan to enhance patient care and increase productivity. She designs customized schedules to fit each practice's needs and focuses on the role of the front desk team, financial controls, anti-embezzlement protocol and practice building.
Laurie Crane
Laurie Crane has worked in the practice of Dr. Michael Rogers for more than 22 years as practice manager, treatment coordinator, and certified orthodontic assistant. She was speaker at the 2004, 2005 and 2006 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Sessions, and the 2003 SAO meeting.
Dr. Terry Dischinger, DDS
Terry Dischinger is considered nationally as a leader in both functional jaw orthopedics and orthodontic technology and has lectured extensively throughout the United States. He has written numerous articles published in national orthodontic journals. Dr. Dischinger is a member of several national study clubs, which deal in the latest techniques in orthodontics. His training and experience also encompasses treatment of facial pain and jaw disorders (TMJ). Dr. Dischinger holds three academic degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University, a dental degree from the University of Tennessee and two-year doctoral graduate training in orthodontics from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center. Dr. Dischinger is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). He established his orthodontic practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon in 1977.
His previous career includes a U.S. Olympic gold medal in basketball, NBA Rookie of the Year, and All-Star status during his nine-year career in the National Basketball Association. He also served his country as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Carolyn Friedman, Orthodontic Clinical and Promotional Consultant
Carolyn Friedman is a certified orthodontic assistant and has worked in orthodontics for over 30 years, working in all areas of the practice. She is currently the office manager and treatment coordinator for Dr. Cliff Campbell in Tallahassee, Florida.
In 1994, Mrs. Friedman developed a two-day hands-on training program for orthodontic assistants. She is the author of Ortho Assist Library with training programs for each area of the orthodontic practice. Carolyn is a continuing education provider for the Florida Board of Dentistry. She is an international speaker on orthodontic assistant training and practice promotion. She has spoken at various regional and national orthodontic meetings and at other orthodontic programs.
Ellen Gambardella, CDA, MEd
Ellen Gambardella is the director of Dental Assisting at the Minuteman School of Applied Arts and Sciences in Lexington, MA. The Massachusetts Dental Society presented her with the “Special Award for Teacher of the Year.” She is also the recipient of the Goldin Foundation Award for Excellence in Education and has been appointed by the Department of Education to develop teacher licensure exams for Massachusetts. A former faculty member of Tufts and Northeastern Universities, Ellen has lectured nationwide, is an author and a specialist in the field of accelerated learning.
Dr. Anthony Gianelly, DMD, PhD, MD
Dr. Gianelly is Chairman Emeritus of Orthodontics at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. He received his DMD and his orthodontic training from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. His PhD and MD degrees are from Boston University. He is a member of many organizations, has published more than 90 articles and three books and has given more than 200 lectures and continuing education courses nationally and internationally. He received many awards including the Dewel Award for the best clinical article in the American Journal of Orthodontics and the best paper in the Angle Orthodontist, a Lifetime Achievement Award and the A. H. Ketcham award.
Rita Johnson, COA, RDH, MA
Rita Johnson is a former treatment coordinator in a private orthodontic practice and a former professor at Middlesex Community College where she received the Outstanding Faculty Recognition Award is currently employed by Brontes Technologies. She is also the recipient of the award for “Volunteer Contributions for Auxiliaries” given by the Mass Dental Society. Rita has written RDH curriculum, has vast experience in the area of practice management, and is a specialist in the field of Orthodontics.
Dr. Lysle Johnston, DDS, MS, PhD, FDS RCS(E)
Lysle E. Johnston, Jr., is professor emeritus of dentistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and professor emeritus of orthodontics at Saint Louis University. He graduated from the University of Michigan School Of Dentistry in 1961 and from Michigan’s Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies (orthodontics) in 1964. He studied anatomy at the Queen’s University of Belfast (1961-2) and received a Ph.D. in anatomy from Case Western Reserve University in 1970. Before becoming chair of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry at the University of Michigan (1991-2004), he chaired the orthodontic departments of Case Western Reserve University (1971-6) and Saint Louis University (1976-91). Currently, he is a part-time teacher at all three of his former departments (statistics, cephalometrics, facial growth, occlusal development, and orthodontic history). For the past 30 years, he has studied the differential effects of various orthodontic treatments, the mechanisms of facial growth, and the nature of the interaction between growth and treatment. During the course of his 30-year academic career, Dr. Johnston has advised approximately 100 master’s theses and has contributed to the education of more than 300 orthodontic specialists. He has lectured widely and is the recipient of numerous honors, most notably the Albert H. Ketcham award of the American Board of Orthodontics, the 5th International Award of the Italian Society and the Dewel Award of the American Association of Orthodontics. He has delivered both the Mershon and Salzmann Lectures of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Angle Memorial Lecture of the E.H. Angle Society of Orthodontists (twice), the Northcroft Lecture of the British Society for the Study of Orthodontics and the Arthur Thornton Taylor Memorial Lecture of the Australian Society of Orthodontics. A fellow of both the American and International colleges of dentistry and a fellow in dental surgery by election of the Royal College of Surgeons (England), Dr. Johnston was a member of the Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section of the National Institutes of Health; and was a director of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists. On a personal note, Dr. Johnston is married and has two children, Ann-Christine and Michael. His hobbies include tennis, old movies and older British sports cars.
Dr. Chung Kau, BDS, MScD, MBA, PhD, FDS RCPS, MOrth RCS, FFD RCSI, FAMS
Dr. Kau is an active researcher with a keen interest in three-dimensional research. He is an invited speaker on this topic and has shared his work on the international stage that includes North America, Western and Central Europe, the Baltic States, Hungary and the Far East. He actively contributes and publishes in the orthodontic literature and currently has one book, four book chapters, more than 35 peer reviewed publications and 35 conference papers, which have been published or are in-preparation. He is also the winner of the two prestigious research prizes of the British Orthodontic Society - the Chapman (2002) and Houston (2006).
Dr. Eric Liou, DDS
Dr. Eric Liou received both DDS and orthodontic training at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan as well as orthodontic certificate training and a Masters degree in Orthodontics at University of Illinois, Chicago. He is currently Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Program Director in Orthodontics. Dr. Liou made famous the concept of “dental distraction” and received the Dewel Award from the AJODO for his contribution. He also won “Best Paper Award" in 2000 from the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons. He has 36 publications in US and international journals, has made over 100 presentations in world venues and holds five patents.
Dr. Gabriela Marquez, DMD, MSD
Dr. Gabriela Marquez is originally from Venezuela. She graduated from Boston University in 2006 after having completed her DMD, Masters and Orthodontic training. Shortly after graduation, Dr. Marquez was honored by an invitation to join the Faculty at the Orthodontic Postgraduate program at Boston University, in which she currently teaches twice a week. Dr. Marquez also works at two orthodontic private offices. She practices the Bi-dimensional technique and has placed over 100 miniscrews. On a personal note, Dr. Marquez is married and the mother of two boys.
Dr. Hans Pancherz , DDS, Odont. Dr (PhD)
Hans Pancherz received his dental and orthodontic education at the School of Dentistry in Malmo, University of Lund, Sweden. From 1975 to 1985, he was Associate Professor at the Orthodontic Department, University of Lund. In 1985, he was appointed Chair Professor at the University of Giessen, Germany, where he served from 1985 until 2005. Professor Pancherz has published 138 scientific articles, 70 of which are dealing with the Herbst appliance. He has been invited as lecturer at more than 200 national and international conferences all over the world and has received numerous awards and honors. At the Dental Faculty in Hong Kong Professor Pancherz served as Honorary Professor in 1996 and 1997 and as Visiting Professor in 2007. He is Editorial Board Member of several orthodontic journals. Professor Pancherz is particularly interested in clinical research, focusing on functional appliances and their effects on growth, electromyography of the masticatory muscles and long-term evaluation of dentofacial orthopedic interventions.
Lori Garland Parker, RDAEF, BS, MAOM
Lori Garland Parker is a clinical consultant and co-founder of Consulting Network, a leading orthodontic management and training organization. She coaches orthodontic practices on maximizing the talents of the clinical team, implements systems to enhance clinical efficiency and productivity and teaches communication skills and patient motivation. She has written articles for numerous publications, leads clinical workshops and lectures throughout the United States and abroad. She also has a popular line of customizable procedure manuals to support successful new employee integration into the practice.
Dr. Michael Rogers, DDS
Dr. Rogers has been utilizing functional appliances for more than 30 years. He had pioneered the development of the banded Herbst appliance and has authored several Herbst articles in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics. He has also lectured at the 2004, 2005 and 2006 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) meetings, the 2003 SAO meeting, 2003 MASO meeting and the 2001 Current Concepts in Herbst Treatment meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Gerry S. Samson, DDS
Described as an educational entertainer, Gerry Samson completed pediatric dental residency at Emory University in 1979 under the direction of Dr. Ed Hibbard and orthodontics at Northwestern University in 1981 under the direction of Dr. Hal Perry. Since 1981, Gerry has been in private orthodontic practice and is a Diplomat of The American Board of Orthodontics and a Fellow of The American College of Dentists. In addition to orthodontic private practice, Dr. Samson is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, Associate Professor at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, at Case Western University Department of Orthodontics and at St. Louis University Department of Orthodontics. He is visiting lecturer for orthodontic post-graduate programs at eight universities in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and China. In addition, Gerry reviews orthodontic mechanics articles submitted for publication to The Angle Orthodontist.
Gerry offers meaty clinical presentations spiced with a blend of biting wit, edgy humor and substantially sauced with evidenced based literature. Always armed with unusually high quality hand out materials for seminar attendees, Gerry’s zany, brainy and engaging methods have made him one of today’s most popular educators. Participants are certain to enjoy a unique educational, clinical experience that is both informative and motivating.
Dr. Michael L. Swartz, DDS
Dr. Michael L. Swartz has spent more than 40 years in the dental field as a dental technician, dental materials research chemist, general practitioner, director of research and development at Ormco, practicing orthodontist and worldwide lecturer. He has been instrumental in the development of composite restorative materials, pit and fissure sealants, enamel bonding and orthodontic bonding applications. After earning his D.D.S. from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Dr. Swartz maintained a private, general dental practice and served as the director of research and development at Ormco. Later he returned to school at the University of California, San Francisco to obtain his postdoctorate orthodontic certificate and then opened a private practice in Encino, California. While currently enjoying semi-retirement, he has lectures on orthodontics subjects throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Baltic States, Asia and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa, Russia, Scandinavia, and North, South and Central Americas.
Dr. James L. Vaden, DDS, MS
Jim Vaden has practiced orthodontics in Cookeville, Tennessee for 35 years. He has been a "hobby educator" for 27 of those years. He is currently Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Additionally, he has been on the teaching staff of the Tweed Study Course, Tucson, Arizona since 1979. Dr. Vaden has served orthodontics as a Director of the American Board of Orthodontists and most recently as the orthodontic representative on the Commission on Dental Accreditation. He has published extensively for the past 25 years, and has lectured at over 100 major lectures at universities in the USA and abroad.
Dr. Thomas Wilcko, DMD
Dr. Thomas Wilcko has been in the private practice of periodontics in Erie, Pennsylvania for the past 25 years. Dr. Wilcko received a BS in chemistry from Allegheny College, a DMD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and a certificate in periodontics from the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Wilcko was awarded membership in the National Scholastic Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and also received the annual student award of the American Academy of Periodontology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Wilcko first became involved in research in the field of chemistry while in college. His previous research has been in the areas of acyl free radical stability, calculus formation, porcelain shrinkage, and arachidonic acid. He has publications in the fields of chemistry and prosthetics and has contributed in the basic research for different dental products that have been brought to the market.
Dr. William Wilcko, DMD, MS
Dr. William Wilcko has been in the private practice of orthodontics in Erie, Pennsylvania for the past 18 years. Dr. Wilcko received a BS in chemistry from Allegheny College, a DMD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and a MS in orthodontics from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Dr. Wilcko along with his brother, Tom, a periodontist, has been working on the Accelerated Osteogenic OrthodonticsTM procedure for over six years.
His previous research experience was in the fields of organic and inorganic chemistry. While in college, he did research on the synthesis of bioactive pheromones and acyl free radical stability. Through both animal and human research Dr. Wilcko has been instrumental in the development of several dental cements, one of which is an endodontic sealer that has been on the market for 17 years. It was unique in that it was the first endodontic cement capable of chemically stimulating dramatic bone regeneration in comparison to controls.
Dr. Bjorn Zachrisson
Dr. Bjorn Zachrisson is a Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Oslo and maintains a private practice emphasizing optimal esthetic outcomes. His inspiring and informative lectures are among the most popular and well attended in orthodontics today. He has published more than 225 scientific and clinical articles in international journals and textbooks in orthodontics, periodontics, and general dentistry, and presented world wide. Rated by his orthodontic peers as the finest adult orthodontist in the world today, Dr. Zachrisson has received many awards and honours from orthodontic societies in Europe, USA, Asia, Australia and Africa, including the 2007 Jarabak and Ketcham Awards. He is an Honorary Member of the Orthodontic Societies of Ireland, Republic of China (Taiwan), South Africa, Israel, Poland, Serbia and
Montenegro, and Norway, and of the Scandinavian Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and the Tweed Foundation. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics,
Editor and author of “Ask an Expert” in World Journal of Orthodontics, and a Member of the Editorial Boards of the Seminars in Orthodontics, Angle Orthodontist, World
Journal of Orthodontics, Clinical Orthodontics and Research, Practical Periodontics & Aesthetic Dentistry, Revista Clinica de Ortodontia (Brasil), Italian Journal of Orthodontics and European Journal of Esthetic Dentistry.
Paul Zuelke
Paul Zuelke is president and founder of Zuelke & Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in exclusively in teaching credit management and accounts receivable control techniques to health care practices.
Mr. Zuelke’s extensive, professional background in lending and corporate finance, combined with more than 25 years of experience with over 900 client practices located throughout the United States, Canada and Australia, position him as the leading authority in using effective credit management to build a quality health care practice.