Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology
Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantology
American Academy of Periodontology
American Dental Education Association
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
TriCounty Dental Association
Omicron Kappa Upsilon (Dental Honor Society) , Beta Zeta Chapter
After graduating summa cum laude from Chaminade University of Honolulu, I attended the University at Buffalo for my predoctoral and postdoctoral dental education. There I received my DDS magna cum laude and with thesis honors on work on Tetracycline resistance in A. actinomycetemcomitans in 2004, and a PhD in Oral Biology with a focus on Microbiology/Immunology in 2009 while discovering a fibrinogen-IgG antibody binding site. I also completed a certificate program in periodontics at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2009. During my residency, I began teaching dental students as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo for two years prior to my employment at Western University of Health Sciences. While teaching at Western University of Health Sciences, I received the Distinguished Faculty Award by the College of Dental Medicine and Faculty of the Year Award from the DMD Class of 2013. As part of the founding faculty of the College of Dental Medicine, I have created a significant part of the curriculum, established a large part of the clinical protocols, contributed significantly to teaching and clinical service, and performed research.
My teaching responsibilites include teaching all aspects of periodontology, implant surgery and maintenance, general and oral microbiology, oral immunology, evidence based dentistry, epidemiology and any aspect of hematology that affects dentistry throughout year 1 to year 4 at Western University of Health Sciences. I also have given a number of continuing education talks, presentations and postgraduate courses throughout the country.
My research interest focus on clinical periodontology and translational research, I completed research projects on epidemiology of dental school patients, outcomes of crown lengthening and viral ecology in periodontal tissues. I also conducted a clinical trial of a novel bristle-less tooth brush that may reverse loss of gum tissue, and investigated periodontal-systemic disease associations among patients at the Dental Center. I have mentored a large number of dental students and MSMS students who have gone on to residencies, teaching positions and professional schools.
I currently serve on various committees at Western University of Health Sciences such as Admissions and Promotion and Tenure committees, and I am currently the secretary for the local Omicron Kappa Upsilon Chapter. I also was involved in creation of the California Licensure by Portfolio exam and serve currently as examiner for this exam at this institution. Socially, I have a strong interest in helping to overcome dental access issues for individuals who have chronic or severe illnesses such as epilepsy, blood cancers and bleeding disorders.
My clinical interest is focused on diagnosis and treatment of periodontal and implant diseases, with a special interest in implant surgery and implant site preparation. Clinical services I provide through the Western University of Health Sciences Dental Center, a predoctoral student clinic, include periodontal assessment and treatment planning, consultations, resective and regenerative periodontal surgery, soft tissue grafting and correction of mucogingival defects, implant surgery, bone grafting procedures including ridge augmentation and sinus augmentation and other preprosthetic surgery such as crown lengthening and alveoloplasty procedures. I also provide support for interdisciplinary care such as management of oral mucocutaneous disorders and orthodontic therapy.