Speakers

Presenting Courses: F30,

Family owned and operated since 2006, Central Ohio CPR has grown into the area's largest training provider. Based out of Columbus, Ohio, they believe there is more to a class than a lecture and passing a test. Instructors use their real-world experience and hands-on lesson plans to train students for the real world. Class instructors include nurses, firefighters, paramedics and social workers with many years of experience in their fields as well as a passion for teaching.

Presenting Courses: T17,

Katherine Eitel Belt is a recognized authority on leadership communication. With over 35 years of experience, she has worked with hundreds of organizations across the US, Canada, and the UK, including Procter & Gamble, Care Credit (Synchrony Financial), and Henry Schein, to help leaders create accountable, aligned and high-performing teams. Katherine’s CSP designation, achieved by less than 17 percent of speakers worldwide, underscores expertise and impact in the field. As the author of the upcoming book, Lead Yourself, Lead Your Team: Three Leadership Conversations That Build Aligned and Accountable Teams, Katherine empowers business owners, CEOs, and team leaders to achieve total team transformation by mastering her unique Leadership Conversation Trifecta and A.R.C.H Conversation framework. To learn more, visit www.lionspeak.net.

Presenting Courses: T13, T22,

Larry Guzzardo is a visiting faculty member with The Dawson Academy and a dental practice management consultant. Since turning to full-time dental consulting 22 years ago, Larry has focused his talents and experience exclusively on dental practice management, business systems, and leadership development. As a visiting faculty member at The Dawson Academy, he’s taught several courses, including Patient Communication Intensive, Putting Your Practice in the Top 10%, and Implementing Complete Care Dentistry. Guzzardo has presented at many conferences for dental associations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, California Dental Association and Chicago Dental Society. He’s also a member of several consulting and dental networks, including the Academy of Dental Management Consultants, Dental Advisory Network and Speaking Consulting Network. He has also been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Georgia Dental Association and has earned Certificates of Recognition from the American Dental Association. The Hinman Dental Society has also presented Larry with Certificates of Appreciation for his table clinic presentations.

Presenting Courses: F31,

Dr. Jimmie Harper received his dental degree from the Ohio State University School of Dentistry in 1979. Upon graduation, he served in the United States Air Force as a restorative dentist for three years at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. He returned to The Ohio State University in 1982 to train in oral & maxillofacial surgery. He completed his training in 1986. While at Ohio State, Dr. Harper was involved in research and completed the requirements for his Master of Science degree. During his chief year of residency, Dr. Harper received USAF sponsorship and upon graduation, he returned to active duty, serving as base oral & maxillofacial surgeon at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, TX. Dr. Harper returned to Ohio in 1989 to join Cincinnati Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Inc. Dr. Harper is active in local, state and national organizations. He has served as president of the Cincinnati Dental Society and the Ohio Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has served as a delegate to the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Ohio Dental Association. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, serving as a board examiner in the Section of Medicine/Anesthesia in 2002. He is a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Harper has been actively involved in teaching at the University of Cincinnati since 1990. He served as the director of residency education for the University of Cincinnati Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program from 1991 to 1998. He currently serves as a volunteer assistant professor in the Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery teaching academic courses in Surgical Anatomy and Medicine/Anesthesia Topics for the OMS residents.

Presenting Courses: S52,

Tija Hunter began her dental assisting career in 1981 and has never looked back. Being named one of the “Top 25 Women in Dentistry” by Dental Products Report was one of the highlights of her career. She is a former vice president of the American Dental Assistants Association, where she holds the honor of Master. Hunter’s love of traveling takes her all over the world, where she speaks to dental assistants and dental teams. She is author of over 10 CE courses, a book on motivation and a compliance calendar for dentistry.

Presenting Courses: T15, T19,

Dr. Neeraj Khanna is a senior faculty member and study club leader at The Dawson Academy. Dr. Khanna also owns his own practice, Khanna Dentistry, in Geneva, Illinois, which provides comprehensive dental services, including cosmetic and restorative dentistry, tailored to patient’s unique dental health needs and personal goals. Dr. Khanna is a noted international speaker who’s lectured for such associations as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and European Society Cosmetic Dentistry, and at meetings like the Chicago Dental Society-Midwinter Meeting and the Dubai World Dental Meeting. He’s involved with a number of dental professional associations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Dental Association, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and American Equilibration Society.

Presenting Courses: F36, T11, T20,

Dr. Purnima Kumar is the William and Mary K. Najjar Endowed Professor of Dentistry and Chair of the Department of Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Dental Hygiene at the University of Michigan. She received her dental degree from Annamalai University in India, and her Masters in Periodontology and PhD in Molecular Microbiology from The Ohio State University. Dr. Kumar is the principal investigator of Oral Microbial Ecology Laboratory at the University of Michigan that is funded through the NIH, NCI, and oral healthcare industry. She has authored over 100 papers and book chapters and serves as the associate editor of Periodontology 2000, Nature Scientific Reports and senior editor of Microbiome. She is an active researcher, clinician, teacher, and administrator, has mentored several pre-dental, dental, master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral students and junior faculty colleagues, and has served on several grant review panels for the NIH. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program, the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, the Pierre Fouchard Académie and the American Association of Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Research. She serves as a member of the Continuing Education Oversight Committee for the AAP and chairs the AAP’s Taskforce on Oral-Overall Health Integration. She also serves on the board of directors of the Osteology Foundation and the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. She is the chair of the Council of Scientific Affairs of the ADA and is their official spokesperson on e-cigarettes and vaping. Dr. Kumar has served on various committees of IADR and is presently the past-president of the Periodontal Research Group. She also serves on several taskforces for women in science, women in surgery and women in STEM and volunteers for groups that empower women locally and nationally.

Presenting Courses: S55,

Chris Moore currently serves as director of dental services for the Ohio Dental Association. He is now in his 37th year of service to the ODA and currently administers the association's third-party payer, peer review, dental practice and regulatory compliance programs. Mr. Moore is an honorary fellow of the International College of Dentists USA Section for his contributions to the promotion of the dental profession. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Arts degree from Kent State University.

Presenting Courses: S54,

Uche Odiatu BA, DMD is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a practicing dentist in Toronto. This busy health care professional & dad of four has been a NSCA Certified Personal Trainer for 21 years, is a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Certified Boot Camp Instructor and has given 700 plus lectures in England, Canada, the USA, the Bahamas, Denmark, Bermuda and Norway. He has been the invited guest on over 400 radio and TV shows from Alaska to Atlanta and from NYC to California. He won a 2023 Lifetime Achievement award from The Global Dental Summit; 2023 Dental Speaker of the Year from Louisiana and a Denobi Award in 2023 for his contribution to the industry. He was nominated for dental educator of the year by Dr Bicuspid. You can visit him on X and Instagram @fitspeakers or www.DrUche.com.

Presenting Courses: T16, T23,

Dr. Phero earned his medical and dental degrees from the University of North Carolina where he also completed his post graduate training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He has been active in academic education, research, and administrative activities since joining the University of Cincinnati Department of Surgery in 2019. Dr. Phero’s clinical practice focuses on corrective jaw surgery, facial trauma and reconstruction, temporomandibular joint surgery and the management of benign head and neck pathology. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Phero has additional interest in emergency training. He is an American Heart Association (AHA) Instructor in BLS, ACLS, and PALS. He is active at UC and nationally in teaching team simulation training for evaluation and management of medical emergencies. Dr. Phero is the current president of the Ohio Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ODSA) and is on the board of directors for the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ADSA).

Presenting Courses: S52,

With over two decades of experience in dental hygiene, Joy Raskie is renowned for her expert use of laser technology to improve patient oral health. Throughout her distinguished career, Joy has earned numerous laser degrees, culminating in an Advanced Proficiency in Laser Dentistry. As the director of education and CEO at Advanced Dental Hygiene, Joy specializes in hands-on dental laser education, earning nationwide recognition for her captivating lectures. Her passion is in empowering others to confidently incorporate dental lasers into their practice, with a particular focus on verbalization skills to ensure seamless integration.

Presenting Courses: F39, S50,

Dr. Mario Romero is a 1995 graduate from the University of Guayaquil School of Dentistry in his native country of Ecuador. He completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health where he was granted the Handleman Award for Excellence. More recently, Dr. Romero spent nine years at the Dental College of Georgia, where he was the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program director. While in this role Dr. Romero was awarded the Augusta University and the American College of Dentists Outstanding Faculty award for his achievements in scholarly, research and service; the Excellence in Dental Education Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy; and the Teaching Excellence Award from the Dental College of Georgia, which is the highest recognition for a faculty member within the dental school. He has lectured extensively in over 20 countries, has numerous publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and is the author of the textbook Minimally Invasive Esthetic Dentistry, No Drill Techniques, published by Quintessence. Currently he is the owner of Dentistry180, a comprehensive restorative practice in beautiful Sarasota, Florida.

Presenting Courses: F38, F44,

Dr. Shaun Rotenberg is an assistant professor for the Division of Periodontology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and serves as staff periodontist for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Rotenberg also maintains a multispecialty private practice in the Columbus area focusing on periodontal therapy, implant therapy, and periodontal plastic surgery. His practice, Steiner, Rotenberg, & Lindsey LLC is one of only a handful of practices nationwide that include both periodontists and oral & maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, received his dental degree from the Medical College of Georgia, and achieved his certificate in periodontics and Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University where he served as chief resident. Dr. Rotenberg has authored/co-authored several peer reviewed articles in journals such as the Journal of Periodontology, The International Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Implants and the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Dr. Rotenberg lectures nationally, internationally, and through webinars on the topics of minimally invasive socket reconstruction, periodontal plastic surgery, and autogenous tissue alternatives.

Presenting Courses: T14, T18,

A clinical dental hygienist, author and international speaker, Katrina is passionate about elevating the dental profession by creating an undeniable movement that educates, encourages, and empowers the profession to rise in its power. Known as the “DentalWINEgenist™,” she pairs her desire for excellence in the dental industry with her knowledge and passion for wine. She is the clinical liaison, hygiene excellence & innovation for AZ Perio, the country’s largest periodontal practice where she works alongside diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. She is the founder, CEO and keynote speaker for Sanders Board Preparatory and has been published in various publications including RDH Magazine and Today’s RDH and is an advisory member for Modern Hygienist and the Dental Academy of Continuing Education. Recently, Katrina proudly received the Denobi Award for Clinical Excellence and Innovation, the University of Minnesota Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2024 Sunstar Award of Distinction. Her philanthropic efforts include dental humanitarian work in developing countries, supporting abused and homeless animals and spreading awareness about the benefits of organ and tissue donation. To be a part of the mission and movement, please follow Katrina on Instagram @TheDentalWINEgenist.

Presenting Courses: F32, T12,

Joshua Scott is a seasoned marketing speaker and fractional CMO with over 24 years of experience in the dental profession. He is the owner and CEO of Studio EightyEight, dentistry’s story-driven marketing agency. Recently named as the Top Healthcare Marketing Agency in the United States by Healthcare Business Review, their mission is to create more authentic marketing by telling better stories. Josh currently resides in New Albany, Ohio where he collects Air Jordans (over 100 pairs), has completed his level three sommelier (pronounced SOMM-AL-YAY) certification and typically ends his day at Crossfit. He’s been married to his high school best friend, Joanna, for 29 years and has two children, Caden (age 20) and Aliya (age 16). You can learn more about him and Studio EightyEight at www.s8e8.com.

Presenting Courses: F34,

Kandra Sellers is widely considered one of the most passionate and successful coaches any practice could partner with. With over 35 years in the dental industry, Kandra has had many different career roles due to the fantastic mentors she has met along the way. She is no longer seen as “just a dental hygienist,” which is a profession certainly not to be minimized. Instead, Kandra is now viewed as a predominant educator in the field of oral systemic health intertwined with dental medical billing, as well as creator and CEO of TIPS Medical Billing. Kandra is able to educate, implement processes, and professionally coach doctors and team members to the next level of where the dental profession is heading. In creating TIPS (Tandem In-Practice Solutions), the niche is implementation to ensure successful outcomes to billing the medical procedures that dentists do every day.

Presenting Courses: F37, F43,

For the last 27 years, Dr. Steve Shufflebarger has practiced exclusively in the sedation/anesthesia and surgical aspects of dentistry at his own practice in Beavercreek, Ohio as well as numerous offices in Dayton, Ohio and surrounding communities. He maintains privileges at three local hospitals. After beginning his education at Purdue University studying chemistry, he continued on to The Ohio State University College of Dentistry where he was honored to earn the Horace Wells student award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Dental Anesthesiology. Thereafter he completed a residency program with Miami Valley Hospital. Dr. Shufflebarger has achieved the status of Master of the College of Sedation with the ADSA. Currently, in addition to maintaining his private clinical practice, Dr. Shufflebarger is the managing director of Miami Valley Hospital’s Department of Medical Education’s long-standing comprehensive Moderate Sedation training series, where he creates didactic skills and simulation content for sedation training. He has instructor status and trains medical professionals in BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Dr. Shufflebarger has been privileged to speak and teach in settings ranging from national organizations to local dental society meetings, dental schools, residency programs, medical schools, hospitals, regional events and virtual seminars.

Presenting Courses: F46, T10, T21,

Dr. Kyle Stanley is a globally recognized leader in modern dentistry. Named “The Next Generation of Cosmetic Dentistry” by the AACD and one of the “Top 10 Young Educators in Dentistry” by the Seattle Study Club, he is also listed among the “World’s Top 100 Doctors in Dentistry.” A graduate of USC, Dr. Stanley advanced his training in dental implants in Brazil and has published extensively on esthetics, implants, mental health, and plastic surgery. He is also a pioneer in dental artificial intelligence. As co-founder of Pearl, a dental AI company valued at over $400M, he’s helping reshape patient care and diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Stanley advises leading dental tech companies and champions mental health in the profession through his award-winning Light Side Academy, which helps dentists prevent burnout and build sustainable careers. A sought-after speaker, he’s presented on six continents, inspiring audiences with his forward-thinking approach to dentistry.

Presenting Courses: F33, F41,

Dr. Kumar Subramanian is an endodontist in Columbus, Ohio and is a part-time educator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate education in Madras, India and his dental training and residency in endodontics with a master’s degree at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

Dr. Subramanian was appointed to the Ohio State Dental Board by Governor Kasich & re-appointed by Governor DeWine. Before his term ended, he served as the president of the Ohio State Dental Board for 5 years. He was a member of the Opioid Working Group of Ohio and worked closely with the Opioid Committee in drafting rules for the state. He is an active member of organized dentistry and has been in various committees of the Ohio Dental Association and Columbus Dental Society.

Presenting Courses: S55,

Dr. John Svirsky is a board certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Svirsky has developed a broad background in research, published numerous articles in dental literature, and earned a master’s degree in adult education. He is a sought-after speaker with an international reputation as an informative and entertaining lecturer. Dr. Svirsky is an honorary member of the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society and has received a Presidential Citation from the American Dental Association for significant contributions to the health of the public and the profession of dentistry. Presenting Courses F35, F42.

Presenting Courses: F35, F42,

Dr. Kelly Tanner is a renowned leader and pioneer in transforming dental care and fostering professional growth within the industry. She holds a Ph.D. in Business and Leadership and leverages her expertise to empower dental teams. As a sought-after consultant and trainer, Dr. Tanner specializes in developing sustainable systems for enhanced productivity and accountability, cultivating a culture of ownership in case acceptance, and strengthening patient-team relationships through trust-building strategies. Her innovative approach goes beyond traditional dental practice management, focusing on the holistic development of individuals and teams. Dr. Tanner's methods improve operational efficiency and nurture professional fulfillment among dental practitioners. Recognized for her ability to inspire and motivate, Dr. Tanner has catalyzed positive change in dental practices nationwide. Her work consistently results in more engaged teams, satisfied patients, and thriving practices.

Presenting Courses: F45, S51,

Korey is a registered dental hygienist and dedicated adjunct instructor in the Dental Hygiene Program at Stark State College. She brings both expertise and enthusiasm to the classroom, teaching courses such as dental radiography, nutrition in dentistry, dental materials, fundamentals of dental hygiene, and clinical dental hygiene.

A proud 2001 graduate of Stark State College, Korey earned her dental hygiene degree before continuing her education at Malone University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 2012. That same year, she expanded her clinical credentials by earning her EFDA license. With over two decades of experience in private practice, Korey brings real-world insight into everything she teaches. Since joining the college as an instructor in 2013, she has been passionate about inspiring and preparing the next generation of dental professionals – combining knowledge, experience, and a genuine love for teaching.

Presenting Courses: F40,

Dr. Dan Ward was an assistant clinical professor at The Ohio State University for 13 years and has been in private practice in Columbus, Ohio for over 40 years. He lectured at the Post-Graduate Program in Esthetic Dentistry at the University of Minnesota, SUNY Buffalo, UMKC, and the University of Florida and served as chief examiner. He is a fellow in the American and International College of Dentists, fellow of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and an associate member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Dr. Ward has lectured extensively. He has been invited to present before most major American meetings. In addition, he has addressed the International Aesthetic Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, and the UNAM International Congress in Mexico City. He has lectured in India, Poland, Korea, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Vietnam and countless dental societies and associations. Dr. Ward has published over 50 articles and is a reviewer for the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. He has developed a computerized method of smile design called the RED Proportion. An innovative pioneer, Dr. Ward combines theory with practical real-world experience.

Presenting Courses: S53,