Class Notes

William E. Silver, DDS '53, writes: "It is called 'retirement,' but after practicing orthodontics for about 45 years, I became a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. Today, I am the deputy chief forensic odontologist in the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department and chief forensic odontologist in both the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services and the Monroe County Office of the Medical Examiner. In addition, you may wish to acquire more knowledge of forensic odontology by reading my recently published book, "Dental Autopsy."

Joseph K. Spector, Advanced Education Program in Endodontics '55, and adjunct clinical associate professor of endodontics at NYU Dentistry, received the 2017-2018 Part-time Educator Award presented by the American Association of Endodontists.

Sheldon Winkler, DDS '56, published the second edition of his book, "The Music of World War II: War Songs and their Stories." Dr. Winkler's textbook, "Essentials of Complete Denture Prosthodontics," has been one of the most popular and widely used dental textbooks in the world and is well established as a standard reference. Dr. Winkler retired from Temple University School of Dentistry in 2006, where he was dean of advanced education, research, and continuing education, and professor and chair of the Department of Prosthodontics. Dr. Winkler is currently senior editor of the Journal of Oral Implantology and executive director of the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics. He served as a member of the faculty at NYU Dentistry from 1958 to 1961, and again from 1966 to 1968.

Stanley J. Antonoff, DDS '57, published his fifth book, Another 365 Plus One, a collection of humorous stories.

Burton S. Wasserman, DDS '57, and adjunct clinical associate professor of cariology and comprehensive care at NYU Dentisty, edited the July 2016 issue of Dental Clinics of North America, "Special Care Dentistry."

Paul A. Rosenberg, DDS '62, Advanced Education Program in Endodontics '70, and professor of endodontics and senior advisor for special projects in the Office of International Initiatives and Linhart Continuing Dental Education Program at NYU Dentistry, received the I.B. Bender Lifetime Educator Award at the American Association of Endodontists' 2017 Annual Session.

Greg Belok, DDS '71, a 1974 graduate of the Yale School of Public Health, was featured in a winter 2018 @ysph e-newsletter article titled "Alumni Viewpoints: Dentistry at the Beginning of the 21st Century." Dr. Belok writes:

"Historically, the art and science of dentistry and community and national dental health have taken back seats in the world of medical care delivery. There are many good reasons. The first is that in most people's minds going to the dentist is their worst nightmare – it is painful and expensive. The earliest medical textbooks described the excruciating pain of a toothache and the treatment without the benefit of scientific knowledge or anesthesia was no different." Read more of Dr. Belok's article, "Alumni Viewpoints: Dentistry at the Beginning of the 21st Century" >>>

Dr. Belok was also featured in a January 2018 ADA News article, "Become a 'Lifelong Learner' at Evidence-based Dentistry Workshop: Hands-on Session Offers CE, Tracks for Both Clinicians and Educators," on the benefits of participation in an evidence-based dentistry workshop.

Stephen Colen, DDS '71, was appointed a member of the Board of The Gift of Life Marrow Registry.

Larry W. Rosenthal, DDS '72, and adjunct clinical professor of cariology and comprehensive care at NYU Dentistry, authored the book "OPEN WIDE(R): A Guide to Smile and Facial Aesthetics to Enhance Your Confidence, Appearance, and Overall Health."

Howard S. Glazer, DDS '75, was featured in the AGD Impact Q&A titled "Member Spotlight: Behind the Product Review with Dr. Howard S. Glazer."

Stephen I. Hudis, DDS '79, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics '82, was elected vice president of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP).

Gabriel Dante Ariola, DDS '80, was elected president of the Second District Dental Society, a local component of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA).

Gerald P. Curatola, DDS '83, and adjunct associate professor of cariology and comprehensive care at NYU Dentistry, authored The Mouth-Body Connection.

Dr. Curatola was also interviewed by Fox's "Kids Teen News" about health problems that can result from poor oral hygiene.

Michael L. Cali, DDS '85, presented a lecture titled "Dental/Legal Considerations in Private Practice: One Expert Dentist’s Perspective" at the Second District Dental Society of New York in November 2016. Dr. Cali was also appointed to the Greater New York Dental Meeting Organization Committee on Seminars & Workshops.

Maria C. Maranga, DDS '88, Advanced Education Program in Endodontics '91, received the 2016 Bernard P. Tillis Award for excellence in writing presented by the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) Council on Membership and Communications for her essay titled "The Lion Sleeps Tonight, But Can We?" published in the fall 2015 Suffolk County Dental Society Bulletin.

Jay S. Grossman, DDS '88, was honored by UCLA with a professorship in his name.

Dean C. Vafiadis, DDS '89, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics '91, and adjunct clinical associate professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at NYU Dentistry, authored an article titled "Creating a Productive Digital Dental Practice" for Sidekick Dental Magazine.

Ivan A. Vazquez-Santiago, DDS '89, was elected president of the Suffolk County Dental Society, a local component of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA).

Luis T. Mauleon, Jr., DDS '92, was elected president of the Sixth District Dental Society, a local component of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA).

Amarilis A. Jacobo, DDS '94, was elected president of the Bronx County Dental Society, a local component of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA).

Arwinder S. Judge, DDS '95, was appointed Chief Clinical Officer of Aspen Dental, a dental practice management corporation supporting more than 600 dental offices nationwide.

Jian "JJ" Huang, DDS '96, was appointed president-elect, continuing education chair, and program provider approval representative for the Tennessee Academy of General Dentistry.

Staci A. Violante, BSDH '97, and adjunct clinical instructor in dental hygiene at NYU Dentistry, authored an article titled "Exploring the Grant-writing Process: Perseverance with the Details Increase the Odds of Being Awarded a Grant" for RDH Magazine.

Bolaji Ogundare, DDS '98, (shown left, middle) presented a lecture titled "Capacity Building in Health Care: Strengthening Educational Resources and Practice in Nigeria" at the University of Lagos (Nigeria) School of Dentistry on July 6, 2017.

Cristi Freinberg-Trufas, DDS '02, received the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Fellowship Award at a convocation in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 15, 2017.

German Gaitan, DDS '02, is now living in Orlando, Florida.

Michael A. Apa, DDS '03, authored the article "A Multidisciplinary Anterior Trauma Case: It Takes A Team!" for Dentistry Today. Added kudos to Dr. Apa on presenting a lecture titled "Don't Tell Yourself Why It's Not Happening: It's Up to You to Make It Work" at the 6th Annual Aesthetics Symposium held at NYU College of Dentistry on January 20, 2018.

Lioudmila Nikiforouk, DDS '03, authored a guest editorial for the Pocono Record titled "Ask the Doctor: Prepare Your Child for Their First Trip to the Dentist."

Tehemina Gagrat Richardson, DDS '03, Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry '05, has been a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry for the past 10 years, and was recently named a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. After working for 12 years in a large pediatric dental practice, Dr. Richardson purchased her own practice in a suburb of Chicago. She is one of few pediatric dentists in Chicago to be on staff at two major hospitals: the Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

Fernando Tordoya, DDS '05, received the Fellowship Award of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Sako H. Karakozian, DDS '07, was appointed an advisor to the TV program The Doctors after appearing in several oral health segments, including "Three Surprising Secrets to A Better Smile."

Marcus Johnson, DDS '08, was interviewed by the American Dental Association (ADA) for the New Dentist Now blog post titled "New York Dentists Show Value of Mentorship." Dr. Johnson was also featured in an ADA member spotlight video on mentorship.

Sandeep V. Patel, DDS '09, received the Fellowship Award of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Dr. Patel was also appointed immediate past president of the Volusia-Flagler County Dental Association, an affiliate of the Central Florida District, American & Florida Dental Associations.

Anna Slama, DDS '10, received the Fellowship Award of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Nojan Bakhtiari, DDS '11, was interviewed by health.com for an article titled "Jaw Pain? Here's Everything You Need to Know About TMJ." His Manhattan-based private practice exclusively treats TMD, orofacial pain, and associated headaches. Dr. Bakhtiari is board certified in orofacial pain, is a fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, and is a professor at Yale-New Haven Health. He has presented lectures at the Greater New York Dental Meeting and to various hospitals throughout NYC.

Paul Zhivago, DDS '11, Jonathan & Maxine Ferencz Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics '14, and adjunct clinical assistant professor of prosthodontics at NYU Dentistry, was awarded the 2017 Edison Award honoring the top products and most impressive advances in dentistry. Dr. Zhivago's Open Platform Workflow system employs a software program originally used by filmmakers to vastly improve the quality of digital impressions on patients’ mouths.

Edly Destine, DDS '13, was interviewed by the American Dental Association (ADA) for the New Dentist Now blog post titled "New York Dentists Show Value of Mentorship."

Paul Lazari, DDS '13, received the prestigious 2017 Milo Hellman Research Award presented by the American Association of Orthodontists for his research on secretory microRNA-29 in gingival crevicular fluid during canine retraction.

Pooria Fallah Abed, Advanced Education Program in Periodontics '15, coauthored an article titled "The Treatment of Recurrent Oral Lichen Planus Lesions Utilizing Free Soft Tissue Autografts: A Case Series" for the International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research (IJBR). Dr. Fallah Abed's coauthors included Leila Soltani, Advanced Education Program in Periodontics '16, and clinical assistant professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at NYU Dentistry; and Roger N. Warren, DDS '68, adjunct clinical associate professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at NYU Dentistry.

João Malta Barbosa, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics '17, coauthored "Thickness Evaluation of Articulating Papers and Foils" for the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Barbosa's coauthors included Ronaldo Hirata, clinical assistant professor of biomaterials at NYU Dentistry.

Giuseppe Cicero, Jonathan and Maxine Ferencz Advanced Education Program in Periodontics '17, was selected by Forbes to appear in the third annual issue of "30 Under 30 Europe," a list featuring 300 young stars across 34 European countries. Dr. Cicero, 28, and fellow colleague Martina Francesca Ferracane, also 28, were recognized in the 2018 "Science & Healthcare" category for their product, Oral3D, a 3D printer designed to transform CT scans, CBCT scans, and STL files into three-dimensional models of the oral cavity.