Dr. Marie M. Tolarova received her Medical Degree in 1965 from the Charles University School of Medicine in Prague. She completed a Ph.D. in 1970 with a thesis on Microforms of Orofacial Clefts from the Human Genetics Program at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Prague. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics by the Czechoslovak Medical Board of Pediatrics and Czechoslovak Board of Medical Genetics. Dr. Tolarova completed a D.Sc. Degree in 1986 from the Medical Genetics Research Program at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. Her thesis was Cleft Lip and Palate in Man: Epidemiology, Genetics and Prevention. Dr. Tolarova started her medical career in 1965 as a pediatrician in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Charles University School of Medicine. She had developed a deep interest in genetics during her medical studies and in 1970, founded the Division of Birth Defects to take responsibility for genetic evaluations, counseling, and follow-up of all individuals with congenital anomalies, children as well as adults, who came to the Department of Plastic Surgery for surgical treatment. Since beginning of her professional career she was interested in understanding causes of cleft lip and palate and especially in prevention of clefts and other congenital anomalies. She established a population-based registry of orofacial clefts in the Czech Republic, containing detailed data on over 10,000 cases; the largest collected sample to date of children with clefts. Over half of these cases had complete genetic evaluations in her Department, including physical examinations of the affected children, both parents, and all siblings; she performed the majority of physical examinations. Since coming to the U.S., she also researched analyzed and published data on the largest population-based sample of orofacial clefts in USA - over 4,000 cases from California. Dr. Tolarova was involved in orofacial cleft prevention studies in the late 1960’s under the direction of Dr. Francis Burian, head of the Department of Plastic Surgery. She started her own research with periconceptional supplementation by high dose folic acid and multivitamins in the 1970s. The first data showing preventive efficacy of supplementation was published in the Lancet in 1982 and got enormous attention from professionals. The final analysis of her studies, which represent the largest human prospective trial to investigate the recurrence of orofacial clefts after periconceptional supplementation with high dose folic acid and multivitamins, was published in 1995 in Teratology, and showed that the recurrence risk for having another child with a cleft decreased by 65% if “at risk” mothers took multivitamins with a high dose of folic acid. Dr. Tolarova has over 450 scientific publications and presentations, has been the keynote and featured speaker at numerous scientific meetings, and has held over 20 visiting professorships worldwide. She has 47 years of clinical experience with cleft and craniofacial anomalies patients, thirty years of teaching experience of medical, dental and graduate students. She is Director of Genetic Research and Prevention of the ROTAPLAST Intl., Inc.; project being carried out in South America, India, Asia, and Africa. She participated as a pediatrician and medical geneticist in 50 Rotaplast medical missions all over the world. She is a founding member of the Society of Birth Defects in the Czech Republic and holds memberships in 15 professional organizations. She has received numerous awards, including the 1975 Award of the Medical Research Council, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 1985 Award of the Czechoslovak Literature Council, 2005 Award of the Imperial Gift Foundation (Boshi, Aiiku Kai) Japan, 2007 Rotaplast Distinguish Service Award, 2010 Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, and 2011 Henry Schein Humanitarian Award. In 1992 Dr. Tolarova relocated to United States joining her husband MirekTolar, MD, PhD, who was appointed at UCSF in San Francisco. She joined the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies at UCSF School of Dentistry, held an appointment as a Professor and founded directed the Program for Prevention of Cleft Lip and Palate/Craniofacial Anomalies at the UCSF School of Dentistry UCSF. She also worked for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation/California Birth Defects Monitoring Program. In March 1996 she organized the first workshop with international participation focused on cleft prevention “Approach to the prevention of orofacial clefts”. Since July 1999, she is with the University of the Pacific as tenure Professor of Orthodontics and leads the Pacific Craniofacial Team and Cleft Prevention Program. She established there a strong molecular genetics research toward finding causes on cleft in different populations and continues her effort to develop and established the efficient approach to prevent cleft lip and palate anomalies. In 2011 she organized and presided the 3rd ICPF International workshop CLEFT2011 held in San Francisco that was attended by over 250 participants from 30 countries. Dr. Tolarova has been honored with the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF) Award of Merit which recognizes her extensive research on prevention of clefts. Tolarova received the award on May 9 during the 7th Biennial World Cleft Lip and Palate Congress hosted by ICPF and held in Mahe, Seychelles.

Causes and primary prevention of cleft lip and palate and of other congenital anomalies; molecular genetic studies of genes involved in etiology of orofacial clefts, craniofacial anomalies, and dental anomalies; studies of environmental and nutritional factors involved in etiology of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate anomalies; gene-environmental interactions in etiology of craniofacial anomalies, especially in etiology of cleft lip and palate; etiology and epidemiology of birth defects with special interest in cleft lip and palate, craniofacial anomalies, and syndromes; dysmorphology; population genetics; multifactorial inheritance; monitoring of birth defects and genetic registries; genetic education and counseling.

James L. Ratcliff is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Rowpar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, maker of the ClōSYS brands of oral care products. In 2017 and 2018, Rowpar was cited by Corporate Livewire as innovative leader in oral care for North America. In 2014, Rowpar received the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Exporter of the Year Award. From 1989 to 2000, Dr. Ratcliff served as senior research scientist, professor and director, Center for the Study of Higher Education at the Pennsylvania State University. From 1979 to 1989, Dr. Ratcliff was professor and program head for higher education at Iowa State University. Dr. Ratcliff is author of 120 articles, books, book chapters, is co-inventor on over 24 patents and patents pending. He is active member of the Arizona Biotechnology Assn., American Academy of Oral and Systemic Health, American Education Research Assn., and the International Association for Dental Research. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Washington State University, a M.A. in History from Washington State University, and a B.A. from Utah State University

Dental Research

Dr. Alex Giannini has founded and served as CEO of several dental groups and DSOs. With over 29 years of experience in the clinical, administration and management of dental practices including its related businesses, as well as real estate development/management, Dr. Giannini has doubled and quadrupled dental practice revenue and profitability within a year while creating a platform and national prominence. Dr. Giannini was the founder of Comfortable Care Dental Group’s initial office in 1989 and part of the Heartland Dental team and growth at the turn of century. He later founded Dynamic Dental Partners Group (DDPG) in 2008. In 2014, DDPG was listed at #14 on the Inc. 5000 list for the fastest-growing private companies in America. Dr. Giannini practiced high-end fee for service dentistry in Florida for 9 years, after which time he co-owned and managed dental practices in Florida, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. In addition, Dr. Giannini has been featured as a guest speaker at many Practice Management conferences throughout the nation. Dr. Giannini has worked with Institutional, Private Equity and Family-Office Investors. He has turned around 100’s of practice including distressed Dental Groups and DSO’s. His role is strategic and includes shaping the philosophy and delivery of quality dental care along with implementing Clinical and Operational Policies, Structure and Protocols for his Management Team to deliver productive and profitable dental offices. He is also involved in Doctor recruitment, complete business development, marketing, strategic planning as a business analyst to oversee the financial operations including the dental systems, forecasting, budgeting, and goal setting of each individual affiliated office and company. Dr. Giannini is currently President of the AAGDP (American Academy of Dental Group Practice www.aadgp.org) and part of the ADSO too

The clinical, Administration and Management of dental practices including its related businesses

Dr. Svoboda obtained a Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto & then proceeded to earn a PhD and a Licence to Practice Dentistry from the Faculty of Dentistry at the same University. In 1982 he began his private Practice in Brampton as a General Dentist. Dr. Svoboda provided a wide range of services for his patients including tooth repair, removal & replacement with fixed bridges and dentures. In 1990 Dr. Svoboda started to include Dental Implants in his treatments. Today, Dr. Svoboda devotes much of his time, providing treatment involving dental Implants for his Patients and Patients referred to him by other professionals. Implant treatment involves Special Diagnostic, Surgical & Prosthetic components. Dr. Svoboda usually provides all Phases of Implant Treatment for his patients in his office. Dr. Svoboda is a longstanding member of many local dental organizations, including the Canadian Dental Association, Ontario Dental Association and Halton-Peel Dental Association.

Dental Implants

Dr. Michael Waldmeier received his DMD degree from the Southern Illinois University in 1979. He obtained his PhD in Biological Materials from the Northwestern University. A dentist with over 2 decades of professional experience Dr. Waldmeier has served as an Assistant professor in the University of Connecticut. He has held several key positions in organizations like Procter & Gamble.

Dental

William J Dunn is a graduate of the University of Texas Dental School at Houston, Texas. He completed a Residency in Comprehensive Dentistry at Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1994. He completed a Fellowship in Dental Biomaterials at the University Florida in 2000. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of General Dentistry, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials. He served as Military Consultant to the Surgeon General for dental research, medical ethics, materials, devices and investigations. He has published more than 46 papers and has spoken extensively at national and international conferences.

Dental Research, Medical Ethics, Materials, Devices and Investigations

Jaana Sippus has received her Master of Science in Lasers in Dentistry from Aachen University, Germany 2014. She has also received European Master’s Degree in Oral Laser Applications (EMDOLA) in Barcelona 2015. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in University of Turku, Finland. She has had private dental clinic since 1981 in Vaasa. She is the owner of Laser Edu Ltd. and representative for AALZ GmbH in Finland and AALZ Academic Co-worker, 2015. She has been speaker in several Laser Congresses since 2014 and is Board Member of WFLD-ED and LIDS (Journal Lasers in Dental Science) Advisory Board Member.

Lasers in Dental Science

Dr Aseem Prakash Tikku is currently the Head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India and has more than 30 years of post-graduate teaching experience. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals. He is former Dean Faculty of Dental Sciences; King George’s Medical University and is the Member of Dental Council of India. He is also the Vice President of Indian Society of Dental Research and Past President Indian Endodontic Society. He has been a Guest Speaker at national conferences and various other scientific programs at state conferences

Dental Research

Margaret Cox is Professor of Information Technology in Education in both the Department for Education and Professional Studies and The Dental Institute at King's College London, University of London and Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. For more than 40 years Margaret Cox has developed educational software, researched the impact of IT on teaching, learning and assessment in all education sectors, and pioneered the use of the Internet for sharing scientific data in the early 1980s. In the last 10 years she has pioneered the development and evaluation of haptic technologies in dentistry, medicine and other healthcare professions in Higher Education for which her hapTEL project has been awarded 4 separate prizes for outstanding contributions to new technologies in education.She is the current President of the National Conference of University Professors, past President of the Association for IT Teachers in Schools (ACITT which merged with NAACE in 2002) and founder member of the international Edu summits which advise governments world wide on IT in Education.

Dental Education,Information Technology in education, Digital Dentistry.

Dr. McAllister graduated from Universidad de Guadalajara in 1988 and has been practicing dentistry in the Los Angeles for over 20 years. Dr. McAllister is an instructor for the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry where he teaches dentists and Periodontists the LANAP and LAPIP treatment protocols.. He is a member in good standing with the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Periodontology, and The Downey Dental Academy, which he is currently the acting Program Director.

Periodontal therapy,Laser Dentistry,LANAP and LAPIP treatment protocols