Dr. Acela Martinez is and Associate Professor and Division Director of Clinical Implantology at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and also maintains a private practice in Greenville, NC. She earned her DMD with honors from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí and completed a certificate in Restorative Dentistry in Mexico. She later obtained a Certificate and Master of Science in Periodontology, followed by a Fellowship in Advanced Implant Dentistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Martinez is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI). She is also an active member of the Women Implantology Network (WIN), serving on the steering committee for the North America section.

Dr. Alex Gillone is an Associate Professor and Division Director of Periodontology at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. He also maintains a private practice in Greenville, NC. Dr. Gillone earned his DDS with honors from the University of Cagliari and completed a Master’s in Clinical Endodontics in Italy. He later received a Certificate and Master of Science in Periodontology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI).

Dr. Tsigarida was born and raised in Greece, where she completed her dental education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, earning her Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2008. After finishing her training, she moved to the United Kingdom to gain experience as a general dentist. A year later, she advanced her career by enrolling in the Periodontology program at The Ohio State University, where she was appointed Chief Resident. In 2013, she obtained both a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science degree.

Throughout her training and professional journey, Dr. Tsigarida has been dedicated to advancing the field of dentistry, particularly through her research on the microbiology of peri-implantitis. Her findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has received multiple accolades at international research conferences. Dr. Tsigarida is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and actively participates in various national dental organizations, including the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, the International Team for Implantology (ITI), and the International Association for Dental Research. She currently serves as a Board Trustee for the American Academy of Periodontology in its 7th District.

From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Tsigarida served as an Assistant Professor at the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. From 2019 to 2025, she has held the position of Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontology at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, where she currently serves as Chair. In addition to her administrative and teaching responsibilities, she maintains a faculty practice that focuses on Periodontics and Dental Implants.

Dr. Gallucci is the Chair of the department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He obtained his Doctorate in Dental Medicine at the department of Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Gallucci actively participates in clinical research related to implant-prosthodontics and Digital Dentistry. His work has been published in International peer reviewed journals and is member of the editorial board for several scientific dental journals. Dr. Gallucci participates as invited lecturer in international and national conferences and congresses. He is fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics, International Team for Implantology (ITI), Switzerland, and active member of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) – USA, European Academy of Osseointegration (EAO), Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, (GNYAP) and International Academy of Dental Research (IADR).

Dr. Ghida Lawand earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon, and pursued a Master’s degree in Prosthodontics and Esthetic Dentistry at Saint Joseph University, Lebanon. She has served as a clinical and digital instructor in the Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics Department at Beirut Arab University. In addition to her academic role, she has practiced dentistry in her private practice and at Tohme Clinic. Currently, Dr. Lawand is a Digital Implant Fellow at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. In 2018, she won the Middle East and North Africa regional finals of the Global Clinical Case Contest held by Dentsply Sirona. In 2024, she was awarded the Audience Favorite Award at the World Series Final of the Young ITI Day in Singapore. Dr. Lawand has contributed to the field of prosthodontics, digital dentistry, and implantology through her publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Konstantinos Chochlidakis received his dental degree from University of Athens, Greece in 2008 and completed his prosthodontic residency at Eastman Institute for Oral (EIOH) in 2013. He then joined Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, as a full-time Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics. Dr. Chochlidakis is currently an Associate Professor and the Program Director of the Prosthodontic Postgraduate Training Program at EIOH. Dr Chochlidakis received his Master of Clinical and Translational Science certificate in May 2019. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontists, Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists, Associate Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics, Fellow of the International Team for Implantology and holds several memberships in other dental organizations. He was the vice-Chair of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) 2019 annual meeting and the scientific Program Chair of the American Prosthodontic Society (APS) in the 2022 annual meeting. Dr Chochlidakis has also been appointed as the Director of the Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry starting January 2023. He is focused on clinical research conducting clinical trials on full-arch implant prostheses, digital dental technology, and dental ceramic materials. He has lectured nationally and internationally on several topics related to clinical prosthodontics and implant dentistry.

Dr. Larry Brecht is a leading prosthodontist specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics, with academic, clinical, and research contributions spanning over three decades. A graduate of Columbia College and New York University College of Dentistry, he completed his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He holds dual specialty certifications in Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics from the New York Veterans Administration Medical Center, where he also served as Chief Resident.

Currently, Dr. Brecht is a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU College of Dentistry and Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics in its Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics. He also directs maxillofacial prosthetics at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, and is a Visiting Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He previously served as Director of Craniofacial Prosthetics at NYU Langone’s Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery for 25 years.

Dr. Brecht is a past president of both the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics and the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics and an active member of numerous professional organizations including the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the American College of Prosthodontists, and the New York Academy of Dentistry.

A prolific contributor to the dental and surgical literature, Dr. Brecht serves on the editorial boards of leading journals such as the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, International Journal of Prosthodontics, and Journal of Prosthodontics. He has delivered hundreds of lectures and workshops worldwide and frequently advises companies on the development of dental and surgical technologies. He is also a regular voice on Sirius XM’s “Doctor Radio.”

Dr. Brecht’s research focuses on cleft care, maxillofacial reconstruction, and the dental management of facial transplant patients. He has been instrumental in pioneering nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and was part of the team that performed the first “Jaw-in-a-Day” reconstruction. Deeply committed to community service, he serves as President of NextGenFace, a nonprofit supporting children with craniofacial differences. He maintains a private practice limited to prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics in New York City.

Lorenzo Tavelli, DDS, MS, PhD is a full-time assistant professor and the director of the Postgraduate program in Periodontology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Tavelli graduated from the University of Milan and then completed his three-year residency in Periodontics and Master of Science at the University of Michigan. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
Dr. Tavelli’s main focus in clinical research and daily practice is microsurgical and minimally invasive soft tissue grafting procedures around teeth and dental implants, where he has been pioneering in the combined use of High Frequency Doppler Ultrasonography and wound healing biomarkers for assessing graft perfusion and the surgical outcomes. Dr. Tavelli has been extensively lecturing worldwide on these topics at the main scientific symposia. He has published more than 100 scholarly publications in the main international peer-reviewed journals while serving as an Associate Editor for Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research and for Journal of Periodontal Research.
He was the recipients of several research awards, such as the 2023 American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Earl Robinson Regeneration Award, the 2022 AAP Foundation Nevins Clinical Research Fellowship, the 2021 Goldman Clinical Research award from the Italian Society of Periodontology, and the 2020 AAP Balint Orban Research Award, among others.

Luiz H. Gonzaga, DDS, MS, graduated from the
 Catholic University of Brasilia College of Dentistry in
 2004. Doctor Gonzaga was 
awarded the ITI scholarship in 2009 and
completed his Implant fellowship the following year. In 2011 he was accepted and completed a residency program and a master’s in Prosthodontics
from the University of Florida in 2014. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the
 University of Florida Center for Implant Dentistry. Dr.
 Gonzaga is an ITI speaker and Fellow of the
 International Team for Implantology, a member of the American
 College of Prosthodontics, and the Academy of Osseointegration. Past communications officer for the USA section of the ITI and former President of the Florida Prosthodontic Association. Doctor Gonzaga lectures nationally and internationally on implant dentistry, has published in peer-reviewed journals, and has collaborations with U Michigan, U Kentucky, Tufts, and the University of Sao Paulo. Most of all, doctor Gonzaga is a clinician and practices at the Center for Implant dentistry five days a week, treating complex patients with surgical or prosthetic needs that involve dental implants.

Dr. med. dent. Manrique Fonseca, MAS is Program Director of the Postgraduate Program in Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology at the University of Bern. He holds advanced degrees in prosthodontics and implantology from institutions in Costa Rica, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S. His clinical and research focus includes esthetic rehabilitation, digital dentistry, and implant-supported prostheses. Dr. Fonseca has authored numerous scientific publications and received several international awards. He is an ITI Fellow and active member of the SSRD, IADR, and EAO.

Harvard School of Dental University

Boston, USA

Dr. Maria Elisa Galarraga-Vinueza, DDS, MSc, PhD, is a faculty member in the Periodontology Program at Harvard School of Dental University. Previously, she served as an assistant professor in the Department of Implant Dentistry at Tufts University, Boston (2022-2024). She completed her residency and master’s program at the University Federal Santa Catarina, Brazil, and was a visiting researcher at the Institute of Biomaterials, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Germany. Dr. Galarraga is an international speaker and has earned international awards, including the Osteology Foundation Scholarship in 2019. As part of her PhD research, she conducted clinical studies in the Oral Surgery Department at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. Her research primarily focuses on peri-implant diseases treatment, with over peer-reviewed 40 publications and 5 book chapters on the subject.

Dr. Galarraga was appointed as the lead researcher on risk indicators and factors for peri-implant diseases for the 2024 Consensus Conference on Peri-implant biological complications, a joint initiative of the American Academy of Periodontology and the Academy of Osseointegration. She serves on the Research Committee of the Iberoamerican Federation of Periodontology, is a member of the Expert Council of the Osteology Foundation. Additionally, she is an Ad hoc Reviewer for leading journals such as the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Clinical Oral Investigations, and Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research

Marisa Notturno, Dental Laboratory Technican, is a graduate of New York City College of Technology. Following a broad experience in the commercial lab field, Marisa has worked in the private office of Dr. Lawrence Brecht and Dr. Debra Cohn at NYCProsthodontics, where she has helped create a collaborative environment focused on ceramics and esthetics utilizing the most advanced CAD/CAM technologies. Marisa has continued her focus on ceramics and life-like restorations for the esthetic zone with advanced training in Switzerland and training with 3Shape, Ivoclar Vivadent , Planmecca and Wieland Precision Technologies.

Over the last few years she has become an expert in CAD/CAM laboratory procedures. She has given numerous courses Nationally and Internationally on CAD/CAM laboratory workflows emphasizing the Team approach.

Sam Alawie completed his Master Dental Technician degree in Brussels,

Belgium in 1994. He migrated to the United States in 2003. In 2006 he established and founded Beverly Hills Dental Laboratory and Training Center in Beverly Hills, California.

Sam is a recognized leader in the dental industry and has been featured in various dental publications for his influence and dedication to the profession of dental technology. His expertise is on the importance of technical clinical communications and

their implementations for successful case planning and patient satisfaction. He is a keen and avid supporter and member of many study groups, including the Aesthetic Excellence Study Club where he serves as President. He instructed various hands-on crown and bridge courses and hosted presentations throughout the Middle East, Europe and the United States. In 2014, Sam inaugurated a cutting-edge educational institution designed to provide an expansive environment for dental professionals and students to

collaborate, enhance their expertise, refine their skills, and engage in intellectual exchange. This facility hosts an array of comprehensive training programs, study cohorts, and continuing education opportunities. In 2020 Mr. Willi Geller of the Oral Design Foundation based in Switzerland invited Sam to be an active member of the Oral Design Family. Since then, Sam has been invited to be an associate member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, as well as an affiliate member of the Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics. In 2022, Sam appointed Dr. Pascal Magne as the director of our esteemed educational and research hub, now known as Magne Education. Mr. Alawie presently holds the position of founder and CEO.