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Special Interest Groups

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ADEA Special Interest Groups

An ADEA Special Interest Group (SIG) is a group of ADEA members with similar professional specialties who come together to exchange ideas and keep themselves informed about current and discrete developments in the field of dental education. The activities of an ADEA SIG are planned by its members and elected officers and provide a clear indication of the diverse interests and needs of its members. 

Through participation in an ADEA SIG, you can help design what, in essence, are small professional organizations within the association. Only ADEA members can belong to an ADEA SIG, though each member can belong to as many SIGs as desired. 


CAD/CAM Technology

The goals and objectives of this Special Interest Group are to provide a forum for faculty to communicate about the various aspects of integrating CAD/CAM into dental curriculum for the betterment of their universities.

Community email: adea-SIGCadCamTech@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Bina Surti, D.D.S., M.A.Ed.,
University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
bsurti@pacific.edu

Chair-elect
Michelle Thompson, D.D.S.
University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston 
michelle.a.thompson@uth.tmc.edu            

Secretary
Onkamon Budsabong, D.D.S.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine 
onkamonb@bu.edu          

 

Career Development for the New Educator

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Career Development for the New Educator addresses the teaching, service, research and professional development needs of recently appointed dental and allied dental faculty.

Community email: adea-SIGCareerDev@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Samar Shaikh, B.D.S., M.S.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Samar.Shaikh@tufts.edu

Chair-elect
Khairunisa Hashmani, Ed.D., M.A., RDH
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
Khairunisa.M.Hashmani@uth.tmc.edu

Secretary
Clarissa Souza Gomes da Fontoura, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
fontoura@umich.edu

Dental Hygiene Clinical Coordinators

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Dental Hygiene Clinical Coordinators addresses issues affecting the clinical aspect of dental hygiene.

Community email:  adea-SIGDHCC@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Ahsley Hobbs, RDH, B.S.D.H., M.S., ECP II
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry
ajhobbs@umkc.edu

Chair-elect
TBD

Secretary
TBD

 

Forensic Odontology and Forensic Science

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Forensic Odontology and Forensic Science promotes knowledge among dental educators regarding the rights and responsibilities of the dental professional when assisting legal agencies as experts regarding the oral and paraoral structures.

Community email: ADEA-SIGFOFS@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Shirley Lewis, B.D.S., CAGS, M.S.D.
Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine
slewis@tamu.edu

Chair-elect
TBD

Secretary
TBD

Graduate Dental Hygiene Education Programs

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Graduate Dental Hygiene Education Programs explores and examines opportunities, challenges and best practices in admissions, recruitment, curricula and scholarship related to graduate dental hygiene education.

Community email:  adea-SIGGradDenHyEd@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Brenda Bradshaw, RDH, M.S.
Old Dominion University
bbradsha@odu.edu

Chair-elect
Jennifer Brame, RDH, M.S., Ed.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry
jennifer_brame@unc.edu

Secretary
Amber Hunt, B.S.D.H., M.S., RDH
Old Dominion University
anwalter@odu.edu

Implant Dentistry

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Implant Dentistry addresses the interests of faculty in the advancement of implant dentistry in the curriculum.

Community email:  adea-SIGImplantDent@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Amerian Sones, D.M.D., M.S.
Texas A&M University School of Dentistry
sones@tamu.edu

Chair-elect
Mohamed M. Rahhal, B.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.
A.T. Still University
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health
mohamedrahhal@atsu.edu

Secretary
Archana Meethil, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.D.Sc.
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
archana.meethil@cuanschutz.edu

Internationally Educated Oral Health Professionals

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Internationally Educated Oral Health Professionals provides a forum for administrators, staff and faculty involved in the formation, teaching or administration of international dental programs to meet and communicate information and concerns of mutual interest, and to represent, assist, and advocate on behalf of our internationally educated colleagues.

Community email:  adea-SIGIEOHP@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Yashashri Urankar, D.D.S., M.P.H.
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
yashurankar@gmail.com

Chair-elect
Shirin Khoynezhad, D.D.S., D.M.Sc.
Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry
skhoyn@lsuhsc.edu

Secretary
Sohini Dhar, B.D.S., M.P.H., FICD
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
dhar@uthscsa.edu

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care explores and shares resources focused on interprofessional education and laboratory coursework and promotes activities and curricula for dental professionals to collaborate and communicate with other health care professionals to enhance patient safety.

Community email: adea-SIGIPECC@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Iwonka Eagle, RDH, M.S.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
ilenda@umich.edu

Chair-elect
Abrielle Lamphere, RDH, M.S.
Indiana University School of Dentistry
alampher@iu.edu

Secretary
Samantha Parad, D.M.D., RN, PNAP
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Samantha.Parad@tufts.edu

Lasers in Dentistry

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Lasers in Dentistry is a forum to explore the safe and effective use of lasers in all areas of dentistry and to help integrate and evaluate the knowledge and skills required to use all laser light technologies and techniques within the dental curriculum and practice.

Community email:  adea-SIGLasers@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Janina Golob Deep, D.M.D., M.S.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
jgolobdeep@vcu.edu

Chair-elect
Gregory Schuster, D.D.S., M.Ed.
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona
gschus@midwestern.edu

Secretary
Natalia Elson, D.D.S.
NYU College of Dentistry
ne354@nyu.edu

Sustainability in Dentistry

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Sustainability in Dentistry focuses on the need for oral health care providers to recognize and act on the environmental impact of the dental profession and the oral and systemic health impacts of climate change.

Community email: ADEA-SIGSustain@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Yarra Berdan, D.D.S., M.B.A.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
berdan@usc.edu

Chair-elect
Jennifer Luca, D.M.D.
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
leejenn94@gmail.com

Secretary
TBD

Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technology

The ADEA Special Interest Group on Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technology focuses on the exploration of and use of new and emerging technologies, and their use in dental education teaching and learning.

Community email:   adea-SIGTeachLearnET@ConnectedCommunity.org

Chair
Amirreza Ghassemi, D.D.S., M.S.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
ghassemia2@vcu.edu

Chair-elect
Hugo Campos, D.D.S., D.M.D., M.S.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
hugo.campos@tufts.edu

Secretary
Angelica Gil-Levin D.D.S., D.M.D.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
angelicamaria75@aol.com