Alyssa Aberle, RDH, MBA, CDIPC, FADHA

Alyssa Aberle, RDH, MBA, CDIPC, FADHA is a Colorado dental hygienist with a deep understanding of our profession and a big dream for our future. Alyssa has spent her dental hygiene career working with several community health organizations. Alyssa pursued a Master’s in Business Administration to gain a deeper grasp on organizational management and leadership. Alyssa currently works in a mobile dental program serving homeless shelters and residential treatment facilities. Alyssa also educates dental teams on OSHA & infection control as a consultant with Laudenslager Seminars. Alyssa is passionate about advocacy and advancing the profession of dental hygiene. Married to a Colorado native, Alyssa and her family of 5 spend most of their free time outdoors. Alyssa loves rocking out to 90’s music, movie theater popcorn, and chai tea.

Mohamed Attia, DDS, MAGD, DABOI, FAAID, DICOI
Alexandria Center of Dentistry

Dr. Attia is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD) and Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology (DABOI), A Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (FAAID) and also a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantology (DICOI). He graduated 2002 and upon graduation he completed three years of post-graduate general practice residency programs GPR which honed his skills and experience. Dr. Attia is dedicated to continuing education and always seeks excellence in dentistry.

He enjoys providing his patients with the utmost treatment using the latest dental technology available like same day crowns through the CEREC machine and precise planed surgery through the CT scan/ CBCT and 3D printer technology and many more. Dr. Attia enjoys teaching and mentoring; He is past president Virginia Academy of General Dentistry (VAGD) and currently CE chair Virginia Academy of General Dentistry. He also serves on Education council of Academy of General Dentistry and Education Council of American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). Dr. Attia speaks on avoiding and managing dental implants complications and enjoys teaching new dentists and clinicians in hands-on / live surgery courses and workshops to hone their implants skills.

Leah Brunner, MPH, CHES
Cavity Free at Three Outreach and Education Coordinator
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Leah Brunner is the Cavity Free at Three Outreach and Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In her current role, Leah provides coordination for the Cavity Free at Three program which includes training and providing technical assistance to medical and dental offices as they implement the CF3 program. Leah led the piloting of an updated Cavity Free at Three dental training with her curriculum development expertise. Leah serves as the point-person for all medical and dental clinics already trained in or interested in CF3 and works with each clinic to successfully implement the program.

Hayley Buckner, RDH, BS, FADHA, MADHA
Professional Relations Manager
Elevate Oral Care

Hayley Buckner is the Professional Relations Manager for Elevate Oral Care. Hayley enjoys combining her Dental Hygiene background and clinical experience to bring Key Opinion Leaders up to date information on Silver Fluorides, prevention, patient centered communication, and caries risk assessment protocols. Through a webinar platform, Hayley has educated over 1,700 dental offices on the benefits and protocols of Advantage Arrest Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%.

Mark Cannon, DDS, MS
Professor Emeritus
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT
Founder and owner of Oral Cancer Consulting and Oral Cancer Free

Susan Cotten is the founder of Oral Cancer Free, Oral Cancer Consulting, and developer of The Cotten Method™ of Screening, a proven, science-based approach to screen for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. She has performed over 60,000 screenings. Throughout her career, Susan has served as the Dental Lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, worked in private practice and public health as an Integrative Dental Hygienist within medical-dental integration. She has volunteered with the Denver Homeless Head and Neck Cancer Screening and Care Group and as a board member and oral cancer screening coordinator for Colorado Mission of Mercy. Susan is an RDH Advisory Board member for RDH Magazine and the Oral Cancer Foundation, and an instructor for the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists.

Matt Crespin, RDH, MPH, FADHA
Executive Director
Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin

Matt Crespin serves as the executive director at Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin and oversees the operations and direction of the organizations six health initiatives. Matt is a recognized expert in pediatric oral health prevention and has been responsible for the growth of Wisconsin’s school-based sealant program that serves more than 1,200 schools. Matt has led coalitions of partners to successfully pass policy allowing dental hygienists to bill Medicaid, practice independently in nearly all settings in Wisconsin and authorizing dental therapy. Matt is a past president of ADHA and led the organization through the early phases of Covid-19 and has the distinction of serving as the associations only male president. Matt also hosts and produces the ADHA Podcast, Hygiene Rising.

Derek Gatta, DDS
Co-Founder, RiseWell

Derek Gatta, DDS is a dentist and the co-founder of RiseWell, an all-natural, science-backed oral care brand that is revolutionizing the industry with its dentist-formulated, non-toxic products. Derek is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle and believes that optimal oral health is vital to achieving this. Together with his sister, Kori Estrada and John Estrada, Derek embarked on a mission to help them create safe and effective alternatives to traditional oral care products after realizing that most products on the market were toxic. As the head of the scientific council for RiseWell, Derek leads the brand in searching for the healthiest, cleanest ingredients, like Hydroxyapatite, and raising industry standards for quality and purity. Formerly in the Navy, where he studied dentistry while on active-duty scholarship, Derek attended Vanderbilt University and Nova Southeastern University for dental school, with a residency in Prosthodontics. He is passionate about educating people on how to achieve optimal oral health and currently runs a busy practice in Boca Raton, Florida.

Kristine Gatdula, BS, RDH
Founder, Floss Aspen and Aspen Myofunctional Therapy

Kristine Gatdula, BS, RDH is a dental hygienist and entrepreneur passionate about advancing medical-dental integration. As the founder of Floss Aspen and Aspen Myofunctional Therapy, she delivers prevention-focused care centered on airway health and whole-body wellness. With experience across diverse settings—including school-based health programs and primary care—she has worked to integrate oral health into healthcare models and expand access to care. Kristine is dedicated to redefining the role of the dental hygienist within interdisciplinary care, empowering clinicians to move beyond traditional boundaries and contribute to more connected, outcome-driven healthcare.

Anita Duhl Glicken, MSW
Professor and Associate Dean Emerita, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center

Anita Duhl Glicken, MSW, is Professor and Associate Dean Emerita at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. Ms. Glicken has more than 35 years of administrative, research and education experience including as a founding member and Executive Director of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH) and past chair of HRSA’s Federal Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD). Most recently, Ms. Glicken chaired the National Academies of Medicine Oral Health Integration Workshop and serves on the American Coalition for Oral Health steering committee. She also is an Advisory Board Member of the Santa Fe Group and Harvard 100 Million Mouths Campaign. An author of more than 100 publications in health care education, workforce and research, Ms. Glicken’s career has focused on healthcare transformation in the U.S. and abroad, partnering to create innovative education and care delivery models grounded in interprofessional collaboration and health equity.

Constance Gundacker, MD, MPH, FAAP
Section Chief of General and Community Pediatrics
Medical College of Wisconsin

Constance Gundacker is an Associate Professor and Section Chief of General and Community Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. As a community-engaged general pediatrician, she serves as academic principal investigator for the Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration project in partnership with the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin. She advocates for oral health policy as a member of the Milwaukee Oral Health Coalition and elected medical representative on the Wisconsin Oral Health steering committee. At Children’s Wisconsin Midtown Clinic, she provides outpatient pediatric care, leads resident education, and serves as Physician Lead. Dr. Gundacker earned her BS in Spanish at the University of Wisconsin, completed residency at UC-Davis, an MPH at UAB, and fellowship in primary care research at MCW.

JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA
Director, Education, Research & Advocacy
American Dental Hygienists’ Association

JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA is Director, Education, Research & Advocacy at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Prior to joining the ADHA, Dr. Gurenlian served as Professor and Graduate Program Director for the Department of Dental Hygiene at Idaho State University and is Professor Emerita. She is a Fellow in the ADHA and an Affiliate Academic Fellow in the American Academy of Oral Medicine, Past President of the IFDH and the ADHA, and Consultant to the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. Dr. Gurenlian is the co-author of the textbook “Preventing Medical Emergencies” and author of over 350 papers in dental hygiene, dental and medical publications. She has conducted over 650 presentations at regional, national, and international events.

Dr. Gurenlian has served as Chair of the ADHA Task Force on Return to Work and more recently was a member of the ADA Expert Panel for the evaluation of potential malignant disorders of the oral cavity. Dr. Gurenlian is the recipient of numerous awards including the IADR Oral Health Research Group 25th Oral Health Research Award, ADHA Presidential Citation, Esther Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award, Alfred C. Fones Award, Irene Newman Award, ADHA/Warner Lambert Award for Excellence, and the ADHA Distinguished Service Award.

Howard Hindin, DDS
Co-Founder and President, American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry

Howard Hindin, DDS is co-founder and president of the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD) and the Foundation for Airway Health, organizations dedicated to raising awareness of airway, sleep, and breathing disorders and advancing interdisciplinary education. Trained in all aspects of general dentistry, he focuses on craniofacial pain and sleep dental medicine. A pioneer in advancing the understanding of the connection between oral health and whole-body health, he was among the first dentists to eliminate mercury from clinical practice. Dr. Hindin was the first dentist elected to the board of the American College for Advancement of Medicine (ACAM) and also serves on the board of Sharp Again, a nonprofit focused on reversible contributors to cognitive decline.

Andrea Johnson, MS, RDH
Senior Groups Dental Hygiene Leader, Professional Oral Care Division
Procter & Gamble

Andrea Johnson, MS, RDH is Senior Groups Dental Hygiene Leader, Professional Oral Care Division at Procter & Gamble. She has held numerous roles for the company for more than 20 years. She enjoys sharing the science within the dental world, working with speakers, associations and building capabilities within the Professional Oral Care Division at P&G. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and an extended certification in juvenile behavior counseling.

Holly Kingsbury, MPH
Quality Initiatives Director
Colorado Community Health Network

Holly Kingsbury, MPH is the Quality Initiatives Director at the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN). CCHN is the primary care association for Colorado, representing the 21 Community Health Centers in Colorado, the largest primary care network in the state. Holly joined CCHN in 2015, and in her current role she oversees the quality improvement, practice facilitation, and technical assistance work of the Quality Initiatives Division, supporting Community Health Centers in areas such as medical, dental, and behavioral health integration, emergency preparedness, disease prevention and detection, and team-based care. Holly is also the staff lead for the Colorado Dental Health Network, the peer group of Community Health Center dental leaders. She has a master’s degree in public health from the Colorado School of Public Health.

Joy Lantz, RDH, PHDH, COM^®, IBCLC, FAHDA
President
International Association of Orofacial Myology

Joy Lantz is a dental educator, consultant, and clinician dedicated to advancing integrative, prevention-focused care. She earned her certification in orofacial myology through the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) in 2017 and currently serves as IAOM President. In 2022, she became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), further deepening her whole-body approach to oral health. Joy is the founder of Joy Lantz: Transforming Oral Health, where she educates patients, parents, and professionals while consulting with dental practices seeking to thoughtfully integrate airway-centered care. Her passion lies in empowering dental and medical teams to collaborate in early screening for oral myofunctional and airway disorders to support lifelong health.

Victoria Martinec, RDH
Senior Manager, Clinical Solutions and A.I. Operations
Henry Schein One

Victoria Martinec, RDH is redefining the role of the dental hygienist in modern healthcare. A registered dental hygienist turned product leader, she operates at the intersection of clinical expertise and artificial intelligence—bringing real-world insight to the development of next-generation dental technologies. At Henry Schein One, Victoria leads initiatives focused on scaling AI across imaging and voice-driven workflows, partnering with organizations such as AWS and Pariveda Solutions to deliver production-grade solutions that improve outcomes and drive practice growth. Her work challenges the status quo: AI should not add complexity—it should remove friction, elevate clinical confidence, and unlock new levels of efficiency. Victoria is a vocal advocate for hygienists as innovators and believes the future of dentistry belongs to those willing to lead it.

Lisa Mayo, RDH, BSDH, MHA
Training & Education Specialist
vVardis

Lisa Mayo, RDH, BSDH, MHA is a dynamic international speaker who has taught hundreds of in-person and on-line continuing education courses for dental and medical professionals on a variety of topics for the past 20 years. She is a current Training & Education Specialist for vVardis and has been a clinically practicing RDH for 25 years, dental educator and former dental hygiene program director for 15 years, and a published author. She release her first full-length textbook in 2023 with Jones & Bartlett entitled Power Instrumentation for the Dental Professional. She can reached through her website at www.lisamayordh.com.

Mychi Nguyen, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Asian Health Services

Mychi Nguyen, MD is an Internal Medicine Physician and the Chief Medical Officer at Asian Health Services, a federally qualified health center serving diverse and multilingual communities. She brings over 16 years of clinical and health system leadership experience, including 6 years as a Chief Medical Officer, with a focus on quality improvement, workforce development, and integrated, team-based care.

In the past year, Dr. Nguyen has led workforce stabilization during a national provider shortage, strengthened clinical quality and safety systems, and positioned the organization as a national quality leader, consistently ranking among the top performers across OCHIN Epic 187 clinics and top 10% of FQHCs nationally. She has advanced medical–dental and behavioral health integration, expanded access through innovative care models, and built strong leadership pipelines to support long-term sustainability.

Dr. Nguyen serves in national and statewide leadership roles with organizations such as NACHC, CPCA, CHCN contributing to policy, quality, and best-practice development. She is a CHCF Leadership Alumni and is deeply committed to health equity, immigrant health, and building resilient safety-net systems.

Candace Owen, RDH, MS, MPH
Senior Director of Education and Strategic Partnerships
National Network for Oral Health Access

Candace Owen, RDH, MS, MPH is a registered dental hygienist and the Senior Director of Education & Strategic Partnerships for National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA). She has a Master’s in Public Health and in Dental Hygiene. With NNOHA, she develops and provides training and technical assistance resources for oral health and medical providers in the safety net. Her areas of expertise include workforce optimization, enhancing access to care, and oral health integration. Before joining NNOHA, Candace served as a faculty member for the University of New Mexico Department of Dental Medicine, teaching interprofessional education, clinical dental hygiene, and special care dentistry. Outside of NNOHA, she provides preventive dental services for patients in addiction recovery facilities and supportive housing centers. Candace lives in Denver, Colorado.

Elizabeth D. Ramos, DDS, MSD, EdD
Associate Dean, Academic Achievement and Curriculum
University of Colorado Anschutz

Elizabeth D. Ramos, DDS, MSD, EdD is a nationally recognized leader in periodontics and dental education. A longtime member of the American Academy of Periodontology, she has contributed to key initiatives advancing women in periodontics and professional membership growth, and has served in leadership roles with the American Association of Women Dentists and JDR Clinical & Translational Research.

After a decade in private practice, Dr. Ramos transitioned to academia, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping dental and dental hygiene education, curriculum development, and interdisciplinary research on periodontal and systemic health. She has received multiple honors for her leadership and teaching excellence.

Currently, Dr. Ramos serves as Associate Dean of Academic Achievement & Curriculum at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where she leads efforts to advance student success and person-centered care.

Anne Rice, RDH, BS
Owner, Oral Systemic Seminars

Anne Rice, RDH, BS has been a clinical dental hygienist for over 35 years, is a speaker, writer and consultant. She founded Oral Systemic Seminars in 2017 and is a Fellow and advisory board member of AAOSH, a Bale/Doneen preceptor, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Longevity Specialist. In 2021, she published Alzheimer’s Disease and Oral-Systemic Health in Frontiers. She writes an oral-systemic column for RDH Magazine and serves on its editorial board, as well as O’Hehir University’s Editorial Review Board and Cloud Dentistry’s Empowering Women in Dentistry Council. She was honored with Sunstar’s 2024 Award of Distinction. Anne has consulted with Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, Florida Atlantic College Center for Brain Health, the Atria Health and Research Institute and Florida Institute Neurodegeneration Diseases.

George J. Schmidt, DMD, FAGD, FICOI
President-Elect, Academy of General Dentistry

George J. Schmidt, DMD FAGD FICOI, is a 1998 OKU graduate of the UMDNJ-NJ Dental School where he received his DMD degree. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. In addition to private practice Dr. Schmidt Serves as a Trustee on the Academy of General Dentistry’s Oral Cancer Foundation and has taught dentistry at several Universities. He has held positions as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the CDE Implant department at NYU College of Dentistry and has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences. Currently he is the Director of undergraduate Implantolgy as Assistant Professor in the department of prosthodontics at Nova Southeastern Dental school. Dr. Schmidt is the host of the Academy of General Dentistry’s National Podcast Series, is active with the Academy of General Dentistry as the current President-Elect, past chairman of the scientific meetings council, past chairman of the AGD Council on Dental Education, and Past President of the NJAGD. He is passionate about dental education and lectures nationally on dental implants, restorative dentistry and practice management. Dr. Schmidt lives in South Florida with his wife Robin and enjoys spending time playing golf and traveling.

Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH
Founder, Level Up Infection Prevention and MichelleStrangeRDH and Practice Owner, SmileLogic
University of Minnesota

Cynthia Stull, DHSc, RDH
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota

Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA
President, 2025-2026
American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA has been shaping the future of dental hygiene for nearly three decades – leading, educating and advocating on local, national and international stages. A proud graduate of the University of South Dakota, Lancette calls Reno, Nevada home, but her impact knows no borders.

From past president of the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association to serving on the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Board of Directors, Lancette’s leadership has left a lasting mark. Her dedication has earned her prestigious accolades, including the ADHA Professional Achievement Award, the ADHA Award for Excellence (an honor bestowed upon only a select few in a century), Nevada Dental Hygienist of the Year and the internationally recognized Denobi “All Star” Award for being a trailblazer in all seven professional roles of the dental hygienist. She has also been named one of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s “Six Dental Hygienists You Need to Know.”

A dynamic educator and sought-after speaker, Lancette is a recognized key opinion leader and mentor in the dental industry. Whether on stage, writing articles or in podcasts, she champions cutting-edge approaches to care – pioneering mobile and teledentistry solutions, advocating for vaccine administration by dental hygienists and leading conversations on innovative medical-dental integration. She is a proud airway ambassador and podcast host for Beyond Breathing, an international platform that highlights the importance of sleep, breathing and oral health for optimal health and longevity.

Beyond the podium, Lancette is a hands-on clinician. She owns an independent mobile dental hygiene practice, is the clinical director Sierra Sleep, Airway & Wellness Center and founded Hygienist for Health, an AGD PACE approved national CE company. Her passion for prevention and equitable access to dental care extends into policy, where she volunteers as a registered lobbyist for nonprofit initiatives.

Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH, FADHA
Chief Executive Officer
Executive RDH

Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH, FADHA has spent the last decade as a clinician, speaker, author, mentor, and public health advocate. She received her BSDH from West Coast University and Master of Public Health from A.T. Still University, where she earned the Outstanding Student Service Award for her contributions to the field of public health. She is a past President of the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association (NDHA), an Oral Health Champion, and the recipient of the Nevada Dental Hygienist of the Year Award. Ms. Woods consults as a key product expert. She established the Dental Public Health Collaborative, which offers post-graduate training and a mentorship network to currently practicing and prospective public health dental hygienists and students.