Conference Program – 2025

Prof. Dr. Richard Valachovic

DMD, MPH
Clinical Professor in Paediatric Dentistry | USA

Dr. Valachovic currently serves as Clinical Professor and Director of the Center for Oral Health Policy and Management at New York University in Manhattan. He joined the faculty at NYU after serving or 22 years as the President and CEO of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and concurrently as the President of the International Federation of Dental Educators and Associations (IFDEA). Prior to joining ADEA he was a full-time faculty member at Harvard University, He received the DMD degree from the University of Connecticut and completed postdoctoral training programs in pediatric dentistry at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston and dental public health at Harvard University. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. He is an author of more than 100 articles, manuscripts and book chapters.
Lecture: Smile Forward: Leadership Essentials for Dental Professionals

Dr. Michael P. O'Connor

EdD, MPA
Clinical Professor of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, Executive Vice Dean, Chief Business and Financial Officer | USA

Michael P. O’Connor serves as Executive Vice Dean at New York University’s College of Dentistry. He is the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of the College. He also serves as founding Co-Director of the Center for Oral Health and Policy Management and the Co-Director of the Veterans Oral Care Access Resource (VOCARE). He has been at NYU since January, 2007. Dr. O’Connor provides leadership for a diversified portfolio including: strategic planning, organizational development, policy analysis, financial management, clinical affairs, clinical administration, human resources and faculty services, student affairs, compliance, systems technology, government relations, communications and public affairs, space management, and academic and financial planning. Dr. O’Connor is designated as the Chief Executive Officer and Administrator of the NYU Article 28 Dental Diagnostic and Treatment Center. During his tenure at the NYU Dental College, Michael served as a strategic advisor to the President and Dean of the NYU Tandon College of Engineering for five years. He also served as the CFO for the Rory Meyers College of Nursing for nine years. Prior to joining NYU, he served as Vice President for Finance and Budget (CFO) for the Columbia University Medical Center & Senior Associate Dean for Organizational & Professional Development for the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. O’Connor was the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Vice Dean for Finance and Administration for over 20 years. He has been on the Columbia faculty since 1981, currently as Clinical Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management. Dr. O’Connor is a native New Yorker and holds doctoral and master’s degrees in higher education from Columbia University and a Master in Public Administration degree from the City University of New York. He has received Advanced Post Graduate Training at Harvard and Cornell Universities.
Lecture: The Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Prof. Dr. Anabella Oquendo

DDS
Assistant Dean for International Programs, Specialist in Aesthetic Dentistry | USA

Dr. Anabella Oquendo, an accomplished professional in the field of dentistry, currently serves as an Associate Professor at New York University College of Dentistry. In addition to her academic role, she holds the esteemed positions of Assistant Dean for International Programs and Director of the Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Aesthetic Dentistry (ACFAD). Dr. Oquendo's journey in dentistry commenced with the attainment of her dental degree from the Central University of Venezuela Dental School in Caracas, Venezuela. Following her graduation, she ventured into private practice, gaining valuable experience in the field. Her affiliation with New York University's College of Dentistry began when she successfully completed the Advanced Program for International Dentists in Esthetic Dentistry in 2008. She further enhanced her knowledge and skills by continuing in the program and obtaining a Clinical Fellowship certificate for an additional year. In 2010, Dr. Oquendo's commitment and expertise earned her a prominent position as a full-time faculty member within the esteemed faculty of esthetic dentistry at NYU Dentistry. In recognition of her exceptional capabilities, she was appointed as the Director of ACFAD in 2014 and, more recently, as an Assistant Dean for International Programs in 2021. Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Oquendo remains actively engaged in various dental committees and professional societies, demonstrating her commitment to the advancement of dentistry. She also provides patient care at the NYU Dentistry Faculty Practice, where a significant portion of her practice is dedicated to the art and science of esthetic dentistry. Dr. Anabella Oquendo's multifaceted contributions make her a respected and valued figure in the field of dentistry.
Lecture: The DO's and DON'Ts of Jaw-dropping Dental Presentations
Lecture: Mastering Current Concepts in Porcelain Laminate Veneers Preparation Design

Prof. Amr Moursi

DDS, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry | USA

Dr. Moursi is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the New York University College of Dentistry. Dr. Moursi currently serves as the Immediate Past-President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and as AAPD Liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Moursi’s research focuses on early childhood oral health and he has served as Principal Investigator on a number of federally-funded studies. He is the author or co-author of over 100 published articles, book chapters and policy briefs, as well as Editor of the textbook Clinical Cases in Pediatric Dentistry. He also maintains a private practice in New York City.
Lecture: Leadership Through Community- Based Oral Health – Clinical Care and Advocacy
Lecture: • State of The Art Minimally Invasive Pediatric Caries Management

Dr. Costa Nicolopoulos

BDS, FFD(SA)MFOS
Specialist Maxillo-Facial & Oral Surgery | United Arab Emirates

Dr Costa Nicolopoulos BDS cum laude, FFD(SA)MFOS qualified as a dentist in 1984 receiving his dental degree “cum laude” from Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. He received numerous awards including the Gold Medal of the Dental Association of South Africa for the most outstanding graduate. In 1990 he completed his 4-year full time postgraduate Maxillo-Facial & Oral Surgery training at Wits University and was awarded FFD from the College of Medicine of South Africa. Since 1991 he is in full-time specialist Maxillo-Facial & Oral Surgery private practice concentrating on immediate loading of dental implants. To date, he has placed over 40.000 dental implants. In 2011, with Dr Petros Yuvanoglu, he established the SameDay Dental Implants Clinic in Dubai where he is also the co-director of the Branemark Osseointegration Center as well as the ZAGA Zygoma Implant Center. Dr Costa has been an invited speaker at numerous organizations, including the Academy of Osseointegration (AO), American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED). Osseodensification Academy, Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) and American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) as well as Hellenic Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (HAOMS). He is also a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantology (ICOI).
Lecture: Optimizing Zygomatic Implant Treatment

Dr. Giorgi Matteo

BDS, MSc
Prosthetic Dentist | Italy

2007 Degree in Dentistry and Prosthetics Dentistry at University of Pisa. 2015 International practical course on patient "Zygomatic Implant and bone augmentation "Prof. Salvoni at Sao Paulo (Brazil). 2015 Practical International course on cadaver "The Quad Zygoma Concept" Prof. Ruben Davo, Prof. Chantal Malavez, Alicante. 2015 Master's degree in zygomatic implantology at the University San Leopoldo Mandic, São Paulo (Brazil). 2017 Specialization in zygomatic implantology at the University of Lleida, Curitiba (Brazil). Specialization in buco maxillo facial at Facop in Brazil. 2018 speaker at the World Congress of Surgery advanced at Dominican Republic. Expert in complex rehabilitations, with more than 3500 zygomatic implants performed and prosthesized.
Lecture: Simplified Extrasinus Technique for Zygoma Implant Placement: How To Do It

Dr. Tommaso Grandi

BDS
Prosthetic Dentist, Professor of Periodontology | Italy

Graduated with honors in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 2004. Research fellow at the Department of Neuroscience, Head-Neck Rehabilitation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 2007. From 2008 to 2013, he was Professor of Periodontology at the same university. In 2013 he founded the Tommaso Grandi Dental Clinic, a center for treatment, research and training in the field of implant dentistry. In recent years, Dr. Grandi has also engaged in research both in Italy and abroad. He participates with colleagues from all over the world in scientific studies on immediate loading in implantology.
Lecture: Fully Guided Implant Placement in the Atrophic Maxilla Utilizing Non-alveolar Anchorage Sites.

Dr. Federico Emiliani

DDS
General Dentist, Dental Clinic Owner & Lecturer | Italy

Dr. Federico Emiliani graduated in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics in 2009 at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome with a grade of 110/110 cum laude. In the same year he started his free profession in Rome, opening his first studio. From 2009 to 2013 he collaborated in several Italian studios, until, at the end of 2013, he opened his second studio located in Frosinone. He attends several refresher courses, in Italy and abroad, dedicating himself in a specialized way to prosthetics, implantology, adhesion and complex rehabilitations. Among the main training courses she attended the Master in fixed prosthesis in three modules of Dr. Mauro Fradeani, subsequently becoming part of the Fradeani Education teaching team. In 2018 he was appointed speaker at the Master of Digital Dentistry at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, directed by prof. Claudio Arcuri, with the task of developing lessons on digital aesthetic planning in fixed prostheses, and the use of modern guided aesthetic design apps. He practices freelance in his studies in Rome and Frosinone.
Lecture: Go to the White: Diagnosis and Treatment of Enamel Defects in Aesthetic Area with Modern and Minimal Invasive Procedures

Dr. Roberto Turrini

DDS
General Dentist, Visiting Professor | Italy

Dr. Roberto Turrini graduated in Dentistry at the University of Florence in 2004. Since 2005 he has been working as a collaborator in Dr. Mauro Fradeani’s office in Pesaro, Italy. He has attended several courses in Italy and abroad on prosthodontics, implantology and esthetic dentistry. Author of several scientific articles published in Italian and international magazines, he is co-author of a text about dental bleaching, published by Quintessence International in 2011 (“Dental bleaching: methods for success”), translated in German and Spanish. In 2023 he published with Dr. Federico Emiliani his new book “Black&White: clinical multidisciplinary protocols of cariology, dental bleaching and treatment of dental discolorations”, published by Edra and presently in translation into other languages. He lectures nationally and internationally on topics related prosthodontics and esthetic dentistry. His professional activity is based in Pesaro, Florence and Terni, focused on restorative and prosthodontics with particular interest in esthetic dentistry. He is Visiting Professor at the University of Genoa, Italy, Department of Prosthodontics and active member of IAED (Italian Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry) and SIDOC (Italian Society of Conservative Dentistry).
Lecture: Back from Black: Aesthetic Discolorations Management from Simple Whitening to Direct and Indirect Restorative Connections