Featured Speakers

Karen Baker, RPh, MS

Dr. Karen Baker has been on the Dental College faculty at the University of Iowa for 40 years and occupies a unique role in dental practice and education. She is a clinical pharmacist with a Master’s degree in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and is focused on patient-specific dental drug therapy. She has given well over 1000 invited programs nationally and internationally and holds memberships in many dental and clinical pharmacology and therapeutics organizations. Her dental education-based pharmacy and drug therapy consultation center is the only one in the United States. She has authored many articles and abstracts and lectures extensively in pre-doctoral and graduate courses at the University of Iowa.

Lois Banta

Lois Banta is CEO, President and Founder of Healthcare Enterprises, Inc., a company that specializes in all aspects of dental practice retreats and lectures. Lois has over 45 years of dental experience and consults and speaks nationally and internationally. She is the CEO of The Speaking Consulting Network, and a member of several professional organizations.

Anthony Cardoza, DDS, D-ABFO

Dr. Anthony "Rick" Cardoza is a forensic dental consultant for the County of San Diego Office of the Medical Examiner, County of Imperial, Office of the Coroner, State of California Department of Justice and a member of the California Dental Identification Team (CalDIT). Dr. Cardoza is a general dentist in San Diego California. Dr. Cardoza first incorporated dental lasers into his practice in 2001 for both hard tissue and soft tissue applications. Dr. Cardoza has certification in the Academy of Clinical Technology, and the World Clinic Laser Institute .Dr. Cardoza graduated from Northwestern Dental School in 1985. Dr. Cardoza is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. Dr. Cardoza lectures extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada on the topics of lasers and forensic dentistry.

Howard Glazer, DDS, FAGD

Dr. Glazer is a Fellow and Past President of the Academy of General Dentistry, and former Assistant Clinical Professor in Dentistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). He has been a visiting clinician at several universities around the country. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists; International College of Dentists; American Society for Dental Aesthetics, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Glazer is an Attending Dentist at the Englewood Hospital (Englewood, NJ). Additionally, Dr. Glazer is the Deputy Chief Forensic Dental Consultant to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York.

For the past several years, Dr. Glazer has been named as one of the “Leading Clinicians in Continuing Education” by Dentistry Today, and was named as one of the Top Dentists in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly, 201 Magazine, and Bergen Magazine. Most recently he was awarded the Irwin Smigel Prize in Aesthetic Dentistry presented by New York University College of Dentistry for “Distinguished Achievement in the Art and Science of Aesthetic Dentistry.” He lectures throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas, on the subject of dental materials, cosmetic dentistry, forensic dentistry and patient management. Dr. Glazer is a frequent author of dental articles and has been published throughout the world. Having previously published a column in AGD IMPACT entitled “What’s Hot and What’s Getting Hotter!”, he now publishes the column “I Have It..You Need It!” in Dental Economics, and a podcast contributor to Through the Loupes. He maintains a general practice in Fort Lee, NJ.

Angela Gullard, DMD, PhD, MDS

Dr. Gullard is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry in 2016, completing the DMD/PhD program. She pursued specialty training at the UTHSC College of Dentistry in Memphis and earned a Certificate in Prosthodontics and a Master of Dental Science degree in 2019. Serving as the Director of Implant Prosthodontics and Head of Postgraduate Prosthodontics, she regularly engages with predoctoral and postgraduate trainees. She is passionate about prosthodontics, particularly dental education and research. If she is not in a dental lab or a teaching clinic, you’d probably find her working on a craft project, experimenting in the kitchen, or doing home renovation work.

Edwin McDonald, DDS, FAGD, FICD

As a general dentist in Plano for more than 30 years, Dr. Edwin McDonald focuses on aesthetic, restorative, and implant dentistry. By working with a superb team of specialists and technicians, using the latest technology, and building high-trust relationships, Dr. Mac and team guide their patients to better health, well-being, and confidence. Dr. Mac loves learning and stays involved in education as a visiting faculty member at The Pankey Institute. He is a speaker at national and regional meetings, a published author, and has served as chairman of the Southwest Dental Conference and the annual session of the Texas Dental Association.

Dr. Mac is a partner in Line Of Sight Coaching, a professional coaching practice focused on leadership and business development for dentists and other health care professionals.

James C. Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD

James (Jay) C. Ragain, Jr., is the Dean of the UTHSC College of Dentistry. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2013 and subsequently joined the UTHSC College of Dentistry faculty where served many leadership roles, including the Interim Chair of the General Practice Dentistry Department. He also lectures on bio-materials, operative dentistry, and professionalism. He holds the D.D.S. degree (University of Tennessee 1984), the M.S. degree (Restorative Dentistry, University of Michigan 1991) and the Ph.D. degree (Oral Biology/Dental Materials, The Ohio State University 1998). He has authored or co-authored numerous publications and holds three U.S. patents. He has served as a member of the UTHSC College of Dentistry Alumni Board of Trustees, and he is a Past President of the University of Tennessee Dental Alumni Association. Dr. Ragain is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.

Lynn Russell, RDH, BSDH, MEd, EdD

Dr. Lynn Russell grew up in Memphis and Graduated in the Dental Hygiene class of 1975 when it was still an A.S. program. She returned to school and completed her BSDH in 1977. After graduation, she worked in private Practice and then returned to UTHSC where she worked in Community and Preventive Dentistry and the Dental Hygiene department. In 1980, she returned to private practice and remained there until 2007, when she returned to Academia to start the Dental Hygiene program for Concorde Career College, a proprietary school with 16 campuses. The program she wrote there is now on eight of their campuses. She has also written the dental hygiene program for another school in East Tennessee. In 2013, she became the Director of Teaching and Professional Development for the Concorde group. She has received her M. Ed. from Christian Brothers University in Memphis and her Ed. D. in Leadership, with a concentration in Adult Education, from the University of Memphis.. Currently she is the Chair of the Department of Dental hygiene at UTHSC and the Interim Program Director for the Master of Dental Hygiene (MDH) program at UTHSC.

She is an editor for Gavin Publishing’s Journal of Dental Sciences.

She is active in the Memphis Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Tennessee Dental Hygienists’ having served as Trustee for District 9 and is currently the President-Elect. She will serve as the President of the TNDHA in 2017-2018.

David R. Sain, DDS, MS

After attaining a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Tennessee Dental School, Dr. Sain completed his formal dental education in 1982 with a Master’s Degree in Orthodontics. Over the past 35 years, he has enjoyed a successful practice of orthodontics in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Dr. Sain has taught at Vanderbilt Medical School’s Dental Division as an Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, as well as had articles published in leading orthodontic journals. For the last 14 years, serving as Chairman of the Tennessee Dental Association’s Dental Professionals Wellness Committee, Dr. Sain has studied and gained extensive knowledge concerning substance abuse issues, and has had articles published on subjects such as “Genetics of Chemical Dependency” and “Interoffice Intervention for Chemical Dependency.” Having recently sold his orthodontic practice, his main focus and attention now is serving as the Director of the Wellness Committee Program.

Werner H. Shintaku, DDS, MS, MS, D.O.M.F.R.

Dr. Werner H. Shintaku is an Associate Professor and is the Director of Imaging Sciences of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Dentistry, Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Medicine. Dr. Shintaku received his dental degree in 1998 and Master of Science (MS) degree in oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMFR) in 2004 from the University of Sao Paulo, School of Dentistry in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In 2009, he received a specialty degree in Oral Diagnosis from the Brazilian Dental Board. In 2004, he moved to the United States where he taught OMFR at the University of Southern California (USC), School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, California. In 2007, he joined the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology graduate program of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), Texas and received his certificate in 2009 and Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Science degrees in 2010.

Dr. Shintaku is the only Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology affiliated to an educational institution in Tennessee. He has more than 20 years of experience in teaching and practicing OMFR. He has given several presentations and continuing education courses at national and international meetings and has published multiple articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Shintaku is the recipient of two awards given by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology recognizing him as one of the best faculty/dental educators in OMFR.

Richard "Sully" Sullivan, DDS

Dr. Richard "Sully" Sullivan graduated with his dental degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry. He is an Educator for 3D Dentists and Creator of The Millennial Dentist Podcast.

Ken Tilashalski, DMD

Dr. Ken Tilashalski ("Dr. T") is quite unique in that he has earned specialty certificates in both oral & maxillofacial pathology and endodontics. He is the Executive Associate Dean at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry. He served previously as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Alumni Association Endowed Professor at the UAB School of Dentistry with a dual appointment at the School of Medicine. After receiving his D.M.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Tilashalski completed both of his residencies along with an American Cancer Society fellowship at the University of Alabama.

Dr. T is passionate about educating dental health care professionals. He lectures extensively nationally and internationally in the areas of oral pathology, oral medicine, and infection control. Through his command of the material, Dr. T has gained a reputation as a must see presenter. He was honored as a recipient of the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for his dynamic, high-energy, entertaining and interactive style. Dr. T’s sessions are always informative, engaging, and amusing.

Catherine Warren, RDS, MEd, CDIPC

Katy Warren is a dental hygienist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has her mater’s degree in adult education and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Public Health. Katy has been in the field of dental hygiene for over 40 years. She started an OSHA/infection control compliance business in 1991 called Dental Occupational Consultants, Inc. Katy, along with her partner, review, and present continuing education to dental offices throughout Arkansas and neighboring states. She is a long-time member of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). She has spoken at local state dental and dental hygiene meetings, RDH Under One Roof, OSAP, William F. Slagle Dental Meeting, and Chicago Midwinter. In 2021, Katy was one of the first group to earn a certification called Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC).