JCNDE Members and Appointing Organizations

Dr. Peter M. Loomer (ADEA), Chair

Dr. Peter M. Loomer is dean and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry. Dr. Loomer is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained his BSc, DDS, PhD (Oral Biology) and specialty training in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. He previously served as chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, Director of the Center for Global Oral Health Sciences at New York University College of Dentistry and affiliated faculty in the New York University School of Global Public Health. He currently serves as the President of the International Academy of Contemporary Dentistry and the Immediate Past President of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Supreme Chapter.

Dr. M. Reza Iranmanesh (ADA), Vice-Chair

Dr. Iranmanesh received his DMD at Tehran University, and a Certificate of Advance Graduate Study in Prosthodontics and a Master Degree in Prosthodontics at Boston University. He has been a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida, and is currently a guest speaker on implantology at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine. He has been a medical record examiner in the insurance and medical record examination industries, as well as a dental board examiner for the Florida Board of Dentistry. After serving as a practitioner in various roles in Iran and Florida, Dr. Iranmanesh now maintains a private practice in Tampa, focusing mainly on implant restorative, prosthodontic and full mouth restoration, advance esthetic rehabilitation and general dental care.

Ms. Michelle Chiang (ASDA Student Observer)

Michelle Chiang is a dental student at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, CA. Michelle is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, and attended UCLA for college where she received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (2020). She currently serves on the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) 2024-25 Board of Trustees and is a member of ASDA's Multi-District Advocacy Task Force. Previously, she served as President of the UCLA ASDA chapter from 2023-24. She is also actively involved in the American Dental Association (ADA), the California Dental Association (CDA), and the West Los Angeles Dental Society (WLADS). 

Dr. Manny Chopra (ADA BOT Liaison)

Dr. Manny Chopra is a daily practicing Prosthodontist from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Dr. Chopra has provided specialized care in the restoration and replacement of teeth for over three decades. Dr. Chopra received his dental education from Washington University in St. Louis and Indiana University School of Dentistry. He is committed to advancing the profession through leadership and advocacy.

Dr. Chopra just completed his term as the Immediate Past President of the Ohio Dental Association, following a successful term as President from 2023 to 2024. His leadership journey with the ODA includes roles as Vice President, Treasurer, and an influential member on numerous committees addressing dental care, finance, and access to care for the association.

Beyond his work with the ODA, Dr. Chopra has a prominent role within the American Dental Association (ADA) as the 7th District Trustee (Ohio, Indiana), a position he will hold through 2028. His contributions to the ADA include serving as Chair of the Council on Dental Practice, where he led initiatives in workforce guidance, eldercare, wellness, and digital dentistry with emerging dental technologies. He has also actively participated as a Delegate to the ADA House of Delegates for over a decade, advocating for policy and practice improvements on a national level.

Dr. Chopra’s commitment to the dental profession extends to his involvement as a past President of the Cincinnati Dental Society, past President of the Ohio Chapter for the American College of Prosthodontics, a past Prosthodontic consultant to the Ohio State Dental Board and past auditor for Delta Dental. He is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the Academy of Dentistry International, International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr. Sara Gordon (ADEA)

Sara C. Gordon DDS, MS, is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Oral Medicine at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. She received her BSc in Biology from Saint Mary’s University and BA in English from Dalhousie University, both in Halifax, Canada. After completing her DDS at Dalhousie University in 1985, she spent eight years in general dental practice. She completed a four-year training program in oral and maxillofacial pathology and received her MSc in pathology from the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada in 1996.

Dr. Gordon is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in oral and maxillofacial pathology and in oral medicine, and a Fellow in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Gordon taught oral pathology, oral medicine, oral diagnosis and treatment planning at Dalhousie University (1986-1993), University of Detroit Mercy (1997-2006), and University of Illinois Chicago (2006-2014) before joining the University of Washington in 2014.

She has been active in the American Dental Education Association since 2008, leading the sections on Oral Pathology, Addictions Education, and Academic Affairs, and helping to found the new Women In Leadership Section. Dr. Gordon is a past president of the Canadian Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine, and is a CODA specialty site visitor for oral and maxillofacial pathology. She was a Fellow in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program 2017-2018 and now serves as an ELAM learning community advisor. She has been a member of the DLOSCE working committee since 2018. 

Ms. Tami J. Grzesikowski (ADHA)

Ms. Grzesikowski currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the degree completion programs at University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry and St. Petersburg College. She earned her B.S. from the University of North Carolina and her Master’s degree from the University of South Florida. She worked at St. Petersburg College for over 30 years, beginning as a student intern and retiring as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. She served as the ADEA Senior Director for Allied Dental Education at ADEA for five years. She currently serves as a Chair for site visit teams for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and recently completed her term with the CODA’s Review Committee for Dental Hygiene.

Dr. Julie W. McKee (AADB)

Julie Watts McKee, DMD, is the chief dental officer for the Kentucky Department for Public Health where she develops programs and strategies for oral health policy in the Commonwealth. She obtained her doctoral degree at the University of Louisville’s School of Dentistry in 1983 and was a general dentist in a rural community at the foothills of Appalachia. She serves on the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, the executive board of the Kentucky Dental Association and the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition. She currently sits on the advisory board for the University of Louisville’s Dental Hygiene Program. She has executive leadership experience in local public health agency administration and has been an examiner for the Southern Regional Testing Agency in the past. She is a past officer of the Association for State and Territorial Dental Directors. She maintains current memberships in the American Dental Association, the Kentucky Dental Association, the Bluegrass Dental Society, the Kentucky Oral Health Association and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors.

Dr. Jeetendra Patel (AADB)

Dr. Jeetendra Patel received his BS in 1995 from the Louisiana State University-Shreveport (LSU-S) in Biology and his DDS from the LSU School of Dentistry in 2001. He also completed a one-year hospital based residency (GPR) at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Biloxi, MS. In 2019, Dr. Patel was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Besides being on the State Board, Dr. Patel has been in private practice since 2003 and currently owns a dental practice in Monroe, Louisiana. Dr. Patel was born in Birmingham, England and lived there for 10 years before moving to the United States in 1982. He has lived in Louisiana for 39 years.

Tareina Rogers

Student Dentist Tareina Rogers attends Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA. Tareina is originally from Detroit, Michigan and has obtained three degrees.  A Bachelor’s of Science at Western Michigan University (2014), Masters of Cancer and Chemical Biology at University of Michigan (2018) and Masters of Science at Mississippi College (2022). 

Tareina currently serves as 2023-2024 ASDA District One trustee, ADEA CORSF DEIB Liaison and Corporate Roundtable Representative #2 on 2023-2024 SNDA Executive Board. Tareina truly enjoys organized dentistry, bringing forth knowledge and ideas that will make a difference and is enthusiastic about working hard to advance the mission of the JCNDE.

Dr. Frank Schiano (ADA)

Dr. Frank E. Schiano is a five-time graduate of Boston University. He received his DMD in 2006 and completed a one-year AEGD in 2007. Dr. Schiano served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He practiced as a general dentist for nearly a decade, founding the largest LGBTQ+ dental health center in the country. Dr. Schiano is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Prior to completing his MSD in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in 2018, Dr. Schiano earned a Master of Arts in Dental Education from the University of the Pacific. He has held numerous volunteer positions with the Massachusetts Dental Society and the American Dental Association. He also received the 2011 American Dental Association’s Award for International Service for his leadership in Project Stretch, an international pediatric dental service organization, of which he currently serves as Vice-President.

Dr. James R. Sherrard, PhD (Public Member)

Dr. Sherrard is a professor for and the chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics Technologies Programs at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT. Dr. Sherrard also has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Catholic University of America, and the University of Connecticut, and is a registered professional engineer. He is a retired officer from the U.S. Coast Guard with his background primarily in the higher education, engineering, and the research & development fields. He has authored two college textbooks and more than 190 technical papers, and has been a long-time evaluator for ABET, ACE, COE, DETC, and NECHE accrediting organizations.

Dr. Ronald J. Waryjas (ADA)

Dr. Ron Waryjas began his career in Dentistry initially in his own private general practice, and then, as an Orthodontist in private practice for the bulk of his career. He received his Dental Degree from the University of Illinois at the Medical Center, College of Dentistry. His Certificate in Orthodontics was granted by the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Dentistry and his Master of Science from its Graduate College. He has lectured on both the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as presenting an AGD Mastership program in Orthodontics at UIC.

He has presented as a guest lecturer/participant at The Chicago Midwinter Meeting, local study clubs, and leadership organizations. Dr. Waryjas has served as a Director (Finance) of the Chicago Dental Society and has been Chairperson of most standing and Midwinter Meeting committees for CDS. He is currently a Trustee (Finance) of the Illinois State Dental Society and Vice-Chairperson of its Executive Committee. Dr. Waryjas has also served in both the ADA and ISDS Houses of Delegates. He also served as a Director of DENTILPAC. He is a Past-President of The Dental Arts Club of Chicago and the UIC Dental Alumni Association. Dr. Waryjas is a Life Member of the ADA and AAO as well as ISDS and CDS. He is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and Vice-Chairperson of the Members Leadership Organization. He takes great pride in being the recipient of the Lauren J. Feldner Leadership Award for his service to the profession.