The mission of the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society is to advance the interests of Penn Dental Medicine and the Alumni Society, and to promote good fellowship among all members of the School community. Led by an Executive Committee, the Alumni Society takes an active role in encouraging students to be active in the life of the School and remain engaged as alumni. The Alumni Society also encourages the participation of alumni in the Dental Annual Giving Fund and other fund-raising initiatives. The commitment of alumni ensures that Penn remains at the forefront of dental education and makes a difference to the people who count on it the most – students. All predoctoral, postdoctoral, and dental hygiene alumni are members of the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society.
Meet Your Alumni Society Executive Committee
- Eric Spieler, D’84, President
- Scott Chanin, D’83, Vice President
- Deena Alani, D’13
- Pam Alberto, D’80
- Hope Berman, C’77, D’83
- L. Bui, D’18
- Jennifer Caughey, D’19
- Larry Chacker, D’85
- Cindy Choi, D’20
- Keith Dunoff, D’84
- Katherine France, D’16 GR’16 GD’18
- Andrew Fraser, D’16
- Alyssa Marlin Greenberger, D’02
- Maria Perno Goldie, DH’71
- Wendy Halpern, D’99, GD’02, GD’03
- Sehe Han, D’18
- Stephen Howarth, D’16
- JV Kracke, D’17, GD’19
- Daniel Kubikian, D’01, GD’04, GD’05
- Bernard Kurek, D’73, WMP’03
- Bret Lesavoy, D’19
- Rachel Levarek, D’11
- Mel Mupperapu, D’96
- Ngozi Okoh, D’12
- Steven Ryoo, D’20
- Trevan Samp, D’14
- Lisa Schildhorn, DH’75
- Shabnam Sedaghat, D’06
- Joshua Simpson, D’16
- Matt Sones, D’12
- Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, DH’82
- Ben Truong, D’19
- Gary Wegman, D’83
- Robert Weiner, C’72 D’79
- Michael Yasner, C’79, D’83, GD’84, GD’86
Dr. Spieler graduated Penn Dental Medicine in 1984 and purchased his practice, Oasis Dental LLC, in 1985, with his spouse and partner, Dr. Hope Berman D ‘83.The practice has undergone two expansions since. Dr. Spieler has published many articles including original research in Microbiology and has received two US patents for dental devices. He joined the PDM Alumni executive board and became president in 2017. In addition, he has been an Honors faculty member at PDM since 2017. CAD/CAM restorative dentistry has been his focus since 2009. He runs a multidisciplinary dental practice in Bala Cynwyd, PA, incorporating the philosophies taught at PDM.
Bala Cynwyd, PA
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Dr. Chanin graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1983 and was the chief dental resident at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ. Dr. Chanin then became a partner in Hamilton Dental Associates, a multi-speciality group practice in NJ for 33 years. When he retired from Hamilton Dental Associates, he founded Diamond Dental Associates in Flemington, NJ, focusing on cosmetic dentistry as well as family dentistry. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, a Fellow of the American Society of Dental Aesthetics, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, a Fellow of the International Academy of Dento-Facial Esthetics, on staff at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and a clinical Associate of Restorative Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Vice President of the Penn Alumni Society. Dr. Chanin is married to Susan, has two children and lives in Titusville, New Jersey.
Flemington, NJ
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Chattanooga, TN
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Dr. Pamela Alberto earned her D.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine and her specialty certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey –University Hospital. Dr. Alberto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Formerly, she wasthe Assistant Dean of Predoctoral Education in the office of Academic affairs andthe Director of Predoctoral Surgery in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.She is a Fellow in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery the Academy of Dentistry International,the International College of Dentistry, and the American College of Dentist. She is a member of the International Society of Plastics, Anesthetics and Reconstructive Surgery. She has lectured nationally and internationally on oral surgery,implant surgery, alternative medicine local anesthesia and enteral sedation. Dr. Alberto also started Cheerful Heart Missions, which sends groups of dentists and dental students to Haiti and the Dominican Republic each year to provide oral care to hundreds of patients who would otherwise go without.
Sparta, NJ
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Bala Cynwyd, PA
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Dr. L. Bui was born and raised in Virginia and knew she wanted to become a dentist since she was a little girl. She completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia majoring in both Biology and Psychology. She moved to Philadelphia to attend dental school at Penn Dental Medicine and stayed to finish her Orthodontics residency at Penn, as well. Dr. Bui is very excited to start her career knowing she has tremendous support from her Penn family.
West Chester, PA
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Philadelphia, PA
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Lawrenceville, NJ/ Philadelphia, PA
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Dr. Choi is thankful to become a part of the Alumni Association and be able to help the alumni stay connected to each other, as well as to the school and its current students. She is thrilled to take my first step into mentorship as a Penn alumni and hope to find creative ways for alumni to stay engaged so that we can foster and maintain the love for the school that brought us all together!
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Swedesboro, NJ
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Dr. France is very excited to extend her multi-level involvement with Penn Dental Medicine in this new capacity. She hopes that her passion for volunteer activism can provide benefit to the Board and is looking forward to forming and rekindling relationships with alumni across class years.
Philadelphia, PA
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Boston, MA
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Dr. Greenberg has chosen to serve on the board to stay connected to Penn Dental and promote what the school believes is the cutting edge of dental treatment and education. She hopes to bring more peers from her generation back into the fold in any form of re-engagement.
Tampa, FL
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It is an honor for Dr. Maria Perno Goldie to have been selected to serve on the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, Alumni Society Executive Committee. The dental hygiene program at Penn that she and over 1600 others completed, is now gone. There are many who wish to keep the spirit of dental hygiene alive at Penn, by encouraging scholarship, research, community service, and prevention in oral health.As dental hygiene alum, Dr. Goldie wishes to engage in common goals such as health promotion, disease prevention, improving access to care, and advancing evidence-based practice with the dental alumni. She wishes to support and promote the Dental Hygiene Research and Innovation Fund, which has been established to support one or more dental hygiene (DH) scholars. She would also like to promote the Penn Dental Medicine Dental Hygiene Alumni Association and the Dental Hygiene Alumni Special Achievement Award, which is presented annually and recognizes the outstanding contributions of dental hygiene alumni to the growth and development of the profession. She will do these things through social media, and reaching out personally to the alumni that she knows. Dr. Goldie believe that if we all reach out, and “each one touches one”, we can continue to have an active and robust Dental Hygiene Alumni Society.
San Carlos, CA
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Chalfont, PA
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Seattle, WA
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Wallingford, PA
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Dr. Kracke graduated dental school in ’17 and Orthodontic Residency in ’19 from Penn. He hopes to bring a young alumni perspective and plans to continue communications with young alumni and increase interactions between these new dentists as they enter the workforce. In recent years, he helped to organize the Match Day celebration and feels this is a critical time for the Alumni Board to get connected with new members and then continue to strengthen that relationship as they move on in their early careers. He is excited for the plans the Alumni board has for the future and is grateful to have this opportunity.
Sicklerville, NJ
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Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Roslyn, New York, Dr.Daniel Kubikian majored in Pharmacy at St. John’s University in New York. In 2001, he received the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD) from the School of Dental Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Kubikian continued his studies completing a 4-year post-graduate program in Periodontics and Periodontal Prosthesis while earning the Chairman’s Award, from The University of Pennsylvania.Dr. Kubikian is board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontologyand is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Department of Periodontics at The University of Pennsylvania. He is a featured lecturer in implant dentistry at The University of Pennsylvania and Albert Einstein Medical Center. He has lectured at the Greater NewYork Dental Meeting and at various meetings throughout the east coast. Since 2007, Dr. Kubikian has taught a comprehensive implant course accredited by the New Jersey Dental Association which is geared to provide state of the art implant education to the dental community. In 2008, Dr. Kubikian founded the South Jersey Dental Study Club which meets monthly and provides continuing education lectures to the dental community from prominent national and international lecturers. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Kubikian spends time with his wife and three daughters. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys baseball, basketball and football.
Sewell, NJ
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Medford, NJ
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As a recent graduate of the Penn Dental Medicine class of 2019, Dr. Bret Lesavoy is honored to be a member of the Alumni Executive Board and looks forward to contributing to the betterment of Penn Dental Medicine’s already amazing institution. Most of all, he is eager to stay connected with the Penn Dental Medicine student body and experience to help ensure students and alumni realize all that PDM has to offer, both throughout dental school and beyond
New York, NY
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White Plains, NY
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Philadelphia, PA
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Limerick, PA
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Aurora, CO
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Dr. Schildhorn has many reasons to be involvedat the University of Penn Dental Alumni. She graduated in 1975 from the Penn Dental Hygiene Program. She benefited from an extraordinary program that taught dental hygienists to work with educators, dentists and periodontists. Her trajectory led her to owning a dental employment business,( DENTAL POWER) , a Master’s in Organizational Change, Chairman of Kids Smiles, Inc ( a local not for profit dental service provider), and ultimately the Executive Director to the PA Coalition for Oral Health. In retirement, she is actively involved in helping others learn about the oral health workforce and alternate oral health delivery models. She is excited to be a mentor !
Wynnewood, PA
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Philadelphia, PA
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Dr. Simpson attended Penn Dental Medicine as a National Health Service Corps Scholar, graduating in 2016 with honors in clinical dentistry. Prior to beginning his NHSC service commitment, he completed a general practice residency atSt.Luke’s University Health Network. Returning to Philadelphia, he completed his service commitment at Philadelphia FIGHT, an FQHC in Center City where he continues to work full time. Dr. Simpson remains active in the Penn Community, serving on the PDMAlumni Executive Board and as a part time faculty in the Division of Community Oral Health.
Philadelphia, PA
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After graduating in 2012, Dr. Sones knew he wanted to find a way to give back to UPenn. Joining the Alumni Board was a great opportunity for him to stay connected and volunteer his services to the University that gave him an education second to none. He also wanted to find a way to help students develop a positive outlook throughout their education at Penn. As a student, he often wondered what things would be like after graduating. As a member of the alumni board, his goal was to help students navigate the transition from dental school, to residency, and ultimately in to private. Being a member of the Alumni Board has given him the opportunity to be connected to Penn and thus far has been very rewarding for him.
Toms River, NJ
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Ann Eshenaur Spolarich graduated from Penn Dental Hygiene in 1982 and received her baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene from Thomas Jefferson University, and both a master of science degree in dental hygiene and a doctoral degree in physiology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She is an internationally recognized author and speaker on pharmacology and the care of medically complex patients. She haspresentedover 1,000 invited lectures and has over 125 professional publications. She is Professor, Course Director of Clinical Medicine and Pharmacology, and Director of Research at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University(ATSU), where she teaches part-time in the Special Care Clinic. Ann is also a faculty member in the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at ATSU. Ann was awarded fellowship status in special care dental hygiene from the Special Care Dentistry Association in 2016.
Mesa, AZ
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Benjamin Truong graduated from Penn Dental Medicine in 2019. He served as Executive Student Council Vice President and also served as Chair of Professional Students in GAPSA, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, working with Penn graduate and professional students across the entire campus. He is currently serving in the US Air Force, stationed at Osan AFB in South Korea. He hopes to be able to motivate young alumni to stay connected to Penn Dental and stay engaged with the school to help shape the future “Penntists” of tomorrow and preserve the school’s legacy.
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Dr. Wegman has enjoyed his dental career thus far with the Wegman Dental Group, PC, which was formed by Dr. Wegman, Harold C. Wegman, DDS (SDM ‘53) and Gary S. Wegman, DMD (SDM ‘83), since graduating Penn Dental in 1983. Through this business, he has throroughly enjoyed his practice of General Dentistry in Reading, Pa., and his relationship with his team, his patients, and his community. He has served as a representative to the PDA and the ADA in a variety of leadership roles, and presently is running for the US Congress in the 9th District in Pennsylvania. The degree of excellence that his mentors at Penn Dental instilled in his work ethic has carried on throughout his entire career. Staying involved with education and by being connected through the Alumni Society Board with Penn SDM has allowed him to continue this experience with his Penn colleagues.
Reading, PA
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Princeton, NJ
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Dr. Michael Yasner has a lifetime commitment to Penn. As a four time graduate of Penn, faculty member, alumni leader, and Penn Parent, he is dedicated to the success of past, present and future Penn Dental students and alumni. Mike practices Periodontics (with two Penn Perio grads) and lives in Old City Philadelphia (with his wife, Valerie, a three time Penn grad and former Endodontist), and welcomes contact from our Penn family.
Cherry Hill, NJ
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