Oral Medicine Resident Profiles

Payam Mirfendereski (Class of 2023) graduated from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry in 2021. He was awarded the American Academy of Oral Medicine Certificate of Merit upon graduation for his achievement and promise in the field of oral medicine. Throughout dental school, Payam was actively engaged in community health outreach and initiatives aimed at improving patients’ oral health-related quality of life. Payam’s academic interests continue to lie at the intersection of service and clinical excellence. Payam plans to pursue a career in oral medicine as an academic clinician.

Sara Aldosary (Class of 2023) Graduated from King Saud University (KSU), College of Dentistry in 2017 (BDS), has an internship year (2018) in Dental University Hospital and National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Working as a Demonstrator in department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at KSU (2019-currently). Currently joined Oral medicine Residency and Doctor of Science in Dentistry programs at University of Pennsylvania (2021-currently).

Dr. Goetz (Class of 2023) has entered the field of oral medicine after dual doctoral training in medicine and dentistry. He graduated dental school from NYU College of Dentistry and then medical school from Stony Brook University. He then completed a Master of Arts in medical humanities, compassionate care, and bioethics at Stony Brook University. He applied this towards completion of a preliminary year residency in internal medicine at University of Nevada, Reno. After completion of his oral medicine residency at UPenn, he plans to pursue a clinical and academic career in oral-systemic primary care.

Eman Alamodi, (Class of 2023) graduated from King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, in 2017 with honors. In 2017, worked as a teaching assistant in the Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences department at KKU. In 2021, completed a one-year internship program in Oral Medicine at Rutgers University, New Jersey. She plan to go back to Saudi Arabia to continue her work in the academic field.

Afrah Alfaifi (Class of 2024) graduated from Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, College of Dentistry in 2020 (BDS). Afrah works as a teaching assistant in Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences at PNU (2021-current). Afrah is continuing her training in the University of Pennsylvania Oral Medicine Residency Program. Afrah plans to return to her university in Riyadh to peruse her academic career.

Naser Alkandari (Class of 2024) was born and raised in Kuwait. He graduated in 2015 with a DDS degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Naser completed his General Practice Residency at Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 2016. Naser returned to his home of Kuwait and practiced dentistry until 2021. Naser is continuing his training in the University of Pennsylvania Oral Medicine Residency Program.

Maya Ramachandran (Class of 2024) graduated Rutgers University in 2016 with a major in Biology and a minor in History. She obtained a dental degree at the Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia and graduated cum laude in May 2022. Maya received an award in Oral Medicine from the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Maya is continuing her training in Oral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Natalia Trehan, DMD, Class of 2022 is currently an Oral Medicine Resident at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Trehan graduated from the Medical University of Łódź, Poland in June 2022. She has acquired diverse experience working in the summers during her dental school years in Malta, Toronto, India and USA. Throughout her dental school, Natalia volunteered in the Oral and Maxillofacial department. Natalia is also a Health Care Ambassador with a non-profit organization, Take a Pain Check, that empowers youth with chronic illnesses to advocate for themselves. She is passionate about oral medicine and surgery. Natalia plans to pursue a clinical and academic career in diagnosis and surgery.

Heba Turkstani (Class of 2024) graduated from King Abdulaziz University (KAU), College of Dentistry in 2018(BDS), and has an internship year 2019 in KAU Hospital and King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Working as teaching assistant in the department of Oral Medicine and Oral diagnostic Science at KAU (2019- currently). Heba is currently with the Oral Medicine Residency Program and Master of Science in Oral Biology programs at University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Alaraik graduated from King Saud University in 2015, he completed his oral medicine residency program in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Dr. Alaraik is currently enrolled in the MSOB program.

Andres Davila, DMD, is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) Degree Program at Penn Dental Medicine – University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Davila received his dental training at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and subsequently completed a Clinical Preceptorship Program in Oral Medicine at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. He was Chief Resident during his Oral Medicine Residency at Penn Dental Medicine. While there he received the Robert Schattner Outstanding Oral Medicine Resident Award, the American Academy of Oral Medicine’s Robert & Kay Schattner Award for Best Oral Presentation, and two travel awards from Penn Dental. Dr. Davila serves on the Archival Committee and Strategic Planning Committee for the American Academy of Oral Medicine. His primary career track is to be a clinical educator and researcher in the field of oral mucosal disease.