On-Demand Speakers

Professor of Periodontology at The Ohio State University, Dr Purnima Kumar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr Kumar maintains an active research program in human microbial ecology that is funded through the NIH and oral healthcare corporate partners, and she has authored over 100 papers and book chapters. Dr Kumar presently serves as the Chair of the Continuing Education Oversight Committee for the American Academy of Periodontology, is a member of the Taskforce for Women in Periodontics, and of the Council of Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association, where she is their official spokesperson on e-cigarettes and vaping. Dr Kumar has also served on various committees for the International Association for Dental Research and is the incoming Vice-President of the Periodontal Research Group.

Professor and Chair for gerodontology and removable prosthodontics at the University Clinics of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Professor Frauke Müller received her dental degrees in Bonn, Germany and spent several years at the London Hospital Medical College, England. She has been President of various learned Societies, and from 2018 to 2022 she served as President of the University Clinics of Dental Medicine at the University of Geneva. Prof. Müller co-edited the ITI Treatment Guide no. 9 on ‘Implant therapy in the Geriatric Patient’ and the 1st Edition of the textbook Oral Healthcare and The Frail Elder. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation and Gerodontology and serves on the editorial review board of several other Journals. In 2013 she received the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award and in 2019 an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Thessaloniki in Greece.

A graduate of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr María Marta Fernandez is in private practice with a specialisation in periodontics and implantology. Associate Professor at the University of Buenos Aires. Dr Fernandez is a lecturer in periodontal surgery and implants at courses, congresses and ITI Study Clubs on an international level. She is the author and co-author of number of research papers in dentistry and an ITI Fellow and Member of the Women Implantology Network Core Group (WIN). In addition, she is a Member of the Sociedad Española de Periodoncia (SEPA) and the Sociedad Argentina de Periodoncia (SAP).

Currently serving as Professor of Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco, Dr Zakaria Bentahar is a member of the World Federation of Orthodontists, and Past Ambassador of the American Association of Orthodontists. Head of the Department of Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco from 2007-2013, Dr Bentahar also served as President of the Association of Intern and Resident Dentists of Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca (1999) and President of the College of Orthodontists Laureates of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Casablanca (2014-2017). Dr Bentahar has presented courses and lectures at various international scientific events in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

A graduate of the University of Adelaide School of Dentistry (1982), Professor Scarfe was awarded Fellowship in the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (1986). Following the completion of a certificate in Dental Diagnostic Science and a Masters from the Graduate School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1992, Prof. Scarfe joined the faculty at the University of Louisville. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, the current Scientific Editor of the Oral Radiology Section of Oral Surgery, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine, and Oral Radiology, and he is on the Editorial Board of Angle and the Australian Dental Journal.A past Treasurer of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and past Vice President of the International Association of Dento- Maxillofacial Radiology, Dr Scarfe has published extensively on cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging including recent consensus statements on general, implant, endodontic and orthodontic use guidelines. He has presented internationally as well as nationally and is active in research on the clinical applications of CBCT imaging.

A Professor of Periodontology/Director of Laser Education at Stony Brook University, New York, Dr Romanos is a Professor of Oral Surgery in Germany who is fully trained in periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery (Germany and USA). Board Certified in Oral Surg./Implant Dent. in Germany; Diplomate by the Am. Board of Periodontology; Past President of the Acad. of Osseointegration (AO) Foundation and Implantology Research Group (IADR); Fellow of Am. Assoc. for Dental Res., Int. College of Dentists, AO, ICOI, ITI Foundation, Pierre Fauchard Acad.; Am. Soc. for Laser Med. and Surg., Great of NY Acad. of Prosthod., Int. Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics and Am. College of Dentists.He has global educational/research activities and served as Visiting Professor in Brazil, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, and USA. He is the author of more than 450 publications, editor, and co-editor of seven books; lectured in more than 50 countries (more than 700 presentations worldwide), as well as the recipient of many scientific awards.

A specialist in oral surgery dentist with a particular interest in trigeminal nerve injuries and pain, Prof. Tara Renton has, in collaboration with IoPPN KCL and Imperial College, Tara established an international leading programme of trigeminal nerve injury and orofacial pain research.
Tara leads the Kings Health Partners Orofacial Pain Service seeing over 2000 OFP patients a year and she co-edited the BDA clinical manuals for Oral Surgery Books I and II. She is on the editorial boards for British Society of dental hygienists and therapists and Dental Update and associate editor for Journal of orofacial pain and headache.Tara is an elected member of the RCS England FDS Board, in addition to being an invited member of the National Advisory Board for Human in Dentistry (NABHFD). Tara has set up two patient facing websites – a patient lead initiative resulted in the development of the Trigeminalnerve.org.uk, a website advising both patients and clinicians in preventing and managing iatrogenic nerve injury in relation to dentistry and a website for patients with chronic trigeminal pain (orofacialpain.co.uk).

Graduate summa cum laude in Dentistry at the University of Ancona in 1992, Dr Filippo Cardinali is an active member of the Italian Society of Endodontics. Certified Member of the European Society of Endodontology, Associate Member American Association of Endodontists, and a Gold Member of StyleItaliano Endodontics, Dr Cardinali is the co-author of and contributor to several endodontics books.
In the Italian Society of Endodontics, he held the positions of Coordinator of the Cultural Committee (2012-2015), Assistant Editor of the Italian Journal of Endodontics (2014-2015) Treasurer (2016-2018); Secretary (2019) and Vice-President of the Society (2021-2022). He is currently the President Elect of the Society (2023-2024) and speaker at national and international hands-on courses and Congresses.

Dr Cardinali is engaged in private practice, concentrating mainly in endodontics and restorative dentistry and author of publications on journals of national and international sector.

The inaugural Lang Walker Family Foundation Conjoint Professor and Chair in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Sydney and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Professor Clark AM is the Director of Head and Neck Cancer Research at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, and the Director of Translational Research at the Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery. Professor Clark is one of Australia’s leading academic head and neck cancer surgeon with over 300 peer review publications, 18 book chapters and $25 million in competitive and philanthropic research funding. 

His expertise in the areas of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and oral cancer is internationally recognised, where his research has changed the management and staging of both cancers. In recognition of his contributions to head and neck surgery he has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and an Honorary Member of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS).

Obtaining his postgraduate education in endodontics at the University of Zurich and at UC San Francisco, Dr Ove A. Peters joined The University of Queensland School of Dentistry in 2020 as the professor of endodontics where he is now also the convener of postgraduate programs. Certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, Dr Peters has wide-ranging research expertise and has published more than 180 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, related to endodontic technology and biology, as well authoring two books and contributing to several leading textbooks in endodontics. 

Dr Peters has received, among other awards, the Hans Genet Award of the European Society of Endodontology and more recently the Louis I. Grossman Award of the American Association of Endodontists. He is also a Fellow of the International and American Colleges of Dentistry. Outside the root canal he is married to Christine (also an endodontist), he is a father of three and an avid road cyclist.