High Honors

“IF YOUTH ONLY KNEW; if age only could.” That classic French proverb, which captures perfectly the seeming futility of so much human endeavor, gets turned on its tête by the 10 all-star educators on these two pages, who despite their relative youth possess both the considerable knowledge and the pedagogical means to transmit it. The practice — indeed, the very institution — of dentistry will thrive, after all, only if its accumulated wisdom and techniques are passed on to those waiting in the wings. Few do it better than these 10, who represent a broad cross-section of skills, areas of specialty and widespread geography to ensure that American dentistry will be in good hands for generations to come. They were selected by Dr. Michael Cohen and his team at the Seattle Study Club in collaboration with Incisal Edge to recognize and honor the profound impact they’re already making on our profession. If youth only knew? Here, it does — and how


JENNIFER HIRSCH DOOBROW, DDS

Dr. Doobrow, 35, received her dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2007 and her certificate in periodontics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2010. She serves on the faculty of the Pikos Institute and is the general chair for the 2017 Gulf Coast Dental Conference; her office hosts many large continuing-education programs every year. Dr. Doobrow has lectured at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Periodontology and the Academy of Osseointegration, as well as the Alabama Academy of General Dentistry. A diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, she maintains a private periodontics practice in Cullman, Alabama, north of Birmingham.


BRETT E. GILBERT, DDS

A 2001 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where he also earned a certificate in endodontics in 2003, Dr. Gilbert, 41, is a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. He has been a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics at the University of Illinois Chicago since 2004; he also directs an externship experience for his postgraduate residents at his private practice in Chicago. He has recently lectured to the American Association of Endodontists, the Northwest Side Branch of the Chicago Dental Society and the Dubai World Dental Meeting, among others.


VICTOR CLAVIJO, DDS, MSC, PH.D.

In 2002, Dr. Clavijo received his DDS from Universidade Paulista in São Paulo, Brazil; he later earned both a master’s and a doctoral degree in restorative dentistry from the Araraquara Dental School at São Paulo State University. Now 36, he has authored or coauthored more than 50 journal articles and book chapters in English, Portuguese and Spanish, all based on both clinical and scientific evidence. Dr. Clavijo is a visiting professor in the Advanced Operative and Adhesive Dentistry Department at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he returns annually for scientific research. He maintains a private practice in São Paulo.


DAVID LEE HILL JR., DDS

A member of this year’s Incisal Edge 40 Under 40 (see page 52), Dr. Hill, 38, received his DDS from West Virginia University in 2004 before completing residencies in general practice and oraland-maxillofacial surgery at the University of North Carolina. He is currently an adjunct clinical instructor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UNC–Chapel Hill and has treated underserved populations in the U.S. and abroad. A faculty member at the Pikos Institute, Dr. Hill has published articles in The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and contributed a chapter to a textbook on the topic. He maintains a private practice in Chapel Hill.


SABIHA BUNEK, DDS

A member of Incisal Edge’ s 40 Under 40 in 2013, Dr. Bunek, now 38, graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2006, the year she was named associate editor of The Dental Advisor; today she is that publication’s CEO and editor in chief. Dr. Bunek lectures frequently on adhesives, ceramics, cementation and CAD/CAM technology for the American Academies of Esthetic Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry, among others. In 2013, Dental Products Report named Dr. Bunek one of the top 25 Women in Dentistry in the areas of research and education. She maintains a private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


JOSHUA AUSTIN, DDS, MAGD

A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School in 2006, Dr. Austin, 37, served on its faculty as an assistant clinical professor until 2011. He writes two monthly columns — “Pearls for Your Practice,” for Dental Economics, and “The Product Navigator,” for DentistryIQ — and has lectured at events and symposia including the Yankee Dental Congress, the American Dental Association annual meeting and more. He completed training to become an Evidence-Based Dentistry Champion in 2009, and later this year he’ll earn a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. He maintains a solo generaldentistry practice in San Antonio.


PARAG R. KACHALIA, DDS

Dr. Kachalia, 41, earned his DDS from the University of the Pacific in 2001. He joined its faculty the same year and is now a tenured associate professor and vice chair of Simulation, Technology and Research. He serves on the Pride Institute Technology Leadership Council and is a fellow of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute. He has published extensively on dental technology, digital diagnostics, contemporary fixed prosthodontics and financial management, and he has lectured at the Yankee Dental Congress, American Dental Association annual meeting and many more. Dr. Kachalia and his wife, Dr. Charity Duncan, maintain a private practice geared toward restorative dentistry in San Ramon, California.


MARCO BRINDIS, DDS

Having earned his DDS from the Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City in 1998 and a certificate in prosthodontics from Louisiana State University in 2007, Dr. Brindis, 42, also completed preceptorships in dental implants at Universidad Intercontinental and the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School in San Antonio. In 2003, he completed a surgical-implant fellowship at the Biotechnology Institute in Vitoria, Spain, and four years later finished the Pankey Institute’s esthetic and occlusion courses. An assistant professor and interim head of the Prosthodontics Depart ment at Louisiana State, Dr. Brindis has lectured at the events of many industry organizations.


KYLE G. STANLEY, DDS

A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry in 2010, Dr. Stanley, 33, completed an implant specialty program and residency at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Florianópolis, Brazil, in 2011. He serves on the clinical faculty of his alma mater and the Global Institute of Dental Education in Los Angeles and has lectured at the International Esthetic Masters Congress and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, among others. He has coauthored articles on esthetics, materials, implants and surgery in QDT, Quintessence International, International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry and Inside Dentistry. He maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills that specializes in biomimetics, implants and cosmetic procedures.


REBECCA BOCKOW, DDS, MS

Dr. Bockow, 35, a member of the Incisal Edge 40 Under 40 in 2014, earned her dental degree in 2007 from the University of Washington. In 2013 she completed training in orthodontics and periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania, also earning an M.S. in oral biology. A board-certified orthodontist and periodontist, she maintains a private practice in Seattle and teaches at the University of Washington. She has lectured on orthodontics and periodontics at the American Association of Orthodontics national meeting, the Academy of Osseointegration annual session and more, and has published articles on interdisciplinary treatment in a number of peer-reviewed journals.