Thank you to our 2022-2023 Continuing Education Oversight Committee for planning the 110th AAP Annual Meeting!
Click through the names below to read our CEOC bios:

Purnima Kumar, Chair
Dr. Purnima Kumar is the William and Mary K. Najjar Endowed professor of Dentistry and Chair of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan. She received her dental degree from Annamalai University in India, and her Masters in Periodontology and PhD in Molecular Microbiology from The Ohio State University. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program and the International College of Dentists.
Dr. Kumar is the Principal Investigator of Oral Microbial Ecology Laboratory at the University of Michigan that is funded through the NIH, NCI, and oral healthcare industry. She has authored over 100 papers and book chapters and serves as the Co-Editor of Clinical Advances in Periodontics, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Periodontology, Periodontology 2000, Nature Scientific Reports and Microbiome.
She is an active clinician, teacher, researcher and administrator, has mentored several pre-dental, dental, master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral students and junior faculty colleagues and has served on several grant review panels for the NIH. She serves as the Chair of the Continuing Education Oversight Committee for the AAP and is a member of the AAP’s Taskforce for Future Science.
She is a member of the Council of Scientific Affairs of the ADA and is their official spokesperson on e-cigarettes and vaping. Dr. Kumar has served on various committees of IADR and is presently the Vice-President of the Periodontal Research Group. She also serves on several taskforces for women in science, women in surgery and women in STEM and volunteers for groups that empower women locally and nationally.

Stephen Meraw, President-Elect (current President)
Dr. Stephen Meraw received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Detroit Mercy, where he was Senior Class President and recipient of the Thurbor Alumni Award for Clinical Excellence. He then completed his Internship in Hospital Dentistry and Residency in Periodontics at the top 2 medical institutions in the country, the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, respectively. He also earned a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, and later a second Master’s degree in Health Care Management from Harvard University.
Dr. Meraw is a recipient of the Kramer Scholar Award, which is awarded each year to the top clinical Periodontal graduate in the United States from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. He is a Board Certified Specialist, also known as a Diplomate by the American Board of Periodontology, and has served on the faculty of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry for the past 16 years.
An active member of organized dentistry, Dr. Meraw has served in many leadership positions (below), as well as an active volunteer, consultant to the Veterans’ Administration, and published author.
President, Michigan Periodontal Association
Trustee, American Academy of Periodontology
Trustee, Michigan Dental Association
Past President, Bunting Periodontal Society
Past President, Detroit District Dental Society
Past President, Midwest Society of Periodontology
Past President, Detroit District Dental Society Eastern
Past Examiner, American Board of Periodontology
Outside of his dental interests, Dr. Meraw is a husband and father of three. He has coached baseball, softball and soccer, and is a regular runner & tennis player.

Suheil Boutros, Consultant
Dr. Boutros received his dental degree from University of Detroit, Mercy School of Dentistry, Detroit, MI, and a Masters of Science and Certificate in Periodontics from University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry, Minneapolis, MN. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics, University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Boutros has numerous publications and is in private practice in Grand Blanc, Clarkston, and Dearborn Heights, MI with an emphasis on periodontics, implants, intravenous conscious sedation and regenerative therapy.

Caitlin Darcey
Dr. Darcey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Pratt Institute, a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, and a Masters in Oral Biology from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Dr. Darcey completed her periodontics residency at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School in 2011. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a member of the AAP LEAD class of 2019, and has served on the AAP Continuing Education Oversight Committee since 2017. As a Navy Periodontist, she has been stationed in Bethesda, MD; Norfolk, VA, Annapolis, MD and has returned to NPDS at Bethesda to serve on the faculty of the Naval Postgraduate Dental School.
In her current assignment to NPDS, she is the Program Director for the Navy Periodontics Residency and the Course Director for the Periodontics Long Course. Additionally, she is a learner in the Masters of Health Professions Education program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Jennifer Doobrow
Dr. Jennifer Hirsch Doobrow, a Board-Certified Periodontist, is the Owner and CEO of Periodontal and Implant Associates, Inc. located in Cullman, AL. She earned her DMD at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2007 and received her certification in Periodontics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2010. She serves, as the President for the Southern Academy of Periodontology (SAP), Vice-President for the Alabama Dental Association (ALDA), a faculty member for the Pikos Institute and Chair of both WISE- Women in Implantology Supporting and Empowering Advisory Board and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Dental Hygiene Subcommittee. Dr. Doobrow is a UAB Alumni Executive Council District Representative and on the Executive Committee for the International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons. She currently serves on the Continuing Education Oversight Committee for the American Academy of Periodontology and holds Past-President positions in the Alabama Society of Periodontists and the Wilson Chenault Dental Study Club and is a Director for a Seattle Study Club located in Cullman, AL.
In 2012, Dr. Doobrow was recognized as one of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) prestigious 40 Under 40. Most recently, Dr. Doobrow was selected as the 2021 Most Excellent Fellow for the Alabama Dental Association, one of the Top 10 Young Educators in America for 2017 by The Seattle Study Club, was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons. She was also awarded the MUSC School of Dentistry Young Alumnus Award, the UAB School of Dentistry Outstanding Young Alumnus Award and was featured on Lifetime Network’s “The Balancing Act” as well as on the “Dentistry Uncensored Podcast”. She has published articles in Compendium, Inside Dentistry, Dental Economics, DentistryIQ, Surgical Restorative Resource and Perio-Implant Advisory, and lectures Internationally on dental implants, periodontal hard and soft tissue regeneration, and perio-plastic therapies.

Hana Hobbs
Dr. Hobbs is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and has over 25 years of dental and periodontal experience.
She is thrilled to be now practicing back in her hometown of 23 years, the great city of Hillsborough.
She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and went on to receive her DDS from the University of Maryland Dental School, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Hobbs completed her General Practice Residency at York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania and was the Chief Resident the following year at Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Hobbs worked as general dentist in Charlotte for several years before deciding to specialize in Periodontics. She attended the University of California at San Francisco where she earned her certificate in Periodontology Specialty while simultaneously earning a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. She received the “Most Innovative” Clinical Research Award in her Senior Year from the Western Society of Periodontology.
In 1997, Dr. Hobbs moved to Hillsborough NC where she began her private practice in Periodontology and Implantology. She operated a highly successful, private clinic in Durham and received her Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2000. She has been an Assistant Professor at UNC school of Dentistry Post- Graduate Periodontology Department since 1997 and she served as President of the North Carolina Society of Periodontology in 2014. In 2015, Dr. Hobbs started the Hobbs’ Spear Study Club. She enjoys the opportunity to interact with great restorative doctors and specialists and has been a member of numerous Study Clubs in the Triangle Area.
Dr. Hobbs was born in Egypt and raised in Germany. At the age of 9, she came to the U.S. with her mother. She did not know English at all and since the ESL classes in her school were at full capacity, she was instructed to learn English from watching Sesame Street. Dr. Hobbs excelled in her education and ended up doing an accelerated program for college and dental school – she graduated from dental school at the age of 21! Dr. Hobbs said, “I have truly lived the American dream and I owe it all to this country”.
Dr. Hobbs married her husband, Jim, a Greensboro native, and they are proud parents of their daughter, Madison. In her free time she enjoys spending quality time with her family, exercising and watching her daughter do gymnastics. Dr. Hobbs is a supporter of Hospice, The Food Bank of N.C., Durham Rescue Mission, Doctors without Borders and the Salvation Army. She also volunteers for the Baptist Mission Dental Bus and Miriam Dental Clinic.

Bryan Frantz
Dr. Bryan J. Frantz received his DMD from the Temple University School of Dentistry in 1985 graduating with honors. He received his specialty certificate in Periodontology from the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in 1987. While at Eastman he completed a masters degree (NIH training grant) from the University of Rochester.
Dr Frantz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and is a former examiner for the American Board of Periodontology. He holds faculty positions at Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa and the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester N.Y. He is Past President of the American Academy of Periodontology and a Past President of the AAP Foundation and is currently serving as a Director of the American Board of Periodontology. Dr Frantz serves on the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry and Decisions in Dentistry. Dr Frantz Lectures on Digital Implant Dentistry, Management of Complex Implant and Periodontal Cases, Regenerative Periodontal Therapy, & Interdisciplinary Management of Complex Cases.
Dr Frantz is owner of Perio Health Pros, is in private practice with Dr. Kristen Frantz in Scranton, Pa. His wife Linda is an MD and they have three daughters Andrea, Kristen, and Gretchen.

Joan Otomo-Corgel
Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgel is a graduate of California State University, Fresno 1972 (BA, Zoology), UCLA School of Dentistry 1976 (DDS), UCLA School of Public Health 1980 (MPH – Behavioral Sciences and Health Education), West Los Angeles VAMC General Practice Residency 1977 and Postdoctoral Periodontics Residency 1979. She is currently a Full Clinical Professor in the UCLA School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics (1980- ), and faculty and chair of periodontal research at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care Center Dental Service (1990- ) and past faculty at the WLA City College of Dental Hygiene Department (1990-2010). She has a private practice limited to Periodontics, oral medicine, and implantology in Los Angeles.
Dr. Otomo-Corgel is the Past President of the following organizations: American Academy of Periodontology, Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontists, National VA Periodontists, Los Angeles Dental Society and the UCLA Chapter of OKU. She is currently a delegate to the ADA, a member of the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure, Chair of the Specialty Recognition and Areas of Interest in General Dentistry Committee for the CDEL, immediate past chair of Dental Anesthesiology for CDEL, Chair of the UCLA School of Dentistry Board of Counselors, chair of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, Chair of the AO Credential Committee, and member of the AAP CEOC. She is a member of the Academy of Osseointegration (chair of the Credential Committee), LA Dental Society, Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontists, CDA, Southern California Academy of Oral Pathology, ADA, IADR, AADR, ADEA, and NAVAPD. She is conscious sedation examiner for CALAOMS and is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She lectures extensively on periodontal medicine, medical emergencies, over-the-counter dental products, and clinical periodontal topics. She has contributed to over 60+ journals and texts.

Mark Reynolds, Board Liaison
Mark A. Reynolds was appointed dean of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in June 2014 following a national search.
Reynolds, a 1986 graduate of the school and a 1999 graduate of the University’s Graduate School, has served the School of Dentistry in a number of capacities during the last 22 years, including director of Advanced Dental Education Program in Periodontics and chair of the Department of Periodontics. Reynolds was named interim dean in 2013.
A distinguished academic dentist, Reynolds has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and sits on the editorial boards of several journals, including Clinical Advances in Periodontics, the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, and the Journal of Periodontal Research, and he serves on the peer review panel of the Journal of Periodontology. He has sat on and chaired many committees for distinguished organizations such as the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Association for Dental Research. He also has served as director and co-chair of the American Board of Periodontology.
Reynolds has participated in more than 20 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sections, serving as a regular member of the Skeletal Biology Development and Disease Study Section from 2006 to 2010. In 2017, he was appointed to a second four-year term as a voting member of the Food and Drug Administration’s Medical Devices Advisory Committee, Dental Products Panel; Reynolds currently serves as chair of the Dental Products Panel.
He has a 20-plus-year record of NIH funding, which began in 1992 when he earned a competitive five-year NIH Individual Dentist Scientist Award to support his residency and his PhD studies. His research focuses upon bone and periodontal regeneration. Reynolds received the American Academy of Periodontology R. Earl Robinson Periodontal Regeneration Award in 2004 and 2016. His research often has been multi-institutional, including collaborators at the NIH and other universities.
Reynolds earned his PhD in oral and experimental pathology from the University of Maryland Graduate School in 1999. In 1995, he earned a certificate in periodontics from the School of Dentistry, where he had earned his DDS in 1986. Reynolds also earned a master’s degree in community-clinical psychology in 1982, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1978, both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Paul Rosen, Consultant
Dr. Paul Rosen maintains full-time private practices in both Yardley, Pennsylvania, and New York City, New York, limited to periodontics, surgical implant placements and regenerative therapy. He also has appointments as Clinical Professor of Periodontics at the Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine and The University of Maryland Dental School.
Dr. Rosen is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and has served as an Examiner as well. He reviews for and serves on the editorial boards for a number of dental journals. Dr. Rosen has authored/co-authored a number of articles on periodontal regeneration, dental im-plants and laser-assisted treatments and has lectured both nationally and internationally on these subjects.
Dr. Rosen is honored to have been awarded a number of prestigious awards including the American Academy of Periodontology’s Master Clinician Award in 2015, the Northeastern Society of Periodontists Isidor Hirschfeld Award for Clinical Excellence in 2016, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement from the University of Maryland Dental School in 2020.

Michael Sonick
Michael Sonick, DMD, is an internationally-known, highly-regarded authority in the field of dental implantology and periodontology. A full-time practicing periodontist in Fairfield, Connecticut, he is also a frequent guest lecturer in the international program at New York University School of Dentistry and the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He lectures worldwide on the subject of esthetic implants, periodontal plastic surgery, guided bone regeneration, comprehensive treatment planning and the delivery of exceptional customer service.
He is the author of the book Treating People Not Patients and co-editor of the multi-language textbook, Implant Site Development. He serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals including the Compendium of Continuing Education, the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Inside Dentistry, Dentistry Today and also writes and publishes numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Sonick is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantology, a fellow of the International Team for Implantology, a fellow of the International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons, and an Eagle Scout.

Sejal Thacker
Dr. Sejal Thacker is a board certified Periodontist and a Master of Dental Science. She directs the post-graduate Periodontology program at UConn Health and maintains a private clinical practice in Connecticut.
She received an award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring in Periodontics in 2015 and 2019 by the AAP and is also the 2020 Bud and Linda Tarrson Fellow. Thacker is a ITI fellow and also has participated in clinical trials at the University of Connecticut.