Speakers

Sarah McVanel, MSc, CHRL, PCC, CSODP (she, her/elle)

Sarah McVanel has more than 25 years of experience training, coaching, and leading teams. She created FROG (Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness^TM) to invigorate companies so they can see their people as exceptional and, together, create a thriving culture where everyone belongs. Sarah is a recognition expert, professional speaker, coach, author, recovering perfectionist, and movement maker. In her senior leadership role, she founded her boutique firm, Greatness Magnified. Proclaimed as the “Frog Lady,” she can be found freaking out perfect strangers (in a good way) by handing out squishy frogs and asking them, “Have you been frogged lately?” and then acknowledging their greatness. She’s a certified senior organizational development professional (CSODP), professional certified coach (PCC), and certified human resources leader (CHRL). She is one of 700 certified speaking professionals (CSP) worldwide. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Master of Science in family relations, and diplomas in human resources and health care administration.

Ramzi V Abou-Arraj, DDS, MS (he, him/il)

University of Alabama at Birmingham | rva@uab.edu

Ramzi Abou-Arraj is a 2003 graduate of the Université Saint Joseph School of Dentistry, Lebanon. Holder of two periodontology certificates (Lebanese University and University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB]) and a Master of Science (UAB), Dr. Abou-Arraj is a professor and interim associate dean for academic affairs at UAB. He is also a diplomate and examiner of the American Board of Periodontology and the recipient of several teaching and service awards. He maintains an active periodontology and implant surgery practice.

Karen Aguilar, RDH, BSDH, MPH (she, her/elle)

Karen Aguilar is a dedicated dental hygiene expert with over 20 years of experience. She earned her bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in public health from UC Berkeley. Karen has spent the past 13 years specializing in periodontal hygiene and dental endoscopy, co-founding PerioView to elevate dental standards. As a dental endoscope trainer for 10 years, she advocates for integrating this technology into clinical practice to transform oral health care and improve patient outcomes.

Dani Botbyl, RDH

dani.botbyl@outlook.com

Dani Botbyl is an educator, author, and researcher, and has been a trailblazer for the advancement of ultrasonic technology in dental hygiene practice and education in North America. Dani has authored multiple publications in industry and peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. She has presented hundreds of courses to students, faculty, and practising clinicians nationally and internationally. Her passion for enhancing the expertise of dental hygienists creates learning experiences that are not to be missed!

Timothy Donley, DDS, MSD (he, him/il)

Doctor@drtimdonley.com

Timothy Donley is currently in the private practice of periodontics and implantology in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is a sought-after international speaker whose courses are always highly rated. His forte lies in taking the latest research and packaging it in a way that makes sense. Dentistry Today recently listed him among its Leaders in Continuing Education. Dr. Donley lectures and publishes frequently on topics of interest to clinical dentists and dental hygienists. He is currently working with medical professionals to craft collaborative care protocols to improve patients’ dental and medical outcomes.

Lisette Dufour, RDH (she, her/elle)

Health Canada | lisette.dufour@hc-sc.gc.ca

Lisette Dufour is a registered dental hygienist. She is the senior oral health advisor at Health Canada, providing advice on the engagement, policy, and operationalization of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Lisette previously worked at the Office of the Chief Dental Officer of Canada and the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program. She also worked as a dental claims specialist, practiced clinically for 17 years, and taught dental hygiene for ten years.

Katrina Klein, RDH, CEAS, CPT

ErgoFitLife | ErgoFitLife@gmail.com

Katrina Klein is a 17-year practising dental hygienist, national speaker, author, competitive bodybuilder, certified functional and personal trainer, certified ergonomic assessment specialist, and biomechanics nerd. She is the founder of ErgoFitLife, where ergonomics and fitness are combined to prevent, reduce or eliminate pain for oral health professionals.

Salme Lavigne, BA, MSDH, PhD, RDH (she, her/elle)

University of Manitoba | salme.lavigne@umanitoba.ca

Salme Lavigne has 40 years of experience in dental hygiene education in Canada and the United States. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology (Lakehead University), a Master of Science in dental hygiene (UMKC), and a doctorate in community health/epidemiology (University of Manitoba). Currently, she is a senior scholar at the University of Manitoba and scientific editor of the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene. Dr. Lavigne has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has delivered over 120 continuing education presentations.

Laura MacDonald, PhD, RDH (she, her/elle)

University of Manitoba | Laura.MacDonald@umanitoba.ca

Laura MacDonald is a longtime educator at the University of Manitoba. Her scholarly activities focus on pedagogy, healthy learning or salutogenic learning environments and curricula, interprofessional education, and most recently digital literacy. Dr. MacDonald draws on teaching and learning strategies that are rooted in critical reflection, critical thinking, and a growth mindset. From chalkboards to artificial intelligence, she explores and employs diverse means of facilitating learning.

Tamar Maissian (she, her/elle)

TD Wealth Financial Planning | Tamar.Maissian@td.com

As senior manager for TD Wealth Financial Planning Direct, Tamar Maissian is responsible for leading and developing a team of 120 wealth professionals in a hybrid advice channel. She is currently building a new hybrid advice offering for mass affluent Canadians who are looking for some comfort and guidance while saving for retirement. In her 13 years with TD Bank, Tamar has successfully built and led high-performing teams in financial planning with a focus on advice and support. She is passionate about creating a better experience for colleagues and clients by identifying opportunities to improve business practices. A busy mom of two little girls (ages 3 and 5) who love to dance, Tamar and her husband spend weekends in the studio for classes and recitals. When not dancing, they love travelling and exploring different cities across the country.

William Paveletz, DMD (he, him/il)

VOCO America

William Paveletz is a graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon receiving his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, he completed a one-year general practice residency at University of Pittsburgh and continued studying prosthetics in the graduate department of Pittsburgh Dental School. Currently he is one of VOCO's North American clinical directors of continuing education. He lecturers nationally and internationally to dental retailers, dental societies, and teaching institutions. Dr. Paveletz has been published in various dental trade publications on temporization techniques with dental implants, treating geriatric patients, and fluoride usage in adolescents. He has a true passion for preventive and restorative dentistry, with an emphasis on biocompatibility and holistic dentistry.

Eric Pook (he, him/il)

Cirrus Consulting Group | epook@cirrusconsultinggroup.com

Eric Pook is the owner of Cirrus Consulting Group, North America’s preeminent commercial real estate and office lease negotiation firm for dentists. Cirrus has helped more than 13,000 health care professionals over the past 30 years. Eric's consultancy journey began in the late '90s, focussing on small businesses, with a keen emphasis on enhancing profitability and mitigating risks. As a testament to his expertise, he holds a faculty position at York University’s Schulich School of Business and lectures to dentists as part of the Mini-MBA: Dental Business Leadership Program. Recognized as the foremost authority on dental office leases, Eric is a certified instructor of continuing education courses accredited by the Academy of General Dentistry. He is a sought-after speaker, delivering lectures at conferences across North America, offering invaluable insights on leveraging lease agreements to optimize practice value while minimizing risk and liability. Eric has saved dentists over $400 million during his career by advising them on how to successfully leverage the dental office lease agreement to maximize practice value.

Kristen Ranaldo, RDH, BSDH

Kristen Ranaldo graduated from Farmingdale State College in New York in 2015. She has close to a decade of clinical experience, most of which has been in periodontal practices. Kristen graduated at the top of her class, earning numerous awards including the Golden Scaler for exceptional talents and skills in clinic. Currently, Kristen is in her ninth year of using dental endoscopy and is also Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) Millennium Periolase Hygiene certified.

Karen A Raposa, RDH, MBA (she, her/elle)

Karen Raposa is a regional manager for HuFriedyGroup and has co-edited a textbook titled Treating the Dental Patient with a Developmental Disorder. For over 20 years, Karen has been supporting and encouraging oral health professionals around the world to excel in their care for patients with autism. Her work has also been published in Dental Clinics of North America and, in 2013, she was recognized as one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Reports.

Amber D Riley, MS, RDH

DeCo Education & Consulting, LLC | ARiley@DeCoEducation.com

Amber Riley is an internationally recognized speaker providing programs to oral health and medical professionals covering oral–systemic pathologies, forensic odontology, and the use and misuse of therapeutic and illicit substances. Amber is the immediate past president of the American Society of Forensic Odontology, a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, member of the California Dental Hygienists’ Association, and an associate member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health.

Anna Louise Tolan, RDH, FADIA (she, her/elle)

altolan.rdh@gmail.com

Anna Louise Tolan is a passionate practising clinician with adept facilitation skills, earning accolades for her hands-on educational programs. Distinguished for evidence-based protocols in the dental hygiene process of care, she ignites the desire for knowledge and enthusiastically inspires change. She is a recognized fellow of the Association of Dental Implant Auxiliaries and an engaging cast member of The RDH View.

Kaleigh Warden, RDH, BA(IS), MAIS (she, her/elle)

University of Manitoba | Kaleigh.Warden@umanitoba.ca

Kaleigh Warden is a full-time instructor in the School of Dental Hygiene, University of Manitoba. Her primary teaching areas include periodontology, pain management, restorative techniques for dental hygienists, and oral pathology. Additionally, Kaleigh serves as the third-year clinical coordinator, overseeing all clinical activities for senior dental hygiene students. Kaleigh's research interests include the concept of professionalism in health care education, and the integration of advanced technology—including artificial intelligence tools and virtual reality—into the teaching and learning environment.

Kathy Yerex, BSc, MS, RDH (she, her/elle)

University of Manitoba | katherine.yerex@umanitoba.ca

Kathy Yerex is a Red River Métis faculty member in the School of Dental Hygiene, University of Manitoba. She has diverse research interests that aim to improve oral health outcomes. Her research focusses on the oral microbiome and its relation to oral disease, the oral health of Canadian Indigenous children, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Kathy has received research funding from both local and national sources.

Kristin Yont, DMD, RYT, Benson Henry Institute SMART Certified Healthcare Provider

University of Saskatchewan | kristinsmart123@gmail.com

In addition to co-owning her practice in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Kristin Yont, is the lead dentist for the Calgary Flames NHL team and is experienced in forensic dentistry. Dr. Yont is one of only three practitioners in Canada who are accredited to teach the Harvard Medical School and the Benson Henry Institute’s SMART program—Stress Management and Resiliency Training—educating people on how to participate in their own wellness by decreasing stress and their vulnerability to disease. Dr. Yont is an avid speaker and runs workshops, retreats, and programs for oral health professionals. She also works with universities, health care associations, and business leaders to implement wellness initiatives for their organizations. She is currently teaching the SMART program to the dental students at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Yont has been a certified yoga instructor for more than 12 years and teaches yoga instructors the neuroscience of stress management and mindfulness meditation.