Dr. Ira B. Lamster received his D.D.S. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (1977), his M.M.Sc. from Harvard University (1980) and a Certificate of Special Training in Periodontology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (1980). Dr. Lamster served as Dean of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine from 2001 to 2012, and Senior Vice President of Columbia University Medical Center from 2006 to 2012. He was on the faculty of the Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, from 2012 to 2017. Dr. Lamster is currently Dean Emeritus, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, a Clinical Professor on the faculty of the Stony Brook University, School of Dental Medicine, and a member of the Santa Fe Group.

Dr. Lamster is the author of more than 200 manuscripts and book chapters. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Dental Journal from 2015 until 2021. Dr. Lamster’s research efforts have focused on diagnostic testing and risk assessment for periodontal disease, the interrelationship of periodontal disease and systemic disease, the oral health care needs of older adults, and the future of dental education and practice.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Timothy L. Ricks, DMD, MPH, FICD, FACD, FPFA, retired USPHS chief dental officer served as the 20th Chief Dental Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service as well as Assistant Surgeon General from 2018 to 2022. Dr. Ricks served in the U.S. Public Health Service for over 23 years as a clinician and an administrator, and over 35 years of total federal service including military service.

Solomon G. Brotman, DDS, MAGD is Vice President, National Clinical Operations for USAble Life/Life and Specialty Ventures (LSV). LSV’s insurance business provides benefits in multiple states under the Blue Cross Blue Shield brand. Dr. Brotman works closely with Medical Directors to oversee medical-dental integration in addition to other head and neck related issues.

Prior to beginning his current role in 2018, Dr. Brotman was a full-time general dentist. He maintains a part-time practice in Jacksonville, Florida. Sol is a Clinical Instructor, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences at the University of Maryland. He was Clinical Assistant Professor in Operative Dentistry and Facial Pain at the University of Florida, lecturer at LSU and Nova Southeastern on professional ethics and facial pain. Sol is a Practitioner-Investigator and co-author for the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.  Among his other publications was a March 2022 paper as co-author with a research team from the Mayo Clinic, “Association Between Preventive Dental Care and Healthcare Cost for Enrollees with Diabetes or Coronary Artery Disease:5-Year Experience”.

Sol served as Chair of the Florida Board of Dentistry. He has provided consultant services to over 30 medical insurance companies and was Chief Financial Officer of Image Dynamics, Inc., a marketing and crisis management firm. Sol is currently Trustee and Audit Chair of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the largest in the state.

Dr. Brotman received his dental degree from the University of Maryland, Certificate in Comprehensive General Dentistry from the University of Florida and Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry.  Sol is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and Pierre Fauchard Academy.  He is a Senior Scholar of the Santa Fe Group chairing a Task Force on Promoting Primary Care Activities in Dentistry.