Dr. Lisa Simon is a physician, dentist, and health services researcher. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles on the separation of medicine and dentistry. She is a faculty member in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Linda Niessen serves as Vice Provost for Oral Health Affairs for Kansas City University (KCU) and Founding Dean and Professor for the KCU College of Dental Medicine in Joplin, Missouri.  Dr. Niessen is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and the American Board of Special Care Dentistry. Her academic career includes serving as a clinician caring for medically complex and geriatric patients at several VA Medical Centers. Dr. Niessen has served as president of the Santa Fe Group, Dallas County Dental Society, American Association of Women Dentists, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Board of Dental Public Health, Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. She has served as a member of Advisory Councils for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Niessen received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of New Mexico. She received her dental degree (DMD cum laude), her Masters in Public Health degree (MPH) and her Masters in Public Policy degree (MPP), all from Harvard University. Her passion lies in identifying programs, models and partnerships that improve the oral health of the public, whether through education, research, reimbursement, new technologies and/or community service programs.

Eric Berger serves as director of the Consortium for Medically Necessary Oral Health Coverage (www.OralHealthConsortium.org). Mr. Berger’s experience includes serving on the professional staff of the Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and as Virginia’s Legislative and Policy Director for Health and Human Resources. Mr. Berger also served as CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for DaVita, and Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy for US Oncology. Mr. Berger’s education includes the Master of Arts program in Public Administration at the University of Virginia and the Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics at the University of Richmond, which he attended under a University Scholars academic scholarship. Mr. Berger and his wife, Ann, reside in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and are the proud parents of three adult children.