Newly Erupted The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Cliff Hartmann, Chair of the AAPD Political Action Committee (PAC), joins host Dr. Joel Berg to discuss the mission of the AAPD PAC and the Academy’s legislative priorities. Dr. Hartmann also delves into PAC FAQs, offering a great primer for those who may not be familiar with how political action committees identify and support candidates, who can contribute, and why PACs are so important. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Cliff Hartmann is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry where he also completed his pediatric dental training. Dr. Hartmann currently serves as Chair of the AAPD Political Action Committee. He is also a Past-Trustee of the Academy and served as President of the Wisconsin Dental Association in 2022.Dr. Cliff Hartmann, Chair of the AAPD Political Action Committee (PAC), joins host Dr. Joel Berg to discuss the mission of the AAPD PAC and the Academy’s legislative priorities. Dr. Hartmann also delves into PAC FAQs, offering a great primer for those who may not be familiar with how political action committees identify and support candidates, who can contribute, and why PACs are so important. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Cliff Hartmann is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry where he also completed his pediatric dental training. Dr. Hartmann currently serves as Chair of the AAPD Political Action Committee. He is also a Past-Trustee of the Academy and served as President of the Wisconsin Dental Association in 2022.

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Building a business doesn’t need to be scary. Dr. Mira Albert chats with host Dr. Joel Berg about entrepreneurship and being strong enough to face your fears. Hear Dr. Albert discuss what drives her as a businessowner, as well as how her choice to pursue an MBA positively impacted her confidence and lessened her fears. She delves into the importance of entrepreneurs identifying their sense of purpose and finding trusted advisors and peers.  

 

Guest Bio:  

Dr. Mira Albert founded Brush Pediatric Dentistry in Hinsdale, Illinois in 2011. Brush is a vibrant, growing practice scaling to its second location in the summer of 2024. She works alongside four pediatric dentists and a dynamic support team that together take great pride in providing a compassionate and fun dental experience to the children in their community.  

 

Dr. Albert is a national spokesperson and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and serves as Trustee and Marketing Chair of The Foundation of the AAPD. Dr. Albert is also a Diplomate and member of the Examination Committee of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She supports her community and many philanthropic and civic organizations both financially and as a volunteer. She also takes great pride in mentoring young women as they follow in her career footsteps. 

 

Dr. Albert earned her MBA from The Northwestern Kellogg School of Management in 2022. Prior to that, she earned her bachelor's and dental degrees both from the University of Michigan. Dr. Albert attended the University of Illinois in Chicago where she earned her master's degree and diploma in pediatric dentistry. She maintains hospital privileges at The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  

 

On a personal note, Dr. Albert is married to a general dentist and together they own two general practices in addition to Brush Pediatric Dentistry. She is a busy mom to two very active teenage boys and the family’s sweet dog. Dr. Albert completed the NYC marathon in 2018 and the Chicago marathon in 2019. She’s hung up her running shoes for now, but still enjoys water sports, downhill skiing, traveling with her family and cheering for The Wolverines and from the bleachers of her kids’ teams. Dr. Albert is intensely curious about dental practice integration, developing synergies and continuous improvement of processes within a dental practice in the pursuit of providing optimal pediatric oral healthcare. She hopes to continue growing her brand and meet like-minded pediatric dentists along the way who share her vision and might be interested in joining her team. 

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Pediatric dentist Anna Simonis joins Newly Erupted to discuss how she has successfully woven together her personal interests with her professional work, fostering a sense of balance. She chats with host Dr. Joel Berg about the rewards and challenges of bringing together all facets of who she is as a person – a pediatric dentist, a business owner, a team leader, a spouse, a mom, a singer – and shares how you can utilize your own passions to be the best professional possible. 

Guest Bio: 

Anna Simonis, DDS, received her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in 2002. Prior to her graduate studies, she completed her BA at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, majoring in Psychology. During her education at Columbia, Anna led her peers as their class president for three years, and she delivered the Salutatorian speech at graduation. Continuing her education, Anna pursued a certificate of Specialty in Pediatric Dentistry at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where she served as Chief Resident. Her private practice experience as a pediatric dentist began on Long Island and continued in Westchester County and then into Connecticut, where she planted her roots and built her practice, New Canaan Pediatric Dentistry, LLC. She is a proud and active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; American Dental Association; Connecticut State Dental Association; New Canaan Dental Society, which she currently serves as vice president; and American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. 

In her community, Anna currently serves on the boards for New Canaan Cares, The Daycare Center of New Canaan, and The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, as well as volunteers her time with the New Canaan High School Soccer team (her son’s team) and at various school functions. 

Anna adores spending time with her husband, Dennis, their 16-year-old son, Niko, and, of course, her 5- year-old Goldendoodle, Barkley and most recent addition, Leo, a 4-month-old mini-whoodle. She is an avid reader of various genres and has received her certificate in Health, Wellness and Nutrition at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in order to expand and compliment her scope of services.

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Newly Erupted host Dr. Joel Berg chats with Dr. Elise Sarvas, the first pediatric dentist on staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. As she walks through a day in her life as a hospital-based clinician, Dr. Sarvas discusses the importance of integrated care and the value she finds in working with colleagues in multiple specialties. She also shares her personal experience as a Mayo Clinic, which fostered her desire to join the team and give back to a community that protected her future. 

Guest Bio: 

Elise Sarvas, D.D.S., M.S.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified pediatric dentist who provides hospital-based care at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Sarvas specializes in the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs. Dr. Sarvas active in organized dentistry and serves as the Minnesota Public Policy Advocate for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Minnesota Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is also on the executive committee for the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, the national organization for all board-certified pediatric dentists. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Oral Health and a pediatric dental advisor to local, national, and international organizations focusing on public health and maternal and child health. Dr. Sarvas is passionate about advocating for social justice reform through a Health-in-All-Policies approach as a means to achieve health equity.

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Dr. Gisela Bona chats with Dr. Joel Berg about the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and the importance of representation within the profession. Founded in 1990, the HDA is the leading voice for Hispanic oral health, providing service, education, research, advocacy, and leadership for all healthcare professionals, to promote the overall health of the Hispanic/Latinx and underrepresented communities. Dr. Bona discusses the advantages for professionals of varying cultures, individual experiences, and languages working together to better understand each other and our patient populations.

Guest Bio:

Gisela V. Bona DDS, MS, FAAP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston and a member of the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Clinic team at the McGowan Medical School in Houston. Dr. Bona received her Doctor of Dental Surgery at Universidad Autónoma de Honduras in her native country. She completed her Pediatric Dentistry Specialty post-graduate training at Universidad de Chile Escuela de Graduados and earned a MS and Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She is a diplomate of Board Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

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Although 1 in every 37 children experiences pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), it’s a little-talked about diagnosis. PFD relates to any impaired oral intake that is not age appropriate. Pediatric dentists may find themselves as the first medical provider contact for children and families managing PFD. Very special guest Dena Berg walks us through the four domains that factor into the broad PFD diagnosis and how providers can collaborate with the larger care team. She also discusses the role pediatric dentists play in educating patients and families, creating a safe and positive oral care experience, and limiting generalizations and misconceptions about patients and PFD. 

Guest Bio: 

Dena Berg, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Specialist working in home-health in Arizona with over ten years of experience working with clients with Pediatric Feeding Disorder related to developmental disabilities. She has spoken about different topics relating to Pediatric Feeding Disorder at the Arizona-Speech-Language-Hearing Association state conference for the last two years. Dena also mentors graduate students who have an interest in feeding therapy and has been a part of the Feeding Collective since 2020.

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