Doctors of Penn Dental Family Practice

Lynda is a cum laude graduate of Millersville University having earned a bachelor of fine arts degree, a minor in biology and a certification to teach. Her interest in science and esthetics was a natural motivation to pursue a career in dentistry. With over 30 years’ experience in the field, she started as a dental assistant which led to front desk duties finally finding her niche in office management and administration. Her previous position for the last 16 years was as the administrator for a large practice in Exton, PA with a satellite practice in Malvern.

As a member of the Penn Dental Family Practice team, Lynda is the Administrator of the Locust Walk location. She oversees the daily operations of the practice promoting the efficiency and individualized, care oriented experiences for our patients.

Lynda is happily married with 2 children and one grandchild. She resides in Chester County in an old farmhouse with lots of land, her husband and daughter and her Abyssinian cat, Ramses.

Dr. Bruner has been practicing at Penn Dental Family Practice since 2011. He is a general dentist that focuses on all aspects of restorative and cosmetic dentistry, including fillings, porcelain crowns, bridges, and veneers, as well as implant supported prosthetics. Dr. Bruner also treats patients with complete and partial dentures, and provides consultations for Invisalign.

Dr. Bruner is originally from Shaker Heights, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. He currently resides in Center City. While an avid cyclist, he also enjoys hiking, skiing, golf, and genealogy.

Dr. Beverley Crawford is a general dentist and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Penn Dental Medicine. As a general dentist Dr. Crawford enjoys practicing all aspects of clinical dentistry.

After receiving her DDS from Howard University, Dr Crawford entered private practice in Washington DC. In 1988 she moved with her husband to Pennsylvania where she began teaching at Penn Dental Medicine in 1989 and continued in Private practice. In 2000 she joined Penn Dental Medicine full time, practicing in the Penn Dental Family Practice and continuing to teach in the Pre-Clinical laboratories.

In 2010 she was appointed Director of Diversity Affairs. A native of Guyana, South America Dr. Crawford lives in Bucks County and enjoys travel.

Dr. Christopher Krowicki is a general dentist and an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He teaches junior and senior pre-doctoral students. Dr. Krowicki treats all restorative cases including porcelain crowns, bridges, and veneers. He also treats patients with complete and partial dentures as well as implant-supported crowns, bridges, and overdentures.

After receiving his DDS from LSU, Dr. Krowicki moved to Pennsylvania after Hurricane Katrina. He received his Certificate in General Practice Residency from St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, PA. He was in private practice focused on Esthetic Dentistry on the Main Line for 5 years before joining the Penn Dental Faculty Practice.

A native of southern Poland, Dr. Krowicki lives in Shillington, PA with his wife and son and is active in the community. He also enjoys tennis, cycling and travel.

Dr. Francis Mante is a general dentist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He teaches senior undergraduate students. Dr. Mante’s practice is focused on esthetic cases and oral rehabilitation, including porcelain crowns, bridges, and veneers. He also offers treatment in complete and partial dentures as well as implant-supported crowns, bridges, and overdentures.

Dr. Mante received a BDS degree from the University of Ghana in 1979 and practiced dentistry for 5 years. He then went on to further his education and received a MS in Dental Materials from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI followed by a Ph.D in Biomaterials from Northwestern University. Dr. Mante came to PENN for a DMD degree in 1995. He was also awarded a honorary MA degree at PENN in 1999. Dr. Mante has been practicing in the Penn Faculty Dental Practice since 1995.

Dr. Mante lives in Villanova, PA with his wife and two children. He enjoys bicycling, tennis, soccer and travel.

After receiving her DDS from Columbia University in 2012, Dr. Steinberg completed two years of advanced training in general dentistry at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. There she became an attending faculty member at the faculty practice. Dr. Steinberg is a general dentist with advanced training in all aspects of restorative and cosmetic dentistry, including implant dentistry, fixed and removable prosthodontics, and invisible braces. Dr. Steinberg treats patients of all ages and is committed to providing the highest level of care tailored to the individual needs of all of her patients.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Steinberg recently moved to Philadelphia where she lives in Center City with her husband. An avid foodie, on the weekends she can be found exploring the local farmer’s markets and trying new restaurants. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and skiing.

Dr. Joseph Yalch is a general dentist who spent nearly 29 years in private practice in downtown Washington, DC, before joining Penn Family Dental in 2018. His emphasis is advanced restorative dentistry providing clinical skill and expertise in all aspects of restorative dentistry but he is particularly adept at treating complex, multi-disciplinary cases. Dr. Yalch holds active memberships in some of dentistry’s most prestigious organizations and regularly attends continuing education to keep abreast of advancements in the field.

Dr. Yalch lives in center city Philadelphia. He is very interested in the arts, loves to cook and dine out, enjoys skiing and gardening, and is always trying to perfect his French language skills. However, his biggest passions are spending time with family and friends at his beach home in Avalon, NJ and traveling all over the world.

Dr. Cassandra Gafford is a general dentist and Clinical Associate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Restorative and Preventive Sciences and Department of Community Oral Health. She teaches third and fourth year students in the main clinic and community sites around Philadelphia, treating underserved populations. She performs all general dentistry procedures, including fillings, crowns, bridges, implant restorations, and removable partial and complete dentures.

After receiving her DMD from Penn Dental, Dr. Gafford spent an extra year after dental school at Abington Memorial Hospital, completing a General Practice Residency. She was in private practice in Philadelphia for 8 years before deciding to treat patients and teach full-time at Penn Dental Family Practice and the dental school.

Dr. Gafford lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. She enjoys singing, playing ukulele, and exploring the culinary scene in Philadelphia.

Dr. Nicholas Lias was raised in Western Pennsylvania and graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in 2015. A strong believer in continuing education, Dr. Lias completed a General Practice Residency at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center performing specialized procedures in Endodontics, Oral Surgery, and Implant Dentistry. While a resident, Dr. Lias’s research received honors at the Greater Cleveland Dental Society North Coast Spring Meeting in 2016.

Dr. Lias returned to the Philadelphia area in April 2018, and he is committed to providing his patients with personalized and state-of-the-art dental care.

Outside the office, Dr. Lias enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, hiking, singing, and traveling.

I am an alumnus from both Penn undergraduate and Penn School of Dental Medicine, at which I currently hold a clinical faculty appointment, teaching the upper class students all facets of dentistry with a special interest in digital (computerized) dentistry. Having over 25 years experience with using and teaching CAD-CAM dentistry, I’m passionate about helping the students learn and adopt current high tech dentistry practices into their future professional careers. I also treat patients 3 days per week in the Penn Family Dental Practice at Locust Walk.

Dr. Kyle Vining maintains an active clinical practice in restorative and cosmetic dentistry at Penn Dental Family Practice at University City. Dr. Kyle relocated to Philadelphia to start his career in academic dentistry and research. He previously was an associate dentist at a private group specialty clinic in the Boston area during his PhD and post-doctoral training at Harvard University. He is joined by his wife, daughter, and small dog. He enjoys cycling to work in Philadelphia, as well as exploring the trails and bike paths in the area. Dr. Kyle holds a PhD in bioengineering from Harvard University, a DDS from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, and a BS in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. Dr. Kyle was the first faculty member recruited to the new Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) – https://www.dental.upenn.edu/research/center-for-innovation-precision-dentistry/ at Penn Dental Medicine. His research investigates mechanical regulation of tissue inflammation in bone marrow disease and head and neck cancer. He is also developing strategies to target inflammation and promote tissue repair and regeneration in oral and craniofacial diseases. He developed a fibrotic extracellular matrix hydrogel to investigate the effects of mechanical cues in fibrotic niches. He also engineered a novel antimicrobial coating for titanium dental implants and developed a new polymeric dental material that supports differentiation and proliferation of dental pulp stem cells for regenerative dentistry applications. His most recent work was published in Nature Materials – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-022-01293-3.

Vining Lab Website – https://www.dental.upenn.edu/research/vining-lab/

Google Scholar – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=abWI2j0AAAAJ&hl=en

I have been practicing general dentistry for the past nine years in Philadelphia. I graduated with DMD Honors degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 2015 and also hold Masters degree in Health Services Administration. I am passionate about teaching and work as Assistant Professor in the Department of Advanced Education in General Dentistry at Penn Dental Medicine. My favorite hobbies are sketching, yoga and travel.

Dr. Hariton-Gross serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry at Penn Dental Medicine. After obtaining her D.D.S. from Central University of Venezuela in 2000, she completed her Advanced Education in General Dentistry (A.E.G.D.) and Certificate in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Michigan in 2005 and 2007, respectively. In 2010, Dr. Hariton-Gross earned her D.M.D. from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to join the faculty at the School, advancing from Instructor to Assistant Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry in 2012, before being promoted to Associate Professor in 2019. Prior to joining Penn Dental Medicine, Dr. Hariton-Gross served as Assistant Professor Of Periodontology at Temple University, School of Dentistry, and Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry.

Dr Fairy Baxi is a general dentist and a Clinical Associate at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Restorative and Preventative Sciences. With a passion for education, she teaches third and fourth-year pre-doctoral students. Dr Baxi performs wide range of general dentistry procedures including fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, implant restorations, and removable partial and complete dentures.

Based in Philadelphia, Dr Baxi enjoys exploring the city with her husband, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr. Kari Hexem is a general dentist and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Community Oral Health at Penn Dental Medicine. She loves working with all patients, and particularly enjoys working with individuals with a history of dental phobia, mental health and substance use disorders, and/or infrequent dental care. She is well-recognized by her colleagues, patients and students for her gentle and non-judgmental approach to clinical dentistry.

She joined Penn Dental Medicine full time in 2024, teaching clinically at the Penn Dental @ PHMC Campus on Cedar. She also serves as co-course director for Penn Dental courses focused on behavioral health and practice management. Her clinical research interests include health communication, medical-dental integration, and providing dental care for patients living with substance use disorder.

Born and raised in Philadelphia PA, Dr. Hexem now lives in South Jersey with her family where she enjoys watching her children play baseball and scoot around the neighborhood. In her free time, she enjoys listening to Taylor Swift and painting in watercolor.

Dr. Karabucak is Associate Professor of Endodontics-Clinician Educator, Director of the Postdoctoral Endodontics Program and Director of Division of Advanced Dental Education. He is involved with endodontics courses/seminars in pre- and post-doctoral programs. Dr. Karabucak has been the attending endodontist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2005.

After earning his dental degree from Istanbul University School of Dental Medicine in 1993, Dr. Karabucak completed his endodontic postgraduate training at the Department of Endodontics at Penn, where he also received his Masters in Oral Biology in 1998. He later earned his DMD degree from Penn Dental Medicine in 2002. His research interests include the cellular mechanisms of vasodilation and the inflammatory mediators in the dental pulp and outcome assessment of conventional and surgical endodontic treatment.

Dr. Karabucak lectures at national and international conferences, has published in peer-reviewed journals. He serves on the editorial advisory board of several international peer-reviewed dental journals. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and a member of the scientific committee of the American Association of Endodontists.

Dr. Sumin Lee is an endodontist and an Instructor in the Department of Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She teaches undergraduate students and post-doctoral students. Dr. Lee specializes in root canal therapy, trauma, internal tooth bleaching, and surgical root canal procedures.

After earning her dental degree from Chosun University College of Dentistry, South Korea in 2003, Dr. Lee completed her first postgraduate training at the Department of Conservative Dentistry at Chosun University College of Dentistry in South Korea, where she also received her Master of Science in Dentistry in 2006. She ran a private practice in South Korea for 4 years before joining the Penn. She received her certificate in Endodontics from Penn in 2012, where she also received her Doctor of Science in Dentistry in 2015. Her research interests include the biology of the dental stem cells, regeneration of the dental pulp, dental tissue engineering, and biomaterials in Endodontics

Dr. Setzer is an endodontist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He teaches undergraduate students and post-doctoral residents. Dr. Setzer specializes in root canal therapy, trauma, and surgical root canal procedures. He also specializes in internal tooth bleaching.

Dr. Setzer received his first dental degree from the Dental School of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany in 1995, where he also received his doctoral degree in 1998. He pursued his endodontic specialty training at the University of Pennsylvania after working for nine years in a multi-specialist private practice as associate and partner. Dr. Setzer graduated from the endodontic program of the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, receiving the Louis I Grossman Postdoctoral Award in Endodontics. He earned a Master of Science in Oral Biology and a DMD degree in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Setzer is teaching as Clinic Director and Assistant Postgraduate Program Director at the Department of Endodontics of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Setzer lectures frequently nationally and internationally, has published in peer-review journals and serves, amongst others, as the Associate Editor for Endodontics for Quintessence International and on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Endodontics and the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Dr. Carrasco is Associate Professor of Clinical Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology. He received his M.D. degree form the University of Miami and received his D.D.S degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. In addition to his teaching responsibilities he has conducted research involving facial trauma and condylar position.

Dr. Brian Ford is a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and an instructor in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He received both his medical and dental degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ford completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his time at the Penn Dental Family Practice, he also teaches dental students at Penn Dental, and teaches dental residents as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery residents at the Philadelphia VA and throughout the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania health system.

His clinical interests and expertise are in dental implants, dentoalveolar surgery including complex bone grafting, anesthesia, and orthognathic surgery.

Dr. Steven Wang is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He received both his DMD and MD from Penn, and completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his time at the Penn Dental Family Practice, he also teaches residents at the hospitals of the Penn Health System, and teaches dental students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. His clinical interests and expertise are in orthognathic, dental implant, dentoalveolar, maxillofacial trauma, pathology, and TMJ surgeries.

A native of Texas, Dr. Wang and his wife have lived in Philadelphia for over 10 years and currently reside in University City with their two children. He is active in his church, is a football fanatic, and also enjoys playing golf and basketball.

Dr. Katherine France is an oral medicine specialist and an Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She is the director of the Penn Dental Medicine Oral Medicine Clinic and teaches in the Personalized Care Suite. Dr. France specializes in the assessment and treatment of oral lesions, mucosal diseases, salivary gland abnormalities, and facial pain conditions. She also treats patients in all phases of general dentistry, concentrating on providing safe and medically appropriate care.

After receiving her DMD, Dr. France received her Certificate in Oral Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Penn Medicine before joining the faculty as a full-time educator.

Dr. France was raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and currently lives in Center City where she enjoys running along the Schuylkill River Trail, cooking, and enjoying all of the excellent restaurants in Philadelphia. She is also an active volunteer for both her college and high school.

Dr. Omolehinwa is an oral medicine specialist and Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine at Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. In addition to treating patients with mucosal diseases, TMD and dental treatment of medically complex patient, Dr. Omolehinwa teaches in the Personalized Care Suite, Care Center of Patients with Disabilities where she currently serves as an Associate Director (Medically Complex Patients and patients with Infectious Diseases). She is also a researcher and has her research focus on oral and systemic health associations in patients living with HIV.

Her areas of expertise are in managing patients with oral mucosal lesions (both of local and systemic origin), temporomandibular disorders, patients with salivary gland disorders including those caused by radioactive iodine treatment, and dental treatment of medically complex patients.

Dr. Omolehinwa enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and volunteering at her local church.

Stefania Brazzoli, DDS MS, is a distinguished Orofacial Pain specialist with a global educational background. Currently a Research Fellow at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, she is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and an active member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. With extensive teaching experience and a passion for research, Dr. Brazzoli is dedicated to advancing pain management and improving patient care.

Dr. Alexander C. Apple is an orthodontist at the University of Pennsylvania providing treatment for children and adults. After graduating with a degree in dental medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his specialty training in orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

During residency, Dr. Apple conducted research on the ability to use 3-D X-rays in orthodontics. He received awards for outstanding research and clinical excellence. Dr. Apple was raised in Southern New Jersey and enjoys living in Philadelphia.

Dr. Hyeran Helen Jeon is an Orthodontist and a Full-time Instructor in the Department of Orthodontics at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine. She teaches undergraduate students and post-doctoral students. Dr. Jeon is an American Board of Orthodontics Board certified orthodontist (‘14) and Korean Board of Periodontology Board certified periodontist as well (‘08). With both backgrounds, Dr. Jeon specializes in early/adult orthodontic treatment, invisible braces, and Orthognathic surgery combined treatment.

Dr. Jeon is active in her church including the Church Choir and several mission trips. She likes paintings and can be found at Philadelphia museums on weekends. Dr. Jeon is very active in research and her research interests are Diabetes, Wound Healing, Angiogenesis, Bone Remodeling, Dental Implants and Tissue Engineering.

Dr. LynAnn Mastaj has been a private practice orthodontist for more than 20 years specializing in braces and Invisalign for children and adults of all ages. Dr. Mastaj graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received her specialty training in orthodontics at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

After receiving her DMD from Penn, Dr. Mastaj did a General Practice Residency at York Hospital becoming trained in all aspects of dentistry but her love of art and science inspired her to specialize in orthodontics. While receiving her specialty training at Albert Einstein Medical Center, she became a published author in the orthodontic literature. In 2005, Dr. Mastaj became an Invisalign Premier Provider and co-authored a book with colleague Dr. Donna Galante, “Healthy and Beautiful at any Age: Your Smile and Modern Orthodontics”. Dr. Mastaj joined the Penn Dental Faculty practice in 2013 bringing her knowledge, experience and expertise in orthodontics and Invisalign to the practice.

Dr. Mastaj lives in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania with her husband, Dr. Ernesto Lee, her two children and dog, Ace. For the past several years she has been an active member of the ECHOES Foundation and has traveled around the world educating children and communities about the benefits of proper oral hygiene. Dr. Mastaj is an avid alpinist having climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Kosciuszko and countless highpoints in the United States. She also enjoys tennis, skiing, cooking and entertaining in her free time.

Dr. Nipul Tanna has a dual specialty. He is an Orthodontist (specializing to straighten teeth) and a Periodontist (specializing to improve your gums). He received his BS from Juniata College in 1986. He then matriculated at Penn Dental Medicine, receiving his DMD in 1990. After Dental School, Dr. Tanna completed Penn’s AEGD (residency) program in 1991, then remained at Penn as a Staff Dentist in the Faculty Practice.

In 1994 he accepted a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative & Preventive Sciences and engaged in the clinical supervision of Pre-Doctoral students as a Group Leader. In 1999, he accepted the additional role of Associate Director of the Faculty Practice. During this time he continued clinical teaching and practicing.

With a strong desire to pursue advanced dental education, Dr. Tanna enrolled as a fulltime student in both Periodontics and Orthodontics and received his specialty training in both specialties in 2010. Additionally, he also completed a Masters in Oral Biology in 2011.

In 2013, Dr. Tanna became a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontics. Dr. Tanna currently practices in the Faculty Practice at the Robert Schattner Center on 40th Street. He also teaches and is actively involved with several clinical research studies. He continues to maintain his active membership with the American Dental Association, The American Association of Orthodontists, The Academy of Periodontology, The Academy of Osseointegration, The American Association of Dental Research, The Pennsylvania Dental Association and the Philadelphia County Dental Society.

Dr. Daniel Wulc has provided orthodontic care, specialising in braces and invisible braces, for children and adults throughout Pennsylvania. He was born, raised, and completed his entire education in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Dr. Wulc obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and graduated with honours. During his training, he pursued his interest in research by publishing multiple journal articles and presenting at national conferences.

Dr. Wulc returned to Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry to receive his speciality training in orthodontics and also completed a Masters degree in Oral Biology. His thesis work has since been presented to local and international societies.

Dr. Wulc lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He is an avid tennis player and has competed nationally and internationally at the collegiate level. During his free time, Dr. Wulc enjoys tennis, golf, running, following Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Chenshuang Li is an Assistant Professor, and the co-clinical director in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She completed her Ph.D. training in Orthodontics at the School and Hospital of Stomatology at Peking University in collaboration with the UCLA Dental and Craniofacial Research Institute in 2016, and finished her orthodontic specialty training at UCLA School of Dentistry in 2019. Dr. Li is well-versed in a broad array of orthodontic clinical approaches, including the traditional edgewise system, TWEED philosophy, passive (Damon) and active (Speed) self-ligating brackets systems, clear aligner systems, TAD placement, TAD-assisted maxillary expansion, phase 1 treatment, orthodontic treatment with periodontal patients, and treatment of complex craniofacial patients. Dr. Li has a clear career goal and is eager to serve as an educator and clinician-scientist with an emphasize on evidence based, patient-personalized orthodontic care.

Dr. Jonathan Korostoff is a periodontist and an Associate Professor-Clinician Educator in the Department of Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. His areas of clinical expertise are periodontics and the surgical aspects of dental implant therapy. In addition to seeing patients at the William Schattner Center of the Penn Faculty Dental Practice, Dr. Korostoff is an attending periodontist in the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

As a participant in numerous courses at both the pre- and post-doctoral levels, Dr. Korostoff lectures on a broad variety of topics in both the basic and clinical sciences. He is also a clinical instructor of periodontics and implant dentistry as well as the director of the Master of Science in Oral Biology Program. Dr. Korostoff is involved in research studying the causes of periodontal disease, evaluating materials used for bone grafting procedures and testing novel loading protocols on dental implants.

Dr. Korostoff is a native of New York having grown up on Long Island but has lived in Philadelphia since he arrived here to attend dental school. He is passionate about traveling especially to places that have either snow-covered mountains or beautiful beaches.

Dr. Kang Ko is a periodontist and a full-time Instructor in the Department of Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He currently leads an NIH-funded research program studying stem cell biology, wound healing and inflammation in the oral cavity and mentors pre- and post-doctoral students in clinical/research settings. Dr. Ko’s clinical expertise includes resective and regenerative periodontal procedures as well as implant dentistry.

Dr. Ko received his DMD from Penn in 2015, graduating with Honors in Research among other recognitions such as in teaching and in clinical periodontics. He further pursued specialty training at Penn and received his certificate in Periodontics and Doctor of Science in Dentistry from Penn.

Dr. Ko lives in Philadelphia and enjoys experimental cooking with new ingredients in his spare time.

Dr. Chang is an American.

Board-certified periodontist and pre-doctoral director in the Department of Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He mentors undergraduate students and post-doctoral students with multiple research projects.

Dr. Chang specializes in treating periodontal disease with surgical and non-surgical approaches, including pocket elimination, soft tissue grafting, crown lengthening, and esthetic cases. He also specializes in bone regeneration procedures, soft tissue grafts and dental implant therapy.

Dr. Chang comes from Taiwan, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2008 at Chun Shan Medical University in Taiwan and graduated with honor. After receiving his DDS degree, Dr. Chang completed the training in general dentistry in Taiwan and a senior Periodontal fellowship at the University of Washington. He also completed his specialty in and Doctor of Dental medicine (DMD), Periodontics, and Master in oral biology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Chang lives in Philadelphia. He enjoys fine dining, scuba diving, and traveling.

Dr. Alina O’Brien is a board-certified pediatric dentist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She is also the Assistant Director of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program and teaches dental students and residents at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She additionally volunteers as faculty in the predoctoral Ethics courses at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

After receiving her DDS from Columbia, Dr. O’Brien received her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident and received advanced training in providing comprehensive dental care for children. She worked in private practice in New York City before joining the Penn Dental Faculty Practice.

Dr. O’Brien resides in Philadelphia and enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, cooking, and reading.

Dr. Rosana Rosentrater is a pediatric dentist and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Division of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She teaches junior and senior pre-doctoral students during their clinical rotations. Dr. Rosentrater specializes in child and adolescent dentistry, with a great emphasis on prevention.

After receiving her DMD from Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Rosentrater completed a General Practice Residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She then received her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. She served as a clinical associate in various suburban and city practices inside and outside the Philadelphia area for 10 years before joining the Penn Dental Faculty Practice.

Dr. Rosentrater lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. She enjoys music, running, and travel.

Dr. Lauren Yap is a Clinical Associate of Pediatric Dentistry in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She is also the Assistant Director of the postdoctoral pediatric dentistry program. She obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and Master’s of Public Health (MPH) at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and Temple University College of Public Health. She completed a postdoctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at a federally qualified health clinic on the island of Hawai’i through NYU-Langone in 2020. She completed her postdoctoral training in pediatric dentistry at Geisinger Medical Center in 2022. Dr. Yap’s research interests lie in medically complex pediatric patients, children’s temperament, and oral manifestations in syndromes. In addition to her faculty responsibilities, Dr. Yap treats pediatric patients at the Penn Dental Family Practice in University City.

Dr. Joanie Jean is a board-eligible pediatric dentist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. After receiving her DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jean received her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Connecticut/Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she received advanced training in comprehensive care for children. Before joining the Penn Dental Family Practice, she worked in private practice in New Jersey. Dr. Jean lives in Philadelphia with her husband and cat. In her free time, Dr. Jean loves tinkering with computers, learning new languages, and traveling with her family.

Dr. Najeed Saleh received his DMD from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem Israel in 1979. He completed his training in Prosthodontics in 1983, and in 1985 he was awarded his board certification by the Israeli Board of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Saleh served on the faculty of the Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine between the years 1979-1990, where he was involved in teaching all aspects of Prosthodontics both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He also held private practice in Jerusalem Israel during the same period.

Dr. Saleh spent two years on sabbatical at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine between the years 1990-1992. In 1994 Dr. Saleh was awarded a DMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine.

Presently Dr. Saleh is clinical professor of restorative dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. He is the Director of Comprehensive Care Clinics at the School of Dental Medicine here at Penn. Dr. Saleh held a staff position at Hospital University of Pennsylvania, and maintained private practice in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania. He also served as Chief of the Division of Prosthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center for five years.

Dr. Saleh’s passion, interest, and expertise is in treating esthetic cases and full-mouth rehabilitation, including porcelain crowns, bridges, implants and veneers. He also specializes in complete and partial dentures as well as implant-supported crowns, bridges, and overdentures.

Dr. Nupur Patel is a Board-certified Prosthodontist. Dr. Patel completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from India before moving the United States. She then completed DMD through the Program for Advanced Standing Students at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. She obtained her Certificate in Prosthodontics and Master of Science in Oral Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. She then completed a Fellowship in Oral Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and has received multiple awards from local and national organizations. Dr. Patel is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists, American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics as well as the American Dental Association and has presented multiple posters at national and international meetings.

Dr. Patel has served as an Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry at Temple University Maurice H Kornberg School of Dentistry and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences as well as Program Director for the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Practice specialties include complex prosthodontic rehabilitation for dentate and edentulous patients with fixed, removable or implant supported restorations.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of congenital and acquired oral/ facial deformities with Obturator prosthesis, resection prosthesis, fixed prosthetic rehabilitation after surgical reconstruction. Pre-treatment, post-treatment management of Oncologic patients and collaboration with multidisciplinary treatment teams. Oral appliance therapy for management of Obstructive sleep apnea. Interdisciplinary management of pediatric and adolescent patients.

Kellie performs oral cleanings, advises on and identifies oral health issues, and provides oral hygiene instructions. Before joining Penn, she worked in a multi-doctor private dental practice and has over thirty years of experience in dental hygiene. In her spare time, she likes gardening, cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling, and discovering new TV series to watch.