Faculty Promotions and Appointments Announced
Dr. Celeste Kong promoted from Associate Professor to Professor of General Dentistry. Dr. Kong joined the BUGSDM faculty in 1984 as a Clinical Instructor in the pre-doctoral and post-graduate prosthodontics departments. In 1985, she was promoted to Assistant Professor of Prosthodontics. During this time, Dr. Kong was also working towards her DMD, which she earned in 1988.
In 1993, she advanced to Associate Professor of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials and in 1997, she succeeded one of her mentors, Dr. Stephen DuLong, as Director of the Predoctoral Restorative Dentistry Division, Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials. In 1999, Dr. Kong was named Associate Professor of General Dentistry and in 2000, she was also named Director of the Predoctoral Restorative Dentistry Division, Department of General Dentistry.
"Dr. Kong is truly deserving of this promotion," says Professor and Chair of General Dentistry, Dr. Judith Jones. "Her exemplary teaching and scholarly activities in the Departments of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials and General Dentistry certainly warrant her advancement to this level."
In her new position as Professor of General Dentistry, Dr. Kong looks forward to taking on a greater leadership role within the school.
"I am looking forward to working with the BUGSDM community to make changes necessary to bring us into the next decade," says Dr. Kong.
Dr. Kong was the recipient of the 2004 Spencer Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Additional Promotions:
Dr. Thomas Dietrich promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research. Prior to joining BUGSDM in 2003, Dr. Dietrich worked in private practice in Berlin, Germany and also as an Assistant Professor in Oral Surgery and Oral Radiology as well as Periodontology at Charité, Humboldt University of Berlin.
Dr. Robert Gyurko promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Periodontology and Oral Biology. Prior to joining BUGSDM in 2002, Dr. Gyurko was a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Gyurko is also the faculty supervisor for the Oral Biology Journal Club.
Dr. Ishwar Bhatia promoted from Clinical Assistant Professor to Clinical Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Prior to joining BUGSDM in 2001, Dr. Bhatia served as a Lecturer/Associate Professor of Oral Surgery at the University of Zambia School of Medicine as well as the Chief Dental Officer for the Government of the Republic of Zambia Ministry of Health.
Dr. Michael Blau promoted from Clinical Associate Professor to Clinical Professor of Orthodontics. Dr. Blau began working at BUGSDM in 1975. Prior to that he worked as a Clinical Assistant in the Department of Dental Auxiliary Utilization at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Blau is the past-president of the Massachusetts Association of Orthodontists, where he continues to serve as a member of the executive committee.
Initial Appointments:
Dr. Ghyath Alkhalil named Clinical Instructor of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Alkhalil was a student at BUGSDM. In 2005, he received his DMD and in 2006, he received his CAGS in general dentistry. He currently divides his time between BUGSDM and private practices in both Attleboro and Quincy, Massachusetts.
Dr. Laura Becerra named Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry. Prior to joining the faculty at BUGSDM, Dr. Becerra worked at the Boston University Dental Health Center and Holyoke Clinical Health Center. Before that, she worked in private practice in Alicante, Spain, where she specialized in periodontology and implants.
Dr. Bassam El-Jamous named Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. El-Jamous was a student at BUGSDM. In 2005, he received his MSc and CAGS in Periodontology, as well as the Excellence in Periodontology Award. In 2007, he received his DMD. He currently divides his time between BUGSDM and private practices in both North Andover and Beverly, Massachusetts.
Dr. Samer Khayat named Clinical Instructor of General Dentistry. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Khayat was a student at BUGSDM. In 2004, he received his CAGS in Prosthodontics along with the David A. Baraban Award, presented to an outstanding resident in the graduating prosthodontics class who best exemplifies excellence in character and clinical proficiency.
Dr. Jonathan Millen named Clinical Instructor of General Dentistry. In addition to serving on the faculty, Dr. Millen is also a partner and the Director of Newbury Dental Associates in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Carmine Morreale named Clinical Instructor of General Dentistry. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Morreale was an Assistant Clinical Professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and a Clinical Instructor at Harvard University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Steven Nagy named Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry. Prior to joining the faculty at BUGSDM, Dr. Nagy spent twenty-six years in private practice from 1981 to 2007, while simultaneously serving as an instructor at Bergen Community College School of Dental Hygiene in Paramus, New Jersey and later at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Dr. Nagy also served in the U. S. Army Reserve, 3298th Dental Detachment at Fort Hamilton, New York from 1992-1995.
Dr. John Torchia named Clinical Instructor of General Dentistry. In addition to serving on the faculty, Dr. Torchia works in private practice in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Dr. M. Thomas Wilcko named Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Periodontology and Oral Biology. In addition to serving as an adjunct faculty member, Dr. Wilcko works in private practice in Erie, Pennsylvania.