Dental Program for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Individuals with Special Health Care Needs
8:30-9:00 am: Welcome
Remarks from Dean Huja and Dr. Michelle Ziegler
9:00-10:00 am: Keynote:
Positive Exposure by Rick Guidotti
10:00-11:00 am: Orthodontic
Treatment Through the Lens of the Parent of your Patient with Intellectual Disabilities by Dr. Marc Ackerman
11:00-11:30 am: Poster:
Identifying Barriers to Access of Dental Care for Special Needs Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic by Rachael Elvis and Alexa Cox
11:30-12:00 pm: Break
12:00-1:00 pm: Welcoming Patients with Special Heath Care Needs into your Practice by Dr. Michelle Ziegler
1:00-2:00 pm: Prevention,
Caries Management and Silver Diamine Fluoride by Dr. Allen Wong
2:00-2:15 pm: Closing Remarks with Dr. Michelle Ziegler
Speaker Biographies
Rick Guidotti Rick Guidotti, an award-winning photographer, has spent the past twenty five
years collaborating internationally with nonprofit organizations, hospitals, medical schools,
educational institutions, museums, galleries, advocacy groups and communities to effect a
change in societal attitudes towards individuals living with genetic, physical, behavioral or
intellectual difference. Rick is the founder and director of POSITIVE EXPOSURE, which has
significantly impacted the field of human rights, mental health, medicine, and education by
providing new opportunities to see each individual as a human being and valued member of our society.
Dr. Ackerman specializes in the orthodontic treatment of children with dentofacial anomalies,
intellectual and physical disabilities and sleep disordered breathing. He received his DMD
from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in and his certificate in
Orthodontics from the University of Rochester-Eastman Dental Center. Dr. Ackerman later
completed his MBA in Executive Leader[1]ship at Jacksonville University Davis College of
Business as well as a Fellowship in Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School in 2014. Dr. Ackerman
is the Director of Orthodontics at Boston Children’s Hospital and teaches medical students at Harvard
Medical School and dental students/residents from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Ziegler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Director of the
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program and clinical faculty of the newly
opened Special Care Dentistry Clinic at the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine
at the Medical University of South Carolina. She graduated from the New York University
College of Dentistry, as well as receiving her BS from Columbia University and an AS in Dental
Hygiene from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine. Dr. Ziegler’s
postgraduate training includes a two year General Practice Residency at Lutheran Medical
Center in Brooklyn, NY where she was Chief Resident. She was the Director of the General Residency
Program at Lutheran Medical Center and Director of the General Practice Residency Program at Monmouth
Medical Center in New Jersey. Over the last 20 years Dr. Ziegler’s passion has been treating patient with
special needs.
Dr. Allen Wong has taught postdoctoral general dentistry for over 35 years. He currently
teaches at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry as a Professor
in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences as well as maintains a private practice in San
Francisco. He has lectured nationally and internationally in the areas of special care dentistry,
and minimally invasive dentistry. Dr. Wong is the immediate past president of The American
Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry, a non-profit, membership organization of
interdisciplinary health professionals — including primary physicians, medical specialists, dentists, optometrists,
Please join us from 11:00-11:30a for the poster presentation by our 4th Year
Dental Students, Rachel Elvis (L) and Alexa Cox (R).