GACD Board of Directors
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Rhonda Mullins - President Practice Development Strategist, Rhonda Mullins, began her dental career as a Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, and The L.D. Pankey Institute trained dental lab owner and technician. This lead to an invitation to consult with the former Quest Management Group. Her further industry wisdom came with her position as Sr. Management Analyst for a National Dental Brokerage Group. Today, she is CEO of RHO Global Inc., an Atlanta, Ga., based firm that serves the dental industry as a national speaker, on-site strategic coach, and consultant as well as a business development strategist to dentists. National and International dental audiences, organizations and educational institutions, such as The Kois Center, Medical College of Georgia and the University of Tennessee have allowed her share her knowledge and story. Rhonda is proud to be affiliated with elite organizations such as:
Rhonda has lectured for the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida Dental Associations. Rhonda is one of the most influential speakers / consultants in dentistry today. www.RhondaMullins.com |
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James A. Merriman, DMD - Immediate Past President Dr. Merriman served as President of the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in 2011. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 1980. He maintains a solo general practice, with an emphasis in complex restorative and cosmetic dentistry in Marietta, Georgia. A firm believer in continuing education, Dr. Merriman is a graduate of the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, The L.D. Pankey Institute, LSU Esthetic Continuums I and II, a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He has also studied extensively with the Spear Institute, Dallas Dental Solutions, and with the San Francisco Institute for Advanced Dental Learning. Over the last three years, Dr. Merriman has had four articles published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry. A member of the AACD since 1999, Dr. Merriman leads a study group of Atlanta area dentists interested in becoming Accredited Members of the AACD. He also serves as a Workshop Mentor for the Spear Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Merriman's pastimes include fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, and trips with his wife and three children to the North Georgia mountains. |
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Dr. Joe Chafin - President Elect 2013, Education Chairman As a native Georgian, Dr. Chafin graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Georgia. He received his DMD degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1981. He has been maintaining a solo practice for 28 years, with an emphasis in family and cosmetic dentistry. His accomplishments include being Past Chairman of the Beginning Practice Committee of the Georgia Dental Association, and also served on the Executive Council for the Northern District Dental Society. He has been past President of the Medical College of Georgia Alumni Association, and is currently a member of the President s Club. As a sustaining member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry since 2006, he has attended all national meetings, served on the New Member Committee, and is currently treating a patient in the Give Back A Smile Program. As a staunch believer in dental education, he is a member of the South Metro Dental Study Club, the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Study Club, and has particularly enjoyed courses by Newton Fahl, the Pankey Institute, Dallas Dental Solutions, the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and Astra Tech. Dr. Chafin has given back to his local community by starting an endowment for the Hands of Hope Dental Clinic. |
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Jill Golsen, DMD - Vice President A native of Florida, Dr. Golsen attended the University of Georgia, has Bachelor of Science degree as well as a DMD from the Medical College School of Dentistry in 1993. Dr Golsen was a clinical instructor at Perimeter College School of dental hygiene and an international trainer for Kreativ air abrasion technology. Dr Golsen is a sustaining member of the AACD and a general member since 1995. She is currently serves on the board of the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Other membership organizations include the Hinman dental society, Georgia dental association, American dental association, Northern District dental society. Dr Golsen has been practicing for 15 years in Alpharetta Georgia. |
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Brian Lindke, CDT - Board Member, Sponsorship Chairman Brian is the owner of Beautiful Smiles by VIVIDX, in Buford, GA specializing in aesthetic implant reconstructions and all-ceramic restorations. He has studied with many world renowned clinicians and technicians and maintains membership in several prestigious organizations. Brian has presented lectures and hands-on courses to technicians and dentists for more than 20 years. He is recognized as a leading authority on pressable ceramics and has pioneered many innovative techniques, including Press-to-metal and Press-to-Zirconia. Brian is a key instructor for Noritake dental ceramics and maintains an active teaching schedule both nationally and internationally. He consults with manufacturers on the development and evolution of new techniques and materials. |
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Chris Sholota, DDS - Board Member, Membership Chairman Chris Sholota has been practicing in Atlanta for over twenty-eight years after graduating from the University of West Virginia in 1983. Dr. Sholota has continued his dental education by attending many advanced dental institutes for various training by the leading teachers in the country. These institutes include: Studied in Brazil "Mastering Cosmetic Bonding" with Newton Fahl, The KOIS Center in Seattle, The Pankey Institute for advanced learning, Pacific University's PAC Live - one of the country's leading centers for advanced cosmetic restorative dentistry, Seattle Institute for advanced dental learning, and the Cosmodent's Center of Excellence for restorative dentistry. Dr. Sholota has also published an article in the Spectrum Dialogue. Dr. Sholota is a member of the following associations: Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Pankey Institute Alumni, Norcross Dental Study Club, and the Give Back A Smile program for battered women. |
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Belinda Bryant - Board Member, Website Chairman Belinda Bryant has provided consulting, training and coaching for general and specialty practices in the United States and Canada since 1988. She holds degrees in dental hygiene and educational psychology. Her career began as a clinical dental assistant prior to becoming an orthodontic practice administrator. She practiced as a dental hygienist in general and periodontal settings and taught clinical dental hygiene at Clayton State College. She began her consulting career with the Pride Institute and started her own consulting practice 1n 1994. Belinda provides services for practices that focus on adult complex dental care, including implants, cosmetics and reconstructive dentistry. Over the course of her career she has presented programs to many dental societies and study clubs including: The Seattle Study Club, Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, The American Dental Association, Medical College of Georgia, The University of Alabama Alumni Association, The New Orleans Conference, The University of Louisiana Alumni Association and Pankey United Kingdom. She has served as visiting faculty for: Belinda is a member of: www.BBryantConsulting.com |
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Charles C. Cooper, Jr. DMD - Board Member, Co-Membership Chairman Dr. Cooper focuses on functional-appearance related conditions and cosmetic solutions for those patients seeking total oral health. He received a B.A. with honors in Science Education at Mississippi State University in 1982, a Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in 1986, and performed a General Practice Residency Program at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 1987. While furthering his knowledge of dentistry through hundreds of hours of continuing education classes, he has lectured in not only the dental field but was selected as a presenter at the coveted Georgia Oglethorpe Awards Session, which is Georgia's highest level of recognition for organizational performance excellence. Dr. Cooper is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry, Georgia Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He has studied at the world famous Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He is a regular participant in the "Give Back A Smile" Program in which he and his office donate their time and skills to help battered women achieve a new smiles. Since 2000, Dr. Cooper has been the official dentist of the Atlanta Falcon Cheerleaders. Together Dr. Cooper and the Cheerleaders have participated in several charity events, including the Atlanta Charity Clays which has raised over 2 million dollars for Children’s Charities of Atlanta. Dr. Cooper enjoys spending time with his family especially in the outdoors. Other interests include Golf, Tennis, Hunting and coaching Youth Football. |
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Pinhas Adar, MDT CDT - Advisory Board Member Master Ceramist Pinhas Adar studied initially in Tel Aviv, Israel and then with Mr. Willi Geller in Zurich, Switzerland. He has over thirty years of experience in all phases of dental laboratory technology and has spent these years studying the secrets and principles of Smile Design and the impact of the psychological effects on consumers and has applied this knowledge in his own practice with extraordinary results. He specializes in the many facets of porcelain esthetic restorations on both natural teeth and osseointegrated implants. Mr. Adar is the founder and president of Adar International, Inc., and an active member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, International Oral Design group and President Elect of the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, he is also on the Professional Education Committee of the executive board of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is a member of the National Association of Dental Laboratories and Southeaster Conference of Dental Laboratories. He is also a center for Oral Design International. He is the US coordinator for Oral Design, USA. He is on the advisory board of the Amara Institute and a guest presenter at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He is on the editorial advisory board of the Quintessence Yearly Journal, the Journal of Esthetic Dentistry, the Journal of Collaborative Techniques, Spectrum Dialogue, Everest Publishing and Inside Dentistry. Mr. Adar has lectured and presented live television programs in the United States, Europe, Israel, the Far East, South America, Russia and Australia, as well as a multitude of programs nationally on the multidisciplinary approaches in optimizing esthetics. He has the unique privilege of working and teaching with many leaders in the field of esthetic/cosmetic dentistry in interdisciplinary settings in many different cultural backgrounds. He has the distinction of being the first ceramist to address an international meeting of the American College of Prosthodontists. He has contributed chapters in texts on posterior ceramic restorations and porcelain laminate veneers, published by Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. He contributed text to a multi-disciplinary book, "The Art of the Smile" published by Quintessence Publishing Co., as well as numerous magazine articles. He has produced educational DVD's for the dental industry on different topics entitled "Porcelain Laminate Veneers", "Crowns from Vision to Reality", and "Trial Smile" that are currently being sold and distributed by National Lab Network. |
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Dr. Louisa S. Berman - Advisory Board Member Louisa S. Berman graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1994 and then attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry where she received her Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) in 1998. Dr. Berman then went on to receive advanced training, completing a 3 year Prosthodontic residency in 2001. A prosthodontist is a dental specialist in the areas of function, implants, cosmetics, and fixed and removable dentistry. Rigorous training and experience provide prosthodontists with a special understanding of the dynamics of smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth and the creation of tooth replacements. Dr. Berman is a sustaining member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American College of Prosthodontists, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Northern District of the Georgia Dental Association. She also is a member of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity and the Hinman Dental Society. She lectures on implant dentistry to local study groups and at national meetings, and is a product evaluator for Discus Dental products. Dr. Berman currently serves as Past President of the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, an affiliate of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. She volunteers over 50 hours a year with the Junior League of Atlanta, loves attending Alabama football games, and spending time with her husband, Tristan and her daughter, Adelyn. |
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Dr. Hugh D. Flax - Advisory Board Member Hugh D. Flax received his DDS degree from Emory University in 1983 following undergraduate Phi Beta Kappa honors. While doing a residency he did Posterior Composites research at LSU Dental School in 1984-1985. He has been a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry since 1994 and became Accredited in 1997. He was President of the Atlanta Chapter of the AACD (1996-1998) and Local Chapters Chairperson (1998-1999). Dr. Flax served for two years as Co-Chair of the Conference Advisory Committee for 2003 AACD Scientific Session in Orlando. In May 2005, he became the Chairman of the 2008 Meeting in New Orleans. He is on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry and Practical Procedures and Aesthetic Dentistry. Furthermore, he has chaired the Private Education Advisory Council and the Disaster Relief Committee, and is an active member of the AACD Board of Directors and the Marketing, Leadership Development, and Finance Committees. Recently, he is the founding President of the Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and remains on its Board. In May 2008, he was elected Vice President of the AACD and will become President in 2010-2011. Outside of the AACD, Dr. Flax is a member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, and the L.D. Pankey Alumni Association. In addition, as a Fellow of the World Clinical Laser Institute, he contributes time as member of their teaching faculty. Lastly, he is a lecturer and product evaluator for Catapult (Dental Team Concepts), a group dedicated to improving dental care throughout the world. Dr. Flax practices full time in Atlanta, Georgia focusing on functional-appearance related conditions and advanced laser dentistry as well as writing and lecturing on how to help others do the same for their own practices. Lastly, while helping his wife Robyn raise two beautiful girls, he focuses on many charitable causes including Give Back A Smile, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity's Musicians' Village in New Orleans. |