Our Featured Speakers
Dr. Vickie Jones
Vickie E. Jones, DHSc, MS, RDH, FNAP, is a dental hygienist, educator, and speaker with more than 30 years of experience in oral health care and dental hygiene education. Her professional focus is the oral-systemic connection, with particular emphasis on helping dental teams understand the relationship between oral inflammation, periodontal disease, sleep health, and overall wellness. She is especially passionate about equipping dental teams to identify risk factors, educate patients, support healthier habits, and work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to improve outcomes. Dr. Jones is known for engaging and relatable presentations that combine evidence-based information, clinical relevance, and practical tools participants can apply immediately in practice.
Dr. Douglas Knight
Dr. L. Douglas Knight is a graduate of the Roth/Williams two-year program for Functional Occlusion and completed his orthodontic training at New York University in 1995. He previously served on the faculty at the Center for Functional Occlusion from 1997 to 2000 and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics as well as a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He earned his dental degree from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, followed by a one-year General Practice Residency with the U.S. Army Dental Corps.
Dr. Knight has been widely recognized for his leadership and contributions to the specialty. He received the Roth Williams International Society of Orthodontists Pacesetter Award and was most recently honored with the Hardin County Schools Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also named Rotarian of the Year by the Radcliff Rotary Club in 2021. Currently, Dr. Knight serves as the U.S. Director of the Roth Williams International Society of Orthodontists.
An active clinician, author, and educator, Dr. Knight maintains two orthodontic practices and lectures nationally to study clubs and residency programs. He has published articles in the Academy of General Dentistry and the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, and recently authored his first book, FACE Book: Functional and Cosmetic Dentistry. He also founded an interdisciplinary training group that brings together dental and medical teams from across the country.
Adam Hall
Adam Hall, RDH, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (2011) and Master of Health Professions Education (2018) from the University of Louisville. With over a decade of clinical dental hygiene experience, he brings a strong foundation of practical knowledge and academic expertise to his teaching.
Professor Hall serves as course director for both Dental Anatomy and Periodontology, where he integrates evidence-based practice with interactive, student-centered learning. He is also actively involved in clinical education, working with dental hygiene students in the recall clinic and on the Pediatric Dentistry Rotation. His commitment to academic excellence and mentorship supports student growth in both didactic and clinical settings.
Dr. Jennie Ison
Dr. Jennie Ison is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. At the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, she is Division Chief of Oral Pathology, Assistant Professor, course director for several general pathology and pre-doctoral and graduate oral pathology courses, and Laboratory Director of the UKCD Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Biopsy service. She also provides lectures for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and UKHealthCare General Pathology and Otolaryngology residency programs. Dr. Ison practiced general dentistry in Lexington, KY before completing a residency at Northwell Health-Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY where she was named Chief Resident and Resident of the Year. With her experience and perspective from practicing general dentistry, Dr. Ison has a passion for providing a practical and applicable approach to oral pathology for the clinician. When not consulting, teaching, or at the microscope, she spends her time with her husband and two young sons.
Dr. Jill Keaton
Dr. Jill Keaton, DMD, MS, DABOP, FAAOP, FNAP, serves as Professor and Dean of the Tanner College of Dental Medicine at the University of Pikeville. Following graduation from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, she completed a General Practice Residency at the VA Medical Center in Louisville and earned a Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Keaton co-authored a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Dental Association assessing the utility of serum C-telopeptide cross-link of type 1 collagen as a predictor of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Keaton serves as a Commission on Dental Accreditation Site Visitor, an ex-officio board member of the Kentucky Dental Association, a Kentucky Oral Health Coalition steering committee member, and a test constructor for the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. She has also served the Kentucky Board of Dentistry as an ex-officio board member. As a life-long resident of Eastern Kentucky, Dr. Keaton has led initiatives in both private practice and academic settings to enhance access to oral healthcare and expand dental education opportunities at predoctoral and allied levels throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Dr. George Kushner
Dr. George Kushner is a graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry. Dr. Kushner received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency at the University of Louisville. Currently, Dr. Kushner is Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Louisville. He is the Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency program. Dr. Kushner is the author of several publications and articles and lectures extensively throughout the country. He maintains a faculty practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery through the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
Dr. Rebecca Mercke
Dr. Rebecca Mercke is a Professor in the Department of Diagnosis and Oral Health at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. She earned a BS in Dental Hygiene from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1981 and practiced dental hygiene for 6 years in private practice before returning to dental school. She graduated with honors from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 1992 and practiced General Dentistry for 19 years in Bluefield, Virginia. Currently, Dr. Mercke is the course director for General and Oral Pathology, Physical Diagnosis, Anatomy of the Head and Neck, and Local Anesthesia courses in the Dental Hygiene Program as well as supervising the Dental Hygiene and DMD Perio Clinics. Her teaching experience spans 23 years and has included Immunology, Human Biology, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Academic Success Seminars, and various continuing education courses. Dr. Mercke lives in Louisville, KY with her husband of 44 years and spends most of her free time spoiling her many grandchildren.
Dr. Craig Miller
Dr. Craig S. Miller, DMD, MS, is the Alvin L. Morris Professor of Oral Health Research and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He is board certified in Oral Medicine and a past president of the American Board of Oral Medicine. He has more than 40 years of experience in the diagnosis and management of complex oral health conditions in medically compromised patients. Over the past 25 years, his research has focused on salivary diagnostics and has been supported by more than $10 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications and co-authored four internationally recognized textbooks used in dental education, including Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient, now in its 10th edition.
Libby Milligan
Libby Milligan has over two decades of experience in both federal and state government, with a strong background in policy development, legislative strategy, regulatory affairs and healthcare policy. She possesses a deep understanding of the processes and functions that drive government departments at all levels.
Libby began her public service career as Executive Assistant to former U.S. Congressman Ernie Fletcher (KY-6) in his District Office. Following the 2003 general election, she supported Governor-Elect Fletcher during his transition and later served as Special Assistant to the Governor for Administration and Legislation. In that role, she was a member of the Governor’s Senior Policy Committee, contributing to developing and coordinating a broad range of policy initiatives and legislative efforts.
Throughout her tenure in state government, Libby represented the Governor on numerous boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Fort Knox BRAC Task Force, the State Investment Commission and the National Governors Association’s Policy Academy for State Strategies for Promoting Innovation Clusters and Regional Economies. She was also appointed to the Kentucky Commission on Women.
With a particular focus on health care policy, Libby has worked extensively with stakeholders, agencies, and lawmakers to shape policies that impact Medicaid, public health systems, behavioral health, dental care and health care access across Kentucky.
In addition to her public service, Libby is a past board member of the Junior League of Louisville, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective action and trained leadership. Libby was named one of the Kentucky Gazette’s Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government.
Libby holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. She and her husband live in Louisville with their son.
Dr. William J. Moorhead
Lavina Myers
Lavina Myers, RDH, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. She graduated from ULSD in 2003 and spent many years practicing dental hygiene in the private sector before earning a Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida in 2009. Following her graduate studies, she served as a case manager and dental hygienist in multiple skilled nursing facilities throughout South Florida.
Currently, her primary teaching focus is dental radiology. She is also actively involved in both clinical and pre-clinical instruction, working closely with students to develop their foundational and hands-on skills. Her extensive experience in clinical practice and public health enhances her ability to prepare students for a variety of dental hygiene settings.
Dr. Mark Nation
Dr. Mark Nation is a highly sought-after surgical and restorative prosthodontist. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Louisville (U of L) before earning his dental degree at the U of L School of Dentistry in 2000. He continued his training with a three-year residency through U of L’s Graduate Program in Prosthodontics. He is currently licensed to practice in Kentucky, Utah, Nebraska and Indiana. During his career, Dr. Nation spent 14 years on U of L’s faculty, where he served as an attending doctor for the General Practice Residency program in the Department of Surgical & Hospital Dentistry. Today, he is attending faculty in U of L’s Graduate Prosthodontics Department. He has lectured for the university’s undergraduate program as well as at study clubs and dental meetings across the United States for over two decades. In addition, as a BluePrint training clinician for comprehensive implant planning and treatment, Dr. Nation regularly trains and mentors general dentists and other specialists in the surgical placement and restoration of dental implants. In 2024 alone, Dr. Nation provided over 1,000 hours of continuing education training for hundreds of clinicians and affiliated staff.
Dr. Nation founded his current practice, Advanced Dental Solutions in Middletown, Kentucky, in 2018. Prior to 2018, Dr. Nation founded and practiced at Renew Institute from 2003 – 2017. He is married to his wife of over 25 years, Dr. Karen Nation, a general dentist in the Louisville area. They have two daughters, Shelby and Lily. When the Nations are not practicing dentistry, they enjoy farming, playing volleyball and traveling.
Mr. Phil Nieto
Mr. Phil Nieto is the President of Best Card, the endorsed credit card processor of more than 50 dental medical associations and ADA Member Advantage. He enjoys working with thousands of dental offices to help minimize the headaches of accepting card payments by focusing on providing what the merchant services industry often lacks: innovation and integrity.
Dr. Jeff Okeson
Dr. Jeffery Okeson is Professor and Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He founded in the College’s Orofacial Pain Program in 1977. Dr. Okeson has more than 265 publications in the area of TM disorders and orofacial pain. He has written two major textbooks translated into fourteen foreign languages. Dr. Okeson is past president of the AAOP and a founding diplomate and twice president of the ABOP. He has presented more than 1350 invited lectures on TMD and orofacial pain in all 50 states and in 61 different countries. He received “The International Dentist of the Year Award” from the Academy of Dentistry International in recognition of his worldwide efforts in providing education in the area of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain. In 2023, the International Journal of Pain Research recognized Dr. Okeson as one of the most frequently referenced authors in the field of temporomandibular disorders over the past 20 years, with nearly 9,000 citations.
Dr. Stephen Robertson
Dr. Stephen W. Robertson attended undergraduate at Western Kentucky University prior to graduating from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 1992. Dr. Robertson has had a very active career in organized dentistry, serving multiple terms as President of the Pennyrile Dental Society, as well as being Secretary/Treasurer “for life” for many years. Through his activities in the Pennyrille Dental Society, Dr. Robertson became chair of the New Dentist Committee for 10 years, including being very involved with the ADA Committee on the New Dentist and representing the New Dentists on the KDA Executive Board during that time. Following his stint as NDC chair, Dr. Robertson was elected as the Pennyrile Executive Board representative, serving for several more years. Dr. Robertson served multiple terms as ADA Delegate and served a term on the ADA Council on Governmental Affairs.
Dr. Robertson became the youngest President in the history of the Kentucky Dental Association in 2004. Additionally, he has chaired or served on numerous committees and work groups at the state and national levels and managed the KDA Fall Meeting for several years. Dr. Robertson is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Society and the American College of Dentists. He continues to have membership in numerous dental organizations.
Dr. Robertson became Interim Executive Director of the KDA in April of 2023, eventually accepting the full-time position in August of that year.
Steve is married to Dr. Gina R. Davis, who still maintains their dental practice, Destiny Dental, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They have one son, Connor, a grand dog and two grand cats.
Dr. Luciana Shaddox
Dr. Luciana Shaddox joined the University of Kentucky as a Professor with tenure in 2018 and became Associate Dean of Research for the College of Dentistry in 2019. She earned her DDS and MS in Brazil, PhD jointly from University of Campinas and Florida, and completed a postdoc in Oral Microbiology at UF. With NIH support since 2009, her work focuses on Grade C Molar Incisor periodontitis. She has over 90 publications, serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Periodontology, is on the editorial board of the Journal Clinical Periodontology, board member of the Task Force for Design and Analysis in Dental and Oral Research and serves in NIH review panels. She is a recipient of the AAP teaching fellowship and the UK and UF professorship awards.
Dr. Kumar Shah
Dr. Kumar Shah BDS, MS, MBA, is a Professor of Clinical Dentistry and a Board-Certified Prosthodontist & Maxillofacial Prosthodontist in the Section of Prosthodontics at the University of
California Los Angeles (UCLA). Kumar received his dental degree from The National University of Singapore and earned his Master of Science degree and a certificate in Prosthodontics at The Ohio State University. He completed Maxillofacial Prosthetics fellowship training at UCLA thereafter. Kumar also completed a Certificate Training Program in Translational Science through the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute. He recently completed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Illinois.
He currently practices at the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice, focusing on advanced prosthodontic care and complex restorative treatments.
Dr. Wenyuan Shi
Dr. Wenyuan Shi is currently the Chief Executive Officer of The ADA Forsyth Institute, a world class oral health research institute. Prior to this position, Dr. Shi was the chairman and professor of Oral Biology at UCLA School of Dentistry as well as the Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at UCLA School of Medicine for 23 years, then joined The Forsyth Institute as the president and CEO in 2017. Scientifically, Dr. Shi has been leading 20+ NIH grants to use multidisciplinary approaches to study oral microbial pathogenesis with a specific focus on oral microbiome, bacterial inter-species interaction and signal transduction. Technologically, Dr. Shi is actively involved in the development of next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against oral microbial infections, including saliva diagnosis of oral pathogens and peptide based targeted antimicrobial therapeutics. Dr. Shi was the founding scientist, former chief scientific officer and chairman of the scientific advisory board of C3J Therapeutics Inc., which is now called Armata Pharmaceuticals, listed on NYSE. Administratively, Dr. Shi has been leading a three-pillared strategic plan at the Forsyth Institute for its cutting-edge oral health research, technology development and global expansion since 2017. In Oct. 2023, Dr. Shi led the Forsyth Institute to be integrated with American Dental Association to create the ADA Forsyth Institute, which is leading the oral health research and technological innovation at national and global level.
Dr. Shi obtained his BS degree (biology) from Fudan University (Shanghai) in 1984, acquired his Ph.D degree (Genetics) from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991 and fulfilled his postdoctoral training at University of California-Berkeley during 1992-1995.
Dr. Brian Shumway
Dr. Brian Shumway is a Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Development at the University of Louisville, School of Dentistry and Lab Director for the University of Louisville Oral Pathology Laboratory. He received his dental degree from The Ohio State University in 2003, followed by one year of advanced education in general dentistry at the Veteran’s Affairs Audie L. Murphy Memorial Hospital in San Antonio, TX. He then completed a residency and master’s degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at The Ohio State University. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. He enjoys teaching oral and systemic pathology in the predoctoral dental, and dental specialty residency programs. He has an active clinical practice that includes both patient evaluation and surgical pathology services that specialize in diagnosis and management of oral and maxillofacial diseases. He is the author or coauthor of 26 peer-reviewed publications on a variety of topics, including a focus on oral premalignant lesions.
He and his wife are the happy parents of 9 children, and they enjoy spending time together and actively participating in their church and community.