Dr. Mario Romero is an Associate Professor and Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University; he is a 1995 graduate from the University of Guayaquil School of Dentistry in his native country of Ecuador. He completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health where he was granted the Handleman Award for Excellence. In 2016 Dr. Romero was awarded the Augusta University and the American College of Dentists Outstanding Faculty award for his achievements in scholarly, research and service. In 2018 he received the Research and Scholarship award from the Dental College of Georgia for his contributions to dentistry and in 2019 he received the Excellence in Dental Education Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He has over 40 publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and has lectured extensively on topics related to direct and indirect restorative dentistry. He maintained a private practice with emphasis in Esthetics and Restorative Dentistry for 15 years prior to joining AU in 2013.