Dr. John Liu joins Newly Erupted to share what he’s learned from making the transition from private practitioner to academician, including how his residents help him learn daily. Dr. Liu and good friend and host Dr. Joel Berg discuss what factors impacted Dr. Liu’s shift to teaching, including desire for a new work/life structure and a readiness to give back to the profession, and how impressed he is with the future of pediatric dentistry. 

Guest Bio: 

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. John Liu spent his childhood in Southern California. He graduated from Loma Linda University in La Sierra, California, with a BS degree in Biology. Dr. Liu went on to also receive his DDS degree from Loma Linda University’s School of Dentistry and was accepted into the pediatric dental residency program at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

After 30 years of private practice in Issaquah, WA, Dr. Liu recently returned to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center as an assistant professor with a faculty appointment through the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine within the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at CCHMC. While training future pediatric dentists, a primary focus of his work will be providing support to residents transitioning into the world of private practice and all it entails. 

Within AAPD, Dr. Liu has held a range of positions over the past decade, including as Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer, President-Elect, and 2010-2011 President. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, served as president of the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, chaired the Washington State Oral Health Coalition, and served on the boards of the Seattle Children’s Museum and the Washington Dental Service Foundation. Nominated by his peers, Dr. Liu was inducted into the American College of Dentists in 1999, the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 2007, and the International College of Dentists in 2009. In 2013, Dr. Liu was honored as the AAPD Pediatric Dentist of the Year.

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Dr. Anne O’Connell joins Newly Erupted for a conversation focused on dental trauma education within the global community. She shares her unique perspective as a European clinician who received American training, underscoring the importance of being adaptable as the global ideology and resources evolve. As a leading voice in this area and an editor of the recently released 6th Edition Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. O’Connell emphasizes the need for continued available professional resources for pediatric dentists worldwide, particularly relating to pediatric dental trauma. 

Guest Bio: 

Anne O’Connell is currently the Professor/ Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. She is a Board-certified Pediatric Dentist and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and a Fellow of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Anne trained as a Paediatric dentist at the Eastman Dental Center, New York with a further degree in Cariology from the University of Rochester, New York, USA. She continued as a faculty member in USA at Eastman Dental Center, the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, USA. 

Anne returned to Ireland in 2000 as Head of Paediatric Dentistry, Trinity College Dublin and established a 3-year full time specialty training program as well as a Trauma clinic. She also ran a private practice until 2022 and maintains clinical duties at the Children’s Hospital and the University. 

Anne has completed 2 terms as President of the International Association of Dental Traumatology and remains active on the Board. She has continued to be involved with AAPD as International Consultant on the Scientific Committee as well as on the Editorial Board. Anne also is active within the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, where she was a Board member and Honorary Editor and currently serves on the Education Committee. 

Her areas of interest include cariology, traumatic oral injuries, infant oral health and developmental defects of the dentition, and she is a renowned speaker and actively publishes on these topics.

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Dr. Scott Schwartz joins Newly Erupted to speak directly to the prospective pediatric dentists going through the residency application process. Dr. Schwartz shares his experience and perspective as a program director, along with best practices for putting your best foot forward as a candidate. He emphasizes the importance of preparedness and an understanding that the interview is mutual – consider if this is the best program or location for you. This episode is a must-listen for anyone going through – or even considering – a pediatric dentistry residency program. 

Guest Bio: 

Scott B. Schwartz, DDS, MPH, is an Associate Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, where he also serves as Director of the Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry training program. After graduating from the University of Illinois – Chicago College of Dentistry, he completed a General Practice Residency at The Ohio State University. Continuing his journey to the Southeast, he obtained a certificate in pediatric dentistry and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Professionally, he has a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has served on related committees with the American Dental Education Association, the Cincinnati Children’s Graduate Medical Education DEI subcommittee, and written extensively about the topic in both editorial and research publications.

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Dr. Anthea Mazzawi joins host Dr. Joel Berg to share her story as a pediatric dentist, a practice-owner and a mother. She delves into how the multifaceted roles have shaped her as a professional and leader, especially the opportunities to foster a network of peer experts. Dr. Mazzawi emphasizes the importance of a willingness to learn and making your own path.

Guest Bio:  

Dr. Anthea Mazzawi is a board-certified pediatric dentist who has practiced dentistry for almost 20 years. Raised along the gulf coast of Florida, she earned a B.S. degree in Developmental Biology from Florida State University and a D.M.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. She then completed a residency in pediatric dentistry at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is currently in private practice with her husband, Dr. Miles Mazzawi, who is also a pediatric dentist. Their practice, Cherokee Children’s Dentistry, has been serving the needs of children in the greater Atlanta area since 2007. Mazzawi is passionate about working with children and serving as an advocate for all child related issues.  

Mazzawi has been heavily involved with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and organized dentistry throughout her career. She served as the president of The College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2018 and has also been a part of several committees and councils for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Currently, she is the chairman of the Scientific Program Committee for the Annual Session. She also serves chairman of the Greater Atlanta Dental Foundation Gala Committee (an event that raises funds to meet the needs of several free/reduced fee clinics in Atlanta), and the secretary for the GA Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  

Mazzawi is excited to serve as a trustee on the board of trustees for the AAPD. She looks forward to working with her colleagues, specifically the federal service membership, to promote for our profession and advance optimal oral health for all children. 

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Recorded on-site at AAPD 2025 in Denver, host Dr. Joel Berg is joined by dental entrepreneur Dr. Chris Lugo for a chat on the business side of dental office management. Dr. Lugo discusses his experiences as a multi-practice owner who also mentors residents and associates in the financial background important in business. This is a must-listen if you’re considering owning your own practice. 

Guest Bio:  

Dr. Christopher Lugo brings over 20 years of experience as a pediatric dentist, healthcare leader, and strategic business consultant. As CEO of Dynamic Dental Management and owner of Puget Sound Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Lugo has built a highly successful network of pediatric dental practices across the Pacific Northwest. Known for his expertise in practice operations, revenue growth, and team development, he has become a sought-after consultant for practices looking to scale efficiently while delivering outstanding patient care. 

A graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Lugo also holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, combining clinical knowledge with business acumen to navigate the complexities of modern dental practice management. His unique perspective has made him a respected voice in the industry, including his role as an expert defense witness and his current position as a Clinical Professor at UT Houston. 

Dr. Lugo's work exemplifies a commitment to advancing pediatric dentistry and supporting the next generation of dental professionals. Whether in the classroom, chairside, or boardroom, he remains dedicated to elevating standards in patient care and practice management. Currently based in Houston, Texas, he continues influencing the field through his leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence. 

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Host Dr. Joel Berg is joined by Dr. Kathleen Schultz to talk about her specialty, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and how she translates her experience having fun with learning while a student in her own work with residents. Dr. Schultz, a lecturer for the AAPD Oral Comprehensive Exam review courses, speaks to the importance of having a strong peer network so you never feel like you’re “going it alone” when tough cases come up. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Schultz received her dental degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. She completed a residency in oral and maxillofacial pathology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a residency in pediatric dental medicine at Cohen Children’s Medical Center where she served as chief resident in both specialties. She is a Fellow and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She is currently a full time attending in oral and maxillofacial pathology and pediatric dentistry at Northwell Health. In addition to managing clinical practices in pediatric dentistry and pediatric oral pathology, she also teaches residents in both disciplines and participates in the surgical pathology service. She is a participant of the Hagedorn Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Team at Northwell Health and has a personal interest in the dental management and prosthodontic rehabilitation of infants and children with cleft lip and palate. Her interest is on clinical and radiographic presentations of common and uncommon oral pathology in pediatric patients, notably those with syndromes and complex medical conditions.

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On this episode of Newly Erupted, host Dr. Joel Berg talks about the keys to avoiding burnout with Dr. Trudy-Ann Frazer. Dr. Frazer shares her three-step approach to mitigating burnout, particularly for female practitioners and what steps to take once you realize burnout has taken hold – either in yourself or your team. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Trudy-Ann Frazer has experience working exclusively with children. It is her goal to promote good oral habits to children and parents as a part of preserving beautiful, healthy smiles for a lifetime. 

She earned her DDS from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee as the Valedictorian, then completed her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry residency from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. She is a proud graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. 

Dr. Frazer was born in Negril, Jamaica and grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She has dedicated much of her professional career to educating and serving children and participated in numerous outreach activities, which include several mission trips to offer dental services to children in Jamaica. She is also involved in various organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and National Dental Association, as well as a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She enjoys swimming, basketball, camping, traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends.

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Dr. Joel Berg is joined by cariology expert Dr. Brian Novy for a discussion on all there’s still to learn about dental caries. Dr. Novy delves into the importance for practitioners to understand the science of cariology, particularly when working with patients and families that may be opposed to traditional treatments, like fluoride. He also shares his personal path in evidence-based dentistry research and how this work has improved his approach to educating the future generation of dentists. 

Guest Bio: 

Often described as “The tenth dentist,” Dr. Brian B. Nový has faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He served on the American Dental Association Council of Scientific Affairs from 2010-2014, and in 2016 was appointed the consumer representative to the United States Food & Drug Administration Dental Products Panel. His papers are published in various journals including the Journal of the American Dental Association, the Journal of Dental Research, the Journal of Evidence Based Dentistry, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry, Dental Economics, Compendium, the National Academies of Medicine, and the International Journal of Equity in Health

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On this episode of little teeth, BIG Smiles, host Dr. Joel Berg is joined by Dr. Brittaney Hill, the 2024 recipient of the AAPD Jerome B. Miller “For the Kids” Award. As an up-and-coming practitioner, Dr. Hill shares her experience as a mentee and the impact her mentors had on her career trajectory into pediatric dentistry and the public health sphere. She also delves into how those experiences have impacted her relationship with students as the Pediatric Dentistry Post-Graduate Residency Program Director at UIC. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Brittaney Hill earned her DDS from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. She then completed a Pediatric Dentistry Residency at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she earned her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, an MS in Oral Sciences, and an MPH in Health Policy and Administration. Upon completion of her residency program, Dr. Hill immediately transitioned into full-time faculty at UIC and now serves as Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director. Dr. Hill is involved in service and leadership in numerous organizations including the Chicago Dental Society, American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

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Dr. Suzie Bergman joins host Dr. Joel Berg for a discussion on her Ted Talk, “Why is healthcare disjointed” and why evidence-based treatment is imperative for unique issues like temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Dr. Bergman shares her perspective as a dentist who also suffers with TMD and what she learned from various treatments prescribed under a “one size fits all” approach. 

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Suzie Bergman is a dentist with experience spanning clinical care, post-doctoral education, research, advocacy, and infrastructure for patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Dr. Suzie, as she is commonly called, is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine. She is President Elect of the American Association of Women Dentists and a mentor for students through their Bridge to Brilliance program. She also serves as a mentor with Diversity in Dentistry. Dr. Suzie is a Selection Chair and Fellow of the TMJ Foundation’s online fellowship program. She lectures internationally as an orthodontic instructor and a TMD expert. Currently, she is very active in her role as Director of Dental Education at Immersify Education

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