2026 Meeting Speakers
Functional Medicine Dentistry - Mary Ellen Chalmers
Mary Ellen Chalmers, DMD, MS, IFMCP is a general dentist, in Santa Rosa, CA, practicing Functional Dentistry, Orofacial Pain, Oral Medicine and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Chalmers
received her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and her Master’s in
Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine from the University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow
School of Dentistry. She is also Board-Certified Naturopath (NMD) by the American
Naturopathic Medical Certification Board and the American College of Integrative Medicine and
Dentistry as well as a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner by the Institute for Functional
Medicine (IFMCP). Additionally, Dr. Chalmers is a Diplomate (DABOP) of the American
Board of Orofacial Pain. In September 2024, she founded the Institute for Functional Dentistry,
along with Drs. Staci Whitman and Valerie Kanter.
Dr. Chalmers interest in Functional Medicine began when she struggled to recover from an auto accident while pregnant with her second daughter. Functional Medicine restored her health and ability to practice dentistry again.
Dr. Chalmers first presentation for the Institute for Functional Medicine was “Integrating Dentistry into Cancer Prevention” and joined the Environmental Health Faculty in 2014. She is also a Faculty member of the American College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry, lecturing on Functional Medicine and its integration with clinical dental practice.
Dr. Chalmers has lectured on Functional Dentistry at conferences for Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM), the IAOMT and other national and international conferences as well as dental and medical study clubs and community organizations.
Dr. Chalmers believes that the clinical integration of Functional Medicine into Oral Health Care is critical to address the global public health burden created by oral disease. While Functional Medicine makes the Oral Systemic Connection, Functional Dentistry gives the dental profession a template to provide care in the world of Personalized Medicine.
Remineralization Revisited - V. Kim Kutsch
Dr. V. Kim Kutsch completed his DMD at University of Oregon School of Dentistry in 1979. With an expertise in dental caries, he teaches dental teams how to view and successfully manage caries as a whole person disease using a Caries Risk Management approach. He has authored over 100 articles and acts as Scientific Advisor for Dental Caries at the prestigious Kois Center. He reviews for multiple journals including JADA and Compendium. Dr. Kutsch also maintains a private practice in Albany Oregon and acts as CEO of Dental Alliance Holdings.
Homemade Sauerkraut - Carson Kutsch
Dr. Carson Kutsch always wants what is best for his patients. In order to do this, he has pursued extensive postdoctoral training and invested in advanced technology for his practice. He has completed many hours of training at the prestigious Kois Center. Unlike most dentists, he maintains an in-house lab for creating custom dentures, so he can ensure exceptional results. He employs the latest treatment techniques, such as 3-D imaging and a computer-guided system for placing dental implants. He also uses technology to help diagnose the causes of problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. He firmly believes that a better quality of life is obtained with a proactive approach of reducing his patients’ risk for disease. Using leading-edge technology also improves the patient experience by making dental care more comfortable and minimizing the number of visits to our office. He grew up in Albany and attended George Fox University and Oregon State University before earning his doctorate at the Marquette University School of Dentistry in 2005. His professional memberships include the American Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Kutsch is married to the love of his life, Hayley. They have three kids, Keeley, Tavi, and Beckett. They also have a wonderful Bernedoodle named Zeeta. The Kutsches spend most of their free time with family and friends.
Ozone Applications in Dentistry - Bryan Neish
Dr. Bryan Neish is a second-generation dentist and a pacific northwest native. He developed an interest in dentistry early on watching his dad practice in Beaverton for over 40 years. Prior to completing his dental education at OHSU, Dr. Neish worked as a dental assistant and also served as a board member for the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry. He values honesty and quality as well as personal connection in all aspects of his work. Dr. Neish believes that healthcare is a collaborative effort and seeks to educate people as much as possible so they can have autonomy in their decision making process. Through countless hours of continuing education, Dr. Neish has thoughtfully implemented advanced technologies and a focus on whole-body health into his clinical practice.
