2025 Meeting Speakers
Dentistry in the Digital World - Mike Young
Dr. Young attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate studies in biology and graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1994. Dr. Young believes that it's critical that he constantly improve his skills and knowledge, so he takes a considerable amount of continuing education. He completed the continuum at the Kois Center for Advanced Dental Learning and has been a mentor there since 2005. He also completed a mini-residency in dental implants from Nobel Biocare in 2008 and taken many advanced courses on oral surgery and bone grafting. Dr. Young is a big proponent and practitioner of 3D dentistry, and he is certified for InstaRisa, a 3D facial scanner used for implant and restoration planning. He has presented numerous courses and webinars on the subject, including ones for the University of Texas Health, San Antonio School of Dentistry, and the Washington Academy of General Dentistry. He is also the founder and president of Digital Dentistry Solutions and serves with Planmeca as a Key Opinion Leader and a member of their Board of Education.
Periodontal Update - Doug Thompson
Dr. Thompson began his dental career at age eighteen, working as an in-house laboratory technician. Over the next ten years, he worked and studied full time and graduated from University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1996. He then completed a one-year hospital-based V. A. Residency Program in General Dentistry. In 1997, Dr. Thompson bought an established private practice in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and continues to practice there today under the practice name, Integrative Oral Medicine. Dr. Thompson has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education at the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington directed by Dr. John Kois. In 2005, Dr. Thompson became a Mentor to students, and in 2008 he earned the distinction of Clinical Instructor. By 2010, he was chairman of the Membership Committee and in 2011 was accepted, as one of four, to the Kois Center Advisory Board. In 2014 he accepted an offer to Chair the Advisory Board until July of 2016. Additionally, in 2015 he was offered and accepted a part time Faculty position in a teaching role about Periodontal Medicine. In 2016, he added the Wellness Dentistry topic to his teaching role at the Kois Center and maintains his own four-day course on Wellness Dentistry. In 2017 he accepted a position as the Chairman of the Strategic
Planning Committee to the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health and still serves there today.
Hydroxyapatite & Fluoride - Staci Whitman
Dr. Staci Whitman is on a mission to create a cavity-free world. She founded NoPo Kids Dentistry in North Portland, OR, where she takes a whole-body, holistic, and functional approach with her patients. Her dentistry and practice philosophy are both grounded in science and powered by love. Dr. Staci attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and initially worked as a general dentist, eventually going back to school, earning her Board-Certification in Pediatric Dentistry from Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). She is an Institute of Functional Medicine Certified Provider (IFMCP) and lecturer and has her dual Board Certification in Integrative Biological Dental Medicine (IBDM) and as a Naturopathic Physician (NMD) from the American College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry (ACIMD). She is a Certified International Health and Wellness Coach (CIHC) from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and is currently working on getting her Functional Diagnostics Certification and Masters in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. She will begin her Masters in Public Health in the near future. D.r Staci has always been passionate about children's nutrition and how to improve our food system, the oral microbiome and the oral-systemic connection, and sleep and airway health, focusing her research in residency on how to improve airway assessments and diagnostic tools in the pediatric population.
Systemic/Acid Update - Susan Maples
Dr. Susan Maples is a passionate health educator and leads a successful, Total Health, insurance independent practice in Holt, Michigan. She currently serves as President elect for American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. Susan brings preventive and restorative dental expertise, a passion for mouth-body total health, a master’s degree in business/marketing, and 30+ years of experience in private practice. She is the creator and founder of Total Health Academy, a complete online solution for dental teams to integrate all aspects of Total Health Dentistry, author of BlabberMouth! 77 Secrets Only Your Mouth Can Tell You To Live a Healthier, Happier, Sexier Life, developer of the Hands-On Learning Lab™ and SelfScreen.net. She has become a sought-after speaker for her ability to inspire just about anyone - medical and dental professionals, business executives, and team members - to reach new levels of personal fulfillment and professional success.
Hygiene Update - Machell Hudson
Machell Hudson, RDH, FAAOSH is the founder and CEO of Integrative Dental Coaching. She is a proud and passionate fellow and member of the prestigious board for The American Academy for Oral and Systemic Health. Carifree Cooperative member which is led by Machell’s mentor, Dr. Kim Kutsch. Her newest accolade is being invited to sit on the education committee for Women in DSO with a purpose focused on bringing education and empowerment to the forefront within the DSO space. Because of her love for patient care she continues to practice clinical hygiene while also speaking and consulting with an expertise in oral-systemic connections and protocol implementation. She is a graduate of the Bale/Doneen method preceptorship which is advanced training in arterial disease with a focus on heart attack, stroke and diabetes prevention, Kois trained in periodontal health and a health coach. Machell cherishes time with her family and friends and a big part of her heart is spent volunteering for Unbound advocating and speaking on Human Trafficking Awareness.
Airway Update - Scott Neish
Dr. Neish received his B.S. in mathematics at the University of Oregon in 1977 and his D.M.D. degree in 1982 from the Oregon Health & Science University. His commitment to excellence has been the driving force throughout his career and has led him to many different areas within the dental profession. He has taken extensive courses on laser dentistry, implants, and CEREC restorations as well as classes on restorative principles and techniques from the renowned Kois Center and is a long time member of the Rendezvous Masterminds study club. Dr. Neish focuses on research and integrative clinical care focused on breathing, sleep and facial growth and development. He is part of a multi-disciplinary network of clinicians who collaboratively treat patients at the root cause of their problems to allow them to become their best possible version of themselves.
CDT/Medical Billing - Kandra Sellers
Kandra Sellers, RDH, BA is widely considered one of the most passionate and successful coaches any practice could partner with. With over 35 years in the dental industry, Kandra has had many different career roles due to the fantastic mentors she has met along the way. She is no longer seen as “just a dental hygienist,” which is a profession certainly not to be minimized. Instead, Kandra is now viewed as a predominant educator in the field of oral systemic health intertwined with dental medical billing, as well as creator and CEO of TIPS Medical Billing. Kandra is able to educate, implement processes, and professionally coach doctors and team members to the next level of where the dental profession is heading. In creating TIPS (Tandem In-Practice Solutions), the niche is implementation to ensure successful outcomes to billing the medical procedures that dentists do every day. Dental practice owners seeking a coach that can elevate their practice production and revenue through solid protocols for optimal oral systemic solutions and medical billing are raving about Kandra’s ability to move both doctors and team members towards excellence.
