Planning Committee

2024-2025 Continuing Education Committee
Each year, the Continuing Education Committee meets in Chicago to plan the program for the Insight Track meeting. The CEC reviews feedback and suggestions from past meeting attendees to begin developing the various courses, all centered around one main topic or theme.

		Matthew Malek, D.D.S., CEC Chair Dr. Matthew Malek received his certificate in the specialty of endodontics from NYU Dentistry in 2011. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and currently the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics at NYU and practices endodontics in private practice in Manhattan, New York. He is involved with several research projects which focus on pain, Regenerative Endodontics, and External Invasive Resorption of the root which he has the most interest. He lectures frequently to local, national, and international communities on the topic of resorption. Dr. Malek is the faculty winner of the Foundation of Endodontics Spring 2022 Competitive Research Proposal for his research on External Invasive Resorption. Dr. Malek is the author/co-author of several peer-review articles and chapters in prominent endodontic journals and textbooks.
		Bettina Basrani, D.D.S., M.S.D, Ph.D. Dr. Bettina Basrani is Tenured Associate Professor and Director, MSc Program in Endodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr Basrani received her DDS degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1989 and a Specialty Diploma in Endodontics and PhD from Maimonides University in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A long-time educator and researcher, she began her teaching career at the University of Buenos Aires. In 2000, she moved to Canada to serve as Chair of the Endodontic Program at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2004, she moved to Toronto, where she has continued her academic and clinical work. Internationally recognized as a leading authority in endodontics and as an excellent lecturer, effectively combining clinical and scientific information, Dr. Basrani has received many teacher awards throughout her career and has international courses and lectures, over 35 peer-reviewed scientific publications, two textbooks and several textbook chapters, and abstracts to her credit. She serves as reviewer for several endodontic journals. Dr. Basrani is a member of many endodontics societies around the world.
		Lorel Burns, D.D.S., Board Liaison Dr. Lorel Burns is a clinician-investigator and assistant professor at New York University College of Dentistry. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. Dr. Burns earned her DDS degree at NYU College of Dentistry, completed her specialty training in Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and was awarded her master’s degree by NYU School of Medicine. In 2019, she was selected as the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Foundation’s Endodontic Educator Fellow. In 2022, she recognized with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Junior Faculty Award. Dr. Burns’ research interests include endodontic treatment outcomes, access to dental care, clinician decision-making, and dental education. Her research on social media use in dentistry has been published in the Journal of Dental Education and the Journal of Medical Internet Research, Formative Research. Dr. Burns maintains part-time private practice limited to Endodontics in New York, USA.
		Carolina Cucco, D.D.S. Dr. Carolina Cucco was born and raised in Brazil. She got her D.D.S degree from the University of Passo Fundo in 2009 and an MS (2011) and PhD (2015) in Endodontics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. During her PhD studies, she had the opportunity to develop her research in pulp regeneration at the Angiogenesis Lab at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Nör. After concluding her PhD, she returned to Ann Arbor and joined the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics at the University of Michigan, where she got a MS degree in 2018. Dr. Cucco worked as a full time professor at the University of Iowa (2018-2022) and University of Detroit Mercy (2022-2023), teaching Endodontics at both the predoctoral and post-graduate levels. Dr. Cucco currently practices as an endodontist at the Root Canal Specialty Associates in southeastern Michigan. In her free time, Dr. Cucco enjoys cooking and spending time with family.
		Nadia Chugal, D.D.S., M.S.  Dr. Nadia Chugal is Clinical Professor and Director of Postgraduate Residency Program in Endodontics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She received her DDS degree as well as MS in Oral Biology and MPH in Public Health from UCLA. Subsequently, she completed hospital-based General Practice Residency at IMMC in Chicago and received Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Connecticut. She was a research fellow and faculty at University of Connecticut until she joined UCLA as faculty in 1997. Dr. Chugal is Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and currently maintains practice limited to endodontics at the UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice (FGDP). Dr. Chugal is known for her expertise in program administration, innovation and excellence in education, leadership and professionalism. She has held leadership positions in local, national and international professional organizations. Dr. Chugal is the past president of the Southern California Academy of Endodontics, (SCAE) and has been Secretary and Treasurer for the Pulp Biology Group (PBRG) of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) since 2005.She also serves on the advisory board of the Journal of Endodontics. Her research interests are endodontic treatment outcomes and improved prognosis for our patients.
		Courtney Jackson, D.D.S., M.S. Dr. Courtney Jackson was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, and attended Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Jackson completed her DDS degree at Howard University College of Dentistry. She completed a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry(AEGD) residency at Chase Brexton Healthcare in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Jackson was a General Dentist in the DC area for five years. In 2021, she completed a second-year General Practice Residency (GPR) with a concentration in endodontics at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, NY. Dr. Jackson completed specialty training at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry with a certificate in endodontics and an M.S. in dental biomedical sciences in 2024. While in residency, she was awarded the Mohammad Behnia Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement in endodontics. She received the AAE/ Endo1 Partners’ Resident Award for placing in the top ten in table clinic presentations at AAE’22 (Phoenix) entitled: A Little Bit of Lagniappe: Treating Dental Problems in a Hospital Emergency Department and AAE’23 (Chicago) entitled: Inferior Alveolar Injuries for Dummies: Assessment and Management.” She was a speaker at AAE’24 (Los Angeles), Applying to PG Endodontics: Experiences and Lessons Learned for the New Voices Track. Dr. Jackson is a specialist member of the American Association of Endodontists, American Dental Association, Greater Milwaukee Dental Association. Dr. Jackson is currently in private practice at Endodontic Specialists of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
		Ji Wook Jeong, D.M.D., M.S.D.  Dr. Ji Wook Jeong graduated from the premed program at Kyunghee University in Seoul, South Korea, in 1997, and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the same institution in 2001.He received his Associate Fellowship from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) in 2008. Additionally, he served as an instructor and mentor for the Korea MaxiCourse® of the AAID from 2008 to 2012. In 2017, he graduated from the Advanced Program in Endodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) at Houston, School of Dentistry, where he earned a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) and a certificate in the specialty of Endodontics. Since graduating, he has been working as a full-time faculty member at department of Endodontics, UTHSC Houston. Currently, he serves as the course director for Endodontic Surgery and the research director for the endodontic residents. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics in 2019. He is an active member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Journal of Endodontics, the Continuing Education Committee of the American Association of Endodontists, and the Research Committee of the Asian Pacific Endodontic Confederation.
		Katie Kickertz, D.D.S., M.S., ABE Diplomate Dr. Katie Kickertz grew up outside of Chicago in Rockford, Ill.. She graduated with a B.S. in Health Sciences from Purdue University and completed her D.D.S. degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2012. After working as a general dentist for four years, she completed her specialty certificate in endodontics and M.S. in 2018 from the University of Minnesota. She previously worked as an endodontist in the Minneapolis metropolitan area and in Frederick, Md., prior to relocating to Charlotte, N.C. She is the owner of Premier Endodontics of SouthPark in Charlotte. She is a Board-certified endodontist and Diplomate to the American Board of Endodontics. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Kickertz volunteers as an official with U.S. Figure Skating. She was a competitive figure skater growing up in the Midwest. She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time exercising at Pure Barre, as well as spending time with her husband, Dan, and dog, Yuri.
		Janice Mach, D.M.D., Resident Member  Dr. Janice Mach is from San Francisco, California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of the Pacific in California and a Masters of Health Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She practiced as a dental hygienist for several years before embarking onto her path towards becoming a dentist. In 2021, Dr. Mach attained her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Utah. Afterwards, she worked in private practice and pursued a General Practice Residency at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is eager to learn and strive towards her aspirations to become an endodontist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Aside from her academics and career, Dr. Mach enjoys trying new restaurants, hiking through National Parks, and immersing into the culture of different countries. When she’s not outside, she enjoys winding down with her cat and a good book.
		Roberta Pileggi, D.D.S., M.S., ADA CERP Representative Dr. Roberta Pileggi received a D.D.S. degree at the University of Paulista in Brazil. She completed both a Master’s degree and a Certificate in Endodontics at the University of Maryland College of Dental Surgery. In 2005, Dr. Pileggi completed a fellowship in education at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas at Houston. She received numerous faculty awards including the Edward Osetek Award given by the American Association of Endodontists. She was officially appointed Director of the Graduate Endodontic Program on July 1, 2009, and was appointed Chair of the Endodontics department effective January 1, 2010. Dr. Pileggi am a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics.
		Lindsey R. Yap, D.M.D.  Lindsey grew up in a suburb south of Seattle in Federal Way, WA. After graduating Lehigh University with a B.S. in Biochemistry in 2013, she attended Oregon Health & Sciences University for dental school and graduated in 2017. Following graduation, she worked as a general dentist in Federal Way with Drs. Linda and Bryan Edgar and Mark Walker. She attended the University of Washington Endodontics Residency program 2020-2022 for her Certificate and Master of Science in Dentistry. Lindsey continued as full-time faculty as an Assistant Professor at UW in the Department of Endodontics and works part-time as an associate in Seattle. Outside of dentistry, she enjoys the outdoors with her husband and spending time with family in friends either skiing, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and supporting Seattle sports teams.