Alumni News - Pediatrics, Spring 2025

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry hosted its annual Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., providing residents with an introduction to advocacy through preparatory webinars, orientation sessions, and mentor-led discussions. Residents collaborated in state-based teams, meeting with Congress members and their staff to present key advocacy topics. This year, with support from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the New York Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, PGY-2 resident Emily Imes traveled to D.C. alongside faculty advisor Dr. Amy Herbert. The conference was an incredible opportunity for Emily to connect with fellow residents from across New York and the nation. This bipartisan event united residents and faculty to advocate for critical issues, including access to care, support for educational programs, and faculty retention.

Dr. Emily Imes, postdoctoral resident in pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian in conjunction with Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and the Center of Education Research and Evaluation/Columbia University Medical Center, presented her quality improvement project at the 54th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and 49th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research in New York, NY. She and her mentors, Dr. Shubha Dathatri of the Center for Education Research and Evaluation, and Drs. Laureen Zubiaurre and Richard Yoon and James Fine evaluated postdoctoral trainee satisfaction and the clinical learning environment and curriculum analyzing 7 years of longitudinal survey responses amongst postdoctoral students in seven distinct postdoctoral training programs.

The division enjoyed participating in the annual Birnberg Research Day where they had the opportunity to share what they have been studying for

the last two years. They will also be headed to Denver, Colorado to present their research findings at the national academy scientific session. 

Dr. Serena Simone, pediatric dentist and Mailman alum, demonstrated how to use new physical support cushions and wedges for patients with special needs in the Haven Community Clinic for Children. The equipment used for the demonstration was generously provided through the post doc HRSA grant. From left to right: Drs. Chussid, Shapiro, Yoon, Nations, Simone (center seated), Rifkin, Henao Fernandez, Quach, Carrasco, (kneeling left to right) Espinal, Khalili, and Imes. We thank Marcie Rubin for all her work coordinating this annual event.

Appointment, Promotions, Awards, and Resident Recruitment

• Dr. Shreya Sood, '21, Ped '23, was appointed assistant professor of dental medicine at CUMC (P/T)
• Dr. Christopher Gibson was promoted to assistant professor of dental medicine at CUMC (P/T)
• Dr. Bret Lesavoy, former postdoctoral resident, published a case study on permanent incisor talon cusp for a child at risk for acute dental injury and fracture in the New York State Dental Journal
• Dr. Aaron Myers received the Dr. Guy Metcalf Jr. Award
• Divisional faculty recruited and matched five spectacular trainees beginning July 1:
  • Helen Chen (New York University)
  • Caroline Hegemann (Columbia)
  • Sophia Hernandez (Columbia)
  • Jeffrey Huang (Columbia)
  • Molina Shah (UNC)

Thank you, volunteer faculty!

The Pediatric Dentistry Division would like to express deep gratitude to the exceptionally skilled pediatric dental faculty who are at the heart of CDM’s mission. Your expertise, compassion, and dedication resonate through every patient interaction—whether in our teaching clinic, the postdoctoral clinic at Haven, or the hospital clinics. Your unwavering passion for both your work and our patients is truly unmatched. You are the reason CDM stands among the best, and you deserve our heartfelt appreciation and support every single day. Thank you for the incredible impact you make in the lives of the children and families we serve.