PACIFIC ORTHODONTIC ALUMNI NEWSLETTER ARTHUR A. DUGONI SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Katherine Kieu
Jennifer Yau
CONTRIBUTORS
Nicole Nalchajian
Heesoo Oh
Kristen Lo
Leah Walker
Tina Dillas
Shana Arora
Matt Joosse
Lauri Kim
Naphtali Brezniak
Patricia Sing Choi
Jimmy Suliman
SPRING 2026
COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT
Dr. Nicole Nalchajian
As we move through an exciting and fast-evolving year for our department, I’m pleased to share updates from the Pacific Orthodontic Alumni Association. From innovative CE programming to meaningful alumni engagement initiatives, there is tremendous momentum within our community.
Continuing Education & Academic Programming
We continue to expand our CE offerings with timely and forward-thinking topics:
• May 13, 2026—Dr. Bianchi will present on Artificial Intelligence in Orthodontics, helping us explore how emerging technologies are reshaping diagnosis, treatment planning and practice management.
• October 27, 2026—Dr. Michael Payne (Class of 1998) will lecture on The Journey and Evolution of Bracket Systems, offering perspective on how far our mechanics have come—and where they may be headed.
Fred West Lectureship & Alumni Meeting
Our 2026 Fred West Lectureship featured Dr. Brent Larson, chairman of the University of Minnesota Orthodontic Department. His thoughtful and engaging presentation was exceptionally well attended and received. Reunion classes gathered for dinner on Friday evening and enjoyed a department tour on Saturday—always a special way to reconnect.
We are incredibly proud to recognize the Classes of 2005 and 2006, each of which pledged $50,000 toward endowed scholarships.
Jan 29–30, 2027—Looking ahead, Dr. Mike Gunson, OMFS from Arnett Gunson Facial Reconstruction in Santa Barbara, will serve as our 2027 Fred West speaker.
COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORT (CONT.)
Alumni Engagement & Events
Spark Social—April 17, 2026
We are looking forward to gathering at Spark Social at 6:00 pm for an evening of connection and camaraderie.
AAO Annual Session Orlando—April 30–May 3, 2026
Our Alumni Mixer will take place Friday, May 1, 4:30–6:30 pm (location TBD). We’re proud to share that Dr. Jonas Bianchi will be lecturing at AAO this year—be sure to support him if you’re attending!
Department Picnic—Summer 2026
Plans are underway for our annual picnic, with the date still TBD. It remains one of our favorite opportunities for informal connection between residents, faculty and alumni.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Sercan Akyalcin, chair at Harvard, as our keynote speaker. We will celebrate the Class of 2026 in style at the City Club that evening!
PCSO/WOCON Monterey—October 2–4, 2026
Please note these dates as we anticipate another strong Pacific presence.
On behalf of the Pacific Orthodontic Alumni Association Committee, thank you for your continued engagement and support. Your involvement—whether through attendance, mentorship, philanthropy or simply staying connected— ensures that our department remains strong, innovative, and deeply rooted in community.
ORTHODONTIC CHAIR REPORT
Dr.
Heesoo Oh
Dear Orthodontic Family, Alumni, Friends and Colleagues,
Spring is always a season of renewal and reflection. This year, I am especially proud to share several milestones that reflect the continued strength of our orthodontic program—from outstanding board certification results and resident scholarship growth, to expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and alumni engagement. These achievements are possible because of the dedication of our faculty, the hard work of our residents and the unwavering support of our alumni community.
A Defining Year of Clinical Excellence
I am delighted to share that the Class of 2025 achieved a 100% pass rate on the ABO clinical examination. All nine residents are now boardcertified orthodontists. Board certification remains one of the most meaningful benchmarks of clinical excellence and program quality. Over the past six graduating classes, 48 of 50 residents have successfully completed the ABO clinical examination, a 96% certification rate. Our graduates also continue to make remarkable contributions to orthodontic research and scholarship. Two residents submitted their theses to peer-reviewed orthodontic journals, with Andrew Tsai’s thesis already published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJODO).
Endowed Scholarship Growth and Alumni Support
One of the most inspiring developments this year has been the continued growth of our Orthodontic Resident Endowed Scholarships. Our department’s total endowed scholarship market value now exceeds $3 million, generating more than $140,000 annually to support our residents. Each incoming resident now receives $17,500 in scholarship funding, a meaningful step toward reducing educational debt and supporting the next generation of orthodontists.
We are also grateful for the addition of three new scholarships this year: the Dr. Steven A. Dugoni Orthodontic Resident Endowed Scholarship, the Dr. Nicole Nalchajian and Mr. Toufik Harmaz Orthodontic Resident Endowed Scholarship, and the Dr. Greg Wadden Orthodontic Resident Endowed Scholarship. We sincerely thank Dr. Steve Dugoni, Dr. Nicole Nalchajian and Dr. Greg Wadden for their generosity and commitment to supporting our residents and the future of our specialty.
During the Alumni Weekend, the Classes of 2005 and 2006 celebrated their 20-year reunions in a remarkable way. Both classes committed to establishing $50,000 class-based endowed scholarships, each to be matched through the Powell Match program—ultimately creating $100,000 endowments per class upon completion.
We also introduced our first Orthodontic Homecoming Day. Alumni toured our updated clinic—now equipped with advanced digital and 3D technologies—and visited our expanded sleep clinic facilities, including ultrasound imaging and rhinomanometry. They observed residents in action and joined us for mentorship conversations over lunch. What moved me most was not simply the generosity, but the spirit behind it. Our alumni spoke openly about the financial realities facing today’s residents and chose to respond with action. It is a beautiful example of what defines the Dugoni orthodontic family. We hope this class-based endowment model will continue to grow with future reunions.
ORTHODONTIC CHAIR REPORT (CONT.)
As we honor their legacy, we are equally committed to continuing our tradition of excellence by welcoming a new generation of educators and clinicians to our faculty. We are pleased to introduce several outstanding colleagues in our program, including Dr. Jimmy Suliman (’25) in the Wednesday mixed dentition clinic; Dr. Kristen Lo (’24) in the Monday afternoon clinic; Dr. Patty Choi (USC ortho ’99) in the Friday clinic; and Dr. Michael Gunson (UCLA OMFS ’03), an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who will contribute to surgical treatment planning and interdisciplinary education.
AI in Orthodontic Education
In February, we held our annual Full Faculty Meeting, where this year’s theme focused on artificial intelligence in orthodontic education. As AI is rapidly transforming both clinical practice and education, faculty engaged in thoughtful discussions on how best to integrate these technologies into our residency curriculum. There was strong agreement that our department should actively embrace AI while developing clear guidance for responsible use in residency education. Course directors are encouraged to thoughtfully incorporate appropriate AI applications within their courses to enhance learning while maintaining critical thinking and professional judgment. To encourage greater participation from younger faculty members, we plan to move next year’s full faculty meeting to a weekday evening.
Resident Life and Academic Preparation
Our rising second-year residents (Class of 2026) have been working diligently to complete their research projects while preparing for graduation. They have also enjoyed several memorable moments together. Asilomar Weekend was a highlight, with the beautiful Pacific Coast and a lively karaoke night, in strengthening their bonds as classmates.
They are now preparing for the ABO written examination on April 7, under the guidance of Dr. Heeyeon Suh. Their dedication and commitment to academic excellence continue to strengthen our program’s reputation.
Our first-year residents (Class of 2027) are also making excellent progress as they balance an intensive didactic curriculum while actively treating a growing number of clinical cases. Their research proposals were well developed, and they have now launched their master’s thesis projects.
Expanding Dental Sleep Medicine and Interdisciplinary Care
Our Dental Sleep Medicine Fellowship continues to grow and mature. The upcoming academic year will mark the fourth year of the program. We are pleased to welcome two outstanding fellows for the 2026–27 academic year, one from Canada and one from Kuwait, reflecting the growing international recognition of our program. Our sleep clinic also continues to expand its clinical services and research activities.
At a school level, the $22 million Ambulatory Surgical Center and Multidisciplinary Advanced Care Clinic, which will open in September of this year, will significantly enhance interdisciplinary education and patient care. With an OMFS residency beginning in 2027, our orthodontic residents will benefit from expanded collaboration in complex surgical and craniofacial cases.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead, I am excited about the opportunities before us and eager to continue building on the strong foundation of our program.
Our alumni continue to mentor, teach and give generously. Our faculty remain dedicated to advancing education and research, and our residents uphold the highest standards of professionalism and clinical excellence.
Together, as alumni, faculty and residents, we will continue to shape the future of the Department of Orthodontics at the Dugoni School.
Warmest regards, Heesoo Oh
WHY I GIVE
Dr. Leah Walker (’06)
It’s been 20 years since we graduated from orthodontic residency, a milestone that marked the beginning of our careers and shaped who we are as orthodontists today. As we celebrate our reunion, there is no better way to honor our residency experience than to give back to the program that invested in us.
We are establishing a class endowment to support the next generation of orthodontists. This investment will help the program attract and retain the very best applicants, raise the caliber of training and improve patient care for years to come.
Our gift is rooted in gratitude. Faculty mentorship, rigorous training and the relationships we formed in residency propelled our careers. This is our chance to pay it forward, to provide future residents with the same foundation and opportunities we received.
We followed the inspiring example set by the Class of 2005, whose commitment demonstrated how a single class gift can make a measurable difference. Now we hope other classes will join us in building a culture of sustained giving so that the program continues to thrive.
Giving is both a thank you and an investment: a way to honor our past, strengthen the present and shape the future of orthodontics.
The New Standard of Care
IN THE NEWS
Los Angeles
Class Reunion Dinners
Fred West Symposium
Celebration of Life for "RRR"
Joorok Park at Orthodontic Excellence Study Club in
Alumni Homecoming
SECOND-YEAR REPORT
Dr. Tina Dillas, Class of 2026 Resident
It has been a busy and rewarding year for the Class of 2026! Since our last update, we have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of professional and educational experiences that have broadened our understanding of orthodontics and deepened our enthusiasm for the specialty. One highlight was attending the 2025 WOCON annual session in Honolulu, Hawaii, where we were fortunate to combine beautiful island scenery with engaging lectures from distinguished speakers in the field.
We also had the opportunity to attend the annual Fred West Alumni Meeting, which featured an informative lecture by Brent Larson, DDS, MS. His presentation offered valuable insight into emerging trends and future directions in orthodontics, providing us with new perspectives as we continue our training.
More recently, we traveled to the Asilomar Conference, where we celebrated the graduating Class of 2026. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to recognize our colleagues’ accomplishments while also spending meaningful time with faculty and co-residents in a stunning coastal setting. It was a memorable experience that highlighted the strong sense of community within our program.
As we continue progressing through our residency, we are incredibly appreciative of these experiences that contribute to our development as future orthodontists. The past year has strengthened our excitement for the specialty, and we look forward to the many opportunities still ahead. Our attention is now turning toward advancing our research projects and preparing for our upcoming board examinations.
FIRST-YEAR REPORT
Class of 2027
The Class of 2027 has had an exciting and busy start to the year as we continue settling into the residency program. Over the past several months, we’ve been building our clinical skills, collaborating with faculty and co-residents and learning how to balance the many aspects of residency life.
Clinic has kept us on our toes as we’ve continued to gain experience treating a wide range of cases, working together to problem-solve and support one another. Outside of the clinic, our class has also made time to enjoy the Bay Area and strengthen friendships through group dinners, coffee runs and the occasional post-clinic outing.
We are grateful for the mentorship and support from our faculty and the upper-class residents, and we are excited for everything that the rest of the year will bring. We look forward to continuing to grow both clinically and personally as we move forward in the program.
Shana Arora
KEEPING IN TOUCH: CLASS OF 2016
After graduating, I moved to Tucson, Arizona and worked in both private and corporate practices, which gave me valuable experience in different practice models and strengthened my clinical foundation. The night before my orthodontic residency graduation, I got engaged—such a special way to close that chapter! A couple of years later, we were married and soon after relocated to the Phoenix area.
My husband—who was also my classmate at the Dugoni School— is a general dentist, and together we purchased an existing general dentistry practice. We’ve enjoyed growing the practice and adding orthodontics into it. We work side by side in the office, which is kind of a unique setup for an orthodontist and a general dentist. Practice ownership has been incredibly fulfilling and has taught me so much.
On the personal side, we are raising our two sweet children—our daughter Layla (4) and our son Navi (2)—who keep us busy and bring so much joy to our lives. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a decade since graduation!
Matt Joosse
After graduation, I moved to Williamsburg, VA. My wife Alex got a teaching job in public policy at William and Mary, my alma mater. Being back in Williamsburg and having lots of ties to William and Mary have been great. I started out in an associate position as one of three doctors in a three office location practice.
After two years, in 2018, I bought out the Williamsburg location and began Joosse Family Orthodontics. When COVID hit about a year and a half later, the PPP loan literally saved my practice. Since then, it's been on an upswing; last year, I moved the practice to a new location, on property that I own. I've never worked harder than I have over these past eight years, reflected by all the grey hairs, but I love the job and wouldn't have it any other way.
Life is busy with three kids: Peter (12), Asher (10), and Ada (8). The kids are thriving, and we are incredibly blessed to have an amazing support network of family and friends. San Francisco feels so far away physically and so much has happened over the last ten years that it also feels distant emotionally, but we look back fondly on our years at the Dugoni School and in the Bay Area.
KEEPING IN TOUCH (CONT.)
Lauri Kim
Time seems to fly by faster every year—it's hard to believe nearly a decade has passed since residency! I was fortunate to begin working in the Bay Area, just four days after graduation, with Dr. Marcus Kai (fellow Dugoni ortho alum) and am lucky to still be working with him today! Over the years, I've also worked at various other offices (including with Dr. James Chen!) and have learned so much at each one. Currently, I'm also at a pedo-ortho office (thank you to Dr. Cole for covering me there during my maternity leave!) in the South Bay.
My husband, Sumin, recently went back to a law firm as a partner after cofounding a tech startup, and together we have three sweet and (overly) energetic kids: Taylor (9), Jordan (7) and Aiden (3). It's crazy to think that I was 7 months pregnant with Taylor during our residency graduation, and now she's almost 10! Our kids have reshaped our life's priorities, and everyday is a challenging endeavor to achieve a balance between all of life's many blessings.
I look back with immense gratitude on my education at the Dugoni School and value all the relationships formed during residency. Missing all the wonderful people and hope everyone is doing well, wherever you are!
Trevan Samp
After graduation, I worked several different associateships with the main goal of owning my own practice someday; that adventure led me through four different states (NJ, PA, CO, SC). We moved from Denver, CO back to the East Coast during COVID and landed in Charleston, SC. We loved it so much that we decided to plant roots there. Since opportunities were limited to purchase a practice (and I didn't want to work corporate), I eventually took the leap and opened a start-up practice in Mount Pleasant, SC in January 2023. The office is called High Tide Orthodontics, and it has been such a pleasure to build and grow. My wife Ashley continues to run her art design studio from home and has even lent her skills to help design my office!
ALUMNI CORNER
Dr. Naphtali Brezniak (’86)
In recent months, I have been publishing a personal column in the online newspaper N1. I am attaching something I wrote a few days ago. It is hard to believe that we are still at war, and that no end is in sight.
This morning, for the second time in my life, I heard that terrible “boom” that no one wishes to hear, or more precisely, to experience. The missile this morning fell about 250 meters from my home and about 25 meters from my daughter’s home.
The first time I was exposed to the sound of a “standard” explosion was during the Yom Kippur War. At the time, I served in the reserves as a medic, and the brigade I was assigned to was stationed near the Suez Canal in a “tent,” where the ceasefire agreement with Egypt was signed at Kilometer 101. The Saudi soldiers positioned opposite us refused to accept the ceasefire and continued firing artillery shells every few hours, day and night. On one occasion, a shell landed and exploded near the tent that served as our “clinic.” There were no casualties and no damage, but the whistling sound followed by the “boom” is something I will never forget.
Fifty-two years passed, and this morning, the reverberating “boom” that came about a minute and a half after the siren was so powerful that it was immediately clear it had landed close to where I live. I immediately called my daughter. The sound of her crying, along with the ambulance sirens and police in the background, made it clear she was at the heart of the impact. More precisely, her apartment was 25 meters from the strike and was damaged by the blast.
Five minutes later, I arrived at her apartment and was met by this scene amidst the street chaos: Ilay (6 m.o.) was in my daughter’s arms, while Leo (11) and Naomi (9) were trying to calm everyone gathered in their apartment. Naomi took initiative and made coffee, using the new machine that had just been purchased. Leo moved from room to room, reassuring those around him as they looked at the damage to the apartment, which had been recently renovated.
“Why do we have to go through this?” people asked one another.
After things calmed down a bit, we returned to routine. Not the routine we want, but the routine of war; and to a realization that is perhaps the hardest of all: sirens, rushing to shelters, children learning to distinguish types of explosions before they have even mastered multiplication tables.
The State of Israel cannot continue in its current form. Not because it lacks military strength, but because no society can live for long under continuous anxiety and endless war. A country cannot truly exist when its citizens are measured by how fast they reach a protected space, rather than by the quality of life. This is not routine. This is adaptation to the unbearable. It is a kind of numbness that disguises itself as resilience.
The most terrible part is not only the power of the “boom,” but also what follows. We already know what to do. Whom to call. How to ask. How to recognize from the tone of voice whether it is fear or disaster. How quickly we can return home. How much damage was done. Whether the children have calmed down. Whether we can already make coffee.
In a normal country, a nine-year-old girl should not know how to make coffee for people affected by a blast and a twelve-year-old boy should not be calming adults. A sixmonth-old baby should not be part of a scene of explosions, shattered glass, crying, and chaos. It is within this absurdity that children become adults. Not because they want to, but because they have no choice.
And so the question returns. Why do we have to go through this? Not only why it happened this morning, but why it continues. Why has life become a path of constant threat? Why must citizens pay with their bodies, their minds, their children, and their homes for a reality that has no visible end?
A country can win a battle. It can deter, respond, and strike. But it cannot truly win if its citizens are worn down and children grow up with anxiety as a default state. If a person, fifty-two years after a war, hears the same “boom” again and realizes that nothing has fundamentally changed.
ALUMNI CORNER (CONT.)
This may be the real breaking point. Not only the threat from outside, but the adaptation from within. The quiet acceptance that this is what life looks like. But we must not get used to it. We must not accept it as fate. Because the moment the unbearable becomes bearable, we lose not only our sense of security, but also our human measure.
This morning reminded me how thin the line is between routine and catastrophe. But it also reminded me of something simpler and deeper: a person is not meant merely to survive. A person is meant to live, and to live well.
And finally, war is not a solution. Even when it ends, it leaves behind the same fear, the same frightened children, and the same “booms” that continue to echo for many years. The latest war is the result of a prolonged failure, and its “boom” is ultimately heard in all of our homes.
As I send this text, missiles are being launched toward the south. This must stop, and as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Naphtali Brezniak (‘86)
A MODERN RENAISSANCE MAN
Honoring Dr. Cole’s Remarkable Career in Orthodontics
Dr. Kristen Lo (Class of 2024)
For the past decade, residents at the Dugoni School have known Dr. Cole as a thoughtful mentor, an engaging teacher and a constant source of curiosity and humor in the orthodontic clinic. When he joined the department, he brought not only his many years of clinical expertise, but also an array of passions that extend beyond orthodontics. From music to aviation to art history, Dr. Cole’s mastery of these many pursuits firmly establishes him as a modern Renaissance man. As he retires from teaching at the dental school, we celebrate and reflect on the many experiences and accomplishments that define his career.
William Cole was born and raised in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where his career in dentistry began at a young age. His father was a crown and bridge dental technician, and as a child, Dr. Cole spent many hours in the lab mixing plaster, waxing crowns and casting bridgework. Working with and observing his father collaborate with dentists sparked Dr. Cole’s interest in the profession. His father also inspired an interest in music. An avid polka listener, Dr. Cole’s father enrolled him in accordion lessons at age six at a local music school, where he studied for ten years.
the University of California, San Francisco. Having spent his entire life on the East Coast, he and Sarah made the bold decision to head west to the foggy city of San Francisco. He graduated from UCSF in 1983 with a certificate in orthodontics. Upon graduation, he started work as an associate at the Berkeley office of one of his former professors at UCSF, Dr. Sheldon Baumrind, and at the Alameda office of Dr. Donald Poulton, who was the chair of orthodontics at University of the Pacific at the time.
Another family member encouraged him to take to the skies—his older brother, Ron, began training as a pilot, and Dr. Cole joined his training, earning his private pilot’s license at the age of 16. His brother later went on to become a commercial pilot for American Airlines, and though Dr. Cole greatly enjoyed flying, he had a more grounded interest in dentistry and decided to pursue it as a profession.
Dr. Cole attended Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania where he earned his Bachelor of Science in biology. He then attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, where he met Sarah, his future wife, at a mutual friend’s party. Initially inspired by his experience in his father’s dental lab, Dr. Cole had interest in specializing in prosthodontics. However, after spending extensive time in the orthodontic clinic during his junior year, he decided to alter his course to orthodontics.
He was accepted to both the University of Connecticut and
After having been geographically separated for a few years, Dr. Cole and Sarah married in 1984. In 1986, they decided to return to the East Coast to be closer to their families, settling in the small rural town of Krumville in upstate New York. Dr. Cole purchased a practice in Margaretville, where he was the only orthodontist within a 50-mile radius, and a few years later, he opened a satellite location 30 miles east in the town of Boiceville. Sarah, also a biology major in college, established an environmental testing laboratory, Environmental Labworks Inc., in the town of Marlboro, New York. Along with managing a busy work schedule, Dr. Cole and Sarah raised three accomplished daughters: Emily, Alison and Beth. As the children grew up, he and a few neighborhood dads formed a garage band called Fido, where Dr. Cole starred as the lead accordion player.
After more than 25 years in private practice, Dr. Cole was presented with an opportunity to add part-time clinical teaching to his schedule. In 2011, he received an unexpected phone call from a colleague from the regional Angle Society asking if he was interested in becoming a clinical instructor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He agreed and began teaching there part-time. A year later, another Angle Society member asked if he would like to teach at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Cole happily returned to his dental school alma mater and began teaching orthodontics there as well. In 2013, he became the president of the Angle Society East component. To add entertainment to their annual meetings, Dr. Cole reunited his neighborhood band, renaming them the Angle School Dropouts, and wrote new hit singles like “Just Straightenin’ Teeth” and “Ortho Guy.” Everything an orthodontist needs to know is contained in these songs, which are available
on their album Self-Ligating Music, Holiday Edition at angleschooldropouts.bandcamp.com.
In 2015, Dr. Cole and Sarah decided to trade quiet rural life for the big city and returned to San Francisco. Almost immediately, he received phone calls from Dr. Robert Boyd, his former professor and then chair of orthodontics at the Dugoni School of Dentistry, and from Dr. Sheldon Baumrind, also professor there at the time, inviting him to teach at the university. Dr. Cole said “yes” before they could even finish their sentences.
Upon joining the Dugoni School family, Dr. Cole added his unique spin to orthodontic education. In the clinic, he imparted a wealth of clinical knowledge and patient management skills to his students. He sat down individually with each resident to teach them the art of bending a TPA from a straight wire. And, for those who asked nicely, he was known to occasionally reveal the proper use and application of an anhydrous nangling pin.
He also started Wednesday treatment planning seminars to allow residents more practice with complex cases. At the end of each seminar, residents then competed in a trivia competition and vied for the ultimate prize: being named the Smartest Orthodontist in the World. Those who earned the title received a Starbucks gift card and had the honor of displaying a trophy on their desk until the next competition named a new champion. Dr. Cole also encouraged students to look for the relationship between facial harmony, art and everyday life. Residents who collected images of artworks that depicted Class I, Class II and Class III profiles were rewarded with what he termed the “Edward H. Angle Memorial Mini Disco Ball,” and were then invited to participate in the “Parade of the Mini Disco Balls” during Wednesday seminars.
Dr. Cole also brought music to the department. During the annual department holiday party, he played holiday tunes on the accordion. He also taught residents to play the official musical instrument of the Angle School Dropouts, the Zanger Banger, in the final months before graduation.
DR. COLE (CONT.)
Outside the classroom, Dr. Cole invited residents to join him in the sky, treating them to a private tour of the Bay with spectacular aerial views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz. He and Sarah also invited residents to their home for home-cooked meals and organized outings to various museums around the city.
Dr. Cole retired from teaching in September 2025. He continues to practice part time at the Bay Area office of one of his colleagues, and he helps to provide temporary practice coverage as needed at a couple of offices around the state. Dr. Cole and Sarah also travel frequently to visit their daughters. Their oldest daughter Emily is now a retina surgeon and is part of the faculty at the University of Colorado Denver. Their twin daughters Alison and Beth both live in Reno, Nevada: Alison works as a hydrogeologist at an environmental consulting firm, and Beth is a registered nurse specializing in wound care.
Dr. Cole and Sarah still live in San Francisco and spend their free time visiting museums, attending the symphony and exploring the city’s never-ending culinary treats. When they want a break from the city, they escape to the Sierra foothills where they own a tiny home on ten acres. Every year, they travel to Sonoma County to attend the Cotati Accordion Festival and invite others from the dental school community to join them there. Dr. Cole flies once a week in his 1968 Cessna 172 Skyhawk and posts videos of some of his flights on his YouTube channel (@NotEdwardHAngle).
For someone who has balanced orthodontics with music, aviation, teaching and a stream of creative ideas, retirement simply means more time to enjoy the many passions that define him. The residents who learned from Dr. Cole will remember not only his clinical insight, but also the laughter and the sense that orthodontics could be both serious work and genuine fun. We thank Dr. Cole for the lasting impression he leaves on our residents and wish him clear skies, great music, and many new adventures in retirement.
NEW FACULTY
Dr. Patricia Sing Choi
I am honored to join the graduate orthodontic adjunct faculty at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. To share a bit about my background, I was born in Visalia in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, raised in San Francisco and graduated from Lowell High School. I received my DDS from the School of Dentistry in 1996 and earned my orthodontic certificate and Master’s in craniofacial biology from the USC Ostrow School of Dentistry in 1999.
For over 20 years, I have maintained a solo private practice serving Fremont and the surrounding community. My clinical philosophy has been strongly influenced by Dr. Richard McLaughlin, orthodontic faculty at USC and cofounder of the MBT system, and Dr. Bill Odom, who was the original faculty of the mixed dentition clinic at the Dugoni School of Dentistry. After graduating from my orthodontic program, I worked as an associate for Bill Odom, who invited me to pursue membership in the Edward H. Angle Society early in my career.
Since 2011, I have been a member of the Edward H. Angle Society, where I had the privilege of having Dr. Steve Dugoni as my sponsor and mentor during the affiliate process. The Angle Society is the premier study club for local, national and international orthodontic collaboration. Continued education has been very instrumental in my professional growth. I have served as the long-term Secretary for the Northern California Angle Component and will transition into the role of president-elect and program chair later this year. Recently, I have also become a member of PORG (Peninsula Orthodontic Research Group).
I live on the Peninsula with my husband Robert, and daughter Christine. Robert is a general dentist in San Mateo and a graduate of the Dugoni School. As my daughter heads to college this fall, I am able to balance more time to give back to our profession and contribute to orthodontic education. My first day teaching in the clinic was this March, and I am grateful to the residents, staff and faculty for the warm welcome. I look forward to collaborating with Dr. Oh, Dr. Park and Dr. Vaughan in the Friday clinic, as well as the rest of the faculty to support our brilliant residents in their clinical growth and success.
Dr. Jimmy Suliman
It’s a true privilege to return to the University of the Pacific orthodontic department this time as a mentor, rather than a resident. Pacific holds a special place in my life, as it is my alma mater for my undergraduate studies, dental school and orthodontic residency. The mentorship, collaboration and sense of community I experienced throughout those years had a profound impact on my development as a clinician and continue to shape the way I approach patient care today.
I grew up in California’s Central Valley, and after completing dental school, I had the opportunity to serve as a dentist in the United States Navy. That experience provided a unique perspective on public dental health and the importance of access to care across diverse populations. This was also when I discovered my love for orthodontics. Today, I feel fortunate to practice orthodontics in both the East Bay area and the Central Valley. In the East Bay, I work alongside my mentor Dr. Paul Kasrovi; in the Central Valley, I practice with my brother Dr. Sam Suliman. Both are incredible orthodontists whom I look up to very much. Working in these different communities has been incredibly meaningful, allowing me to give back to the region where I grew up while also learning and applying innovative techniques alongside outstanding colleagues in the Bay Area and at the Dugoni School.
I continue to stay connected to the university by teaching in the mixed dentition clinic on Wednesday mornings. Being able to return and contribute, even in a small way, feels incredibly meaningful. What I appreciate most about teaching is the opportunity for shared learning. The residents bring curiosity, thoughtful questions and fresh perspectives that make
NEW FACULTY (CONT.)
every clinic session engaging. It’s rewarding to help guide them through the challenges of early treatment and growth modification while watching their clinical skills evolve.
I’m grateful to remain connected to the Dugoni School community and to play a small role in supporting the next generation of orthodontists.
Dr. Kristen Lo
Kristen Lo earned her DDS from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 2022. She went on to complete her orthodontic training at the Dugoni School, where she earned a Master of Science degree in 2024. That same year, she also received her ABO board certification. Her research project during residency focused on the effectiveness of skeletally anchored maxillary protraction in adolescent Class III patients, examining the effects of treatment on skeletal, dental and soft tissue outcomes as well as exploring possible predictive factors for treatment success.
After graduation, she moved back home to Saratoga, CA, and is currently working as an associate in private practices located in Almaden Valley and San Jose. Inspired by the exceptional faculty and mentors she met during her training at the Dugoni School, she is excited to return to the dental school as a clinical assistant professor. She looks forward to working closely with residents, helping them to strengthen their clinical skills and to build confidence in patient care. During her free time, Kristen enjoys dressmaking, reading, archery and hiking.
