Launched in October 2019, the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) Implant Fellowship Program targets early career faculty. The first-of-its-kind curriculum aims to foster a deeper understanding of and experience with dental implant restorative technology, according to CDM. The inaugural fellows, all based at the Columbia University Medical Center, include:
- Laila Akhlaghi, BDS, instructor in dental medicine
- Ioana Chesnoiu Matei, DDS, instructor in dental medicine
- Michael McKenzie, DDS, instructor in dental medicine
- Jaffer Shariff, BDS, instructor in dental medicine
- Shannon Sullivan, DDS, assistant professor of dental medicine
- Charles Wei, DDS, instructor in dental medicine
The CDM Implant Fellowship Program was established with a gift from Zimmer Biomet and is led by Dennis Tarnow, DDS, director or implant education and clinical professor of dental medicine at CDM.
“Zimmer Biomet made a conscious decision to invest in dental education and that their priorities were innovation, medical education, and service,” said Doug Brown, the company’s associate director of university and institutional education, adding that the program satisfies all three of these priorities.
Over the next two years, the fellows will expand their skills and knowledge through weekly training in the clinic and classroom from Tarnow and from Gary Greenstein, DDS, Joseph Carpentieri, DDS, and Robert Eskow, DMD. The program also has an organized mentorship component to provide additional guidance and facilitate relationship-building.
“The fellowship program is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity to have one-on-one instruction and mentorship from an elite group of doctors,” said Sullivan. “The program sets aside dedicated time and essential resources in order for us to develop as practitioners, educators, and researchers.”
“Under the guidance of Dr. Tarnow, we share knowledge from our individual backgrounds and specialties to explore dynamic new areas of practice and research,” said Sullivan. “Thus far, I have enjoyed the program immensely and learned an enormous amount of invaluable information.”
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