Debbie Zafiropoulos
Debbie is a tireless Pioneer Health Crusader, Educator & Author dedicated to Total Health Initiatives and Making Oral Cancer History. This passion drove Debbie to form the NationalCancerNetwork.org a 501(C)(3) whose vision is to raise awareness of prevention, progress, screening and referrals for a world free of a cancer. In its infancy the support from consumers and professionals has been overwhelming. With Debra’s passion and assembly of like-minded humanitarians there is no doubt together they will catapult the NationalCancerNetwork.org into a highly effective and charitable organization.
With over 27 years in the health industry and working with a variety of clients Debbie’s laser focus and ability to get to the cause holding you back guiding them to achieve remarkable success, my mission and commitment to you is to ignite the hero within you!
AnnLamar Johnson
My name is AnnLamar Johnson and I am originally from Jacksonville, North Carolina, but now I reside in the Raleigh-Durham area of NC. I am a graduate from the University at North Carolina School of Dentistry with my B.S. in Dental Hygiene.
During my time at UNC I had the opportunity to do my clinical requirements in various departments under some amazingly talented professionals. I spent a lot of my time in preventive/recall maintenance, radiology, and the central prison, but also got the chance to spend time working in the health department, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, pediatrics, geriatrics, pregnancy oral health, baby oral health, and the specialty/disability clinic.
In March of 2015, myself along with 53 other health care professional students traveled to Nicaragua with the UNC Chapter of Global Brigades where we provided both medical and dental services to the underprivileged communities surrounding Estelí.
From a young age I have had a keen interest in the field of medicine and all its components. For the past 9 years I have whole heartedly devoted myself to patient centered care. I feel that it is important for patients to understand the what, why, and how of their condition, treatment being provided, and how it affects not only the body system being treated, but the rest of the body as well.
I believe that my years spent in hospital based nursing care, emergency medicine, and cardiac centered care has made me a well-rounded individual. This helps me to better understand my patients by bridging the gap of unanswered questions between medical and dental disparities.
Brandi Seamen
As a dental hygienist for the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to work with many patients who experience dry mouth caused by cancer. My passion is helping others and to improve quality of life. Dry mouth is not a one sized fits all! Especially for anyone who is experiencing or experienced cancer. The most rewarding thing is to watch a client’s face light up because the mouth feels close to normal. My life feels complete when helping others and The National Cancer Network has allowed me to expand my passion to the world.
For me, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to improve someone’s quality of life. Knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on a patient motivates me so much, and I feel intent on helping as many cancer patients feel normal again as possible.
Dry mouth – especially when found in cancer patients – is debilitating and can be extremely life altering. In addition to general discomfort, dry mouth can cause bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease and other severe oral problems.
I love working with people to ensure that they are receiving the best dry mouth treatment possible. Every person is different, so every course of action is different. With nearly a decade in the dental industry, I have dealt with many different oral issues. I’ve been able to treat each problem with solutions that work best for each individual issue – always keeping the patient in mind. The goal is to speak with me before your dry mouth causes irreversible damage. Reach out to me when you’re ready. Let’s get you back to normal.
Gail Weisberg
Gail Weisberg RDH BS of Boston has served in the dental field for 42 years.
She brings her expertise in marketing, fundraising, oral cancer training, and public health implementation to the table.Gail runs the Dental division of Trident Clinical Mobile Services treating Seniors in the nursing home setting.
She is the Director of Project Stretch Dentistry, a non-profit that has provided free dental care to 35,000+ children in 10 countries and 5 US States.Gail is the proud receipt of the Esther Wilkins Distinguished Alumni Award- Dr. Wilkins was her professor in 1974.
In 2014 she received the Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction. Along with the national recognition these awards help to further the causes that Gail is passionate about.
Jill Coon
Jill Coon is a Registered Dental Hygienist and Business Consultant who has been in the dental field for 29 years. She began her career in dentistry at the age of 16 as an oral surgery assistant. While studying for her degree in Science at Palm Beach Community College, she trained to become a dental assistant. Three years later, she became a full-time hygienist and has been practicing for 27 years. She has managed dental offices nationwide since 1997.
Jill continually educates herself, studying the unique and highly successful marketing and business management strategies of renowned online marketers, dentists, entrepreneurs and practice management gurus around the country.
Jill is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others. When not working, her hobbies include ballroom dancing, boating, fishing and gourmet cooking.
Debra Vittorello Galluppi
Debra Vittorello Galluppi RDH has been Registered Dental Hygienist since 1978 after earning her Associates Degree at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse NY. She also earned her Bachelors of Science degree in 2015.
She prides herself on advocating in many avenues of her life especially the underprivileged and people struggling in their life.
She got her passion for oral cancer prevention when a patient of hers had a cancerous lump on the maxillary arch and with her persistence encouraging him to see an oral surgeon against his defiance he was diagnosed and treated. He credits her for saving his life. Debbie’s infectious personality and enthusiasm gets the job done in everything she puts her mind too. Debbie’s family has been hit hard due to deaths to cancer that drove much of her motivation to join the NCN.
Debbie was thrilled to be asked to join the National Cancer Network (NCN), and to network with people in her local community and fellow health care professionals world wide to make this devastating disease history.
Dee Humphrey
Dee Humphrey, RDH, BHSc is a Dental Hygienist, Author, Speaker, and Influencer who “Inspires and motives people to action; have faith”. She has worked as a clinical dental hygienist and prevention specialist since 2010 at a Community Clinic in Northeast Oklahoma. Providing outstanding quality of preventive care and treatment services for many underserved people is one of her many passions. Dee received her RDH and Bachelors of Health Science at Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri and continues to be an advocate in the total body health. Dee has a gentle, positive and enthusiastic spirit, which truly makes her unique in character. She is very passionate about oral cancer due to the recent miraculous victory in her own father becoming cancer free (oropharyngeal and colon cancer). Her big ambitions and huge goals are to see everyone get screened for oral and all other types of cancer. She humbly joins NCN to raise awareness in impacting the masses for the better and is beyond excited to be a part of such a dynamic team in truly helping others.
Denise Matteo
My name is Denise Matteo (you can read my story on this website). I am a survivor of Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral, Head and Neck. At the time of my diagnosis, I was a 48 year old single mother with two children, ages 16 & 19 at the time. That was 8 years ago! I survived against all odds, with only a couple of months left to live at the time of my diagnosis.
I have since had over 20 surgeries, chemo, radiation and I am still undergoing reconstructive surgeries. In my earlier days, before children, I have worked in management for a mortgage company. Most recently I have worked for a private school in the Advancement/Development Department doing events and fund raisers. Currently, I am on disability because of the continued surgeries, however, my passion in life now is to help educate and mentor and be an advocate for all oral, head and neck cancer patients. My passion and goal is to travel the country and the world speaking at events and sharing my story in hopes to help others. I have survived and beat this beast for a reason, and that reason is to help others!
Sandra Sacks Berger
Sandra Sacks Berger, RDH, BS is president/owner of Superior Seminar Solutions (SSS) which manages all areas of CE, Study Clubs and Dental Event Planning. Sandra also created DistinctiveDentalSeminars.com an online and live source for CE nationwide and in Canada. She has presented at Yankee, GNYDM and Under One Roof as well as many other venues. Sandra worked clinical and with a dental study club for many years, she then transitioned to a full time corporate position. Sandra’s entrepreneurial side was enhanced while attending CareerFusion, empowered she started her own company. She is now the go to resource for Continuing Education among her peers. Sandra graduated from The Ohio State University with an RDH and BS in Education. She is active in NJDHA, received the Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction, Frances D. Fluhr Outstanding Service Award and is a Beyond the Operatory Alumni. Sandra lives in NJ with her husband Jonathan and dogs Chip and Wendy. She and Chip are a certified therapy team visiting nursing homes, libraries and rehab centers. Sandra can be reached at SSSBerg@gmail.com.
Renee Cina Acosta
Renee Cina Acosta has been in dentistry for over 32 years. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Dental Medicine’s Dental Hygiene Program. Her vast experience in dentistry has ranged from clinical hygiene, dental sales, management, clinical coaching and speaking. She has also taught Practice Management at her local Dental Hygiene School in Las Cruces, NM. She is passionate about education in hygiene through clinical practice and in nutrition, health and wellness with private clients. Renee is a certified speaker for Straumann USA, Inc. and a member of their Dental Hygiene Advisory Board. She has studied nutrition at New Mexico State University and then turned to a more holistic approach with completing study through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition located in New York City which has given her a diverse approach in mind/body wellness. Her uniqueness provides groups and individuals a complete understanding of how and why our country is dealing with an epidemic of systemic disease and weight issues. Renee gives practical guidelines of how to change one’s outlook on the foods they eat, curb cravings and turn around the genetics we may inherit. She feels that blending more nutritional practices in dentistry can help all dental providers create more awareness and better health practices for their patients and themselves to achieve overall wellness. Renee is currently writing a book about this very subject.
Shannon Nanne
As The Executive Director of The Global Oral Cancer Forum, Shannon helps promote the changes required for a substantial impact on incidence, morbidity, and mortality of oral cancer worldwide educating health professionals globally. Shannon graduated from The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1994. She’s authored articles in RDH, JPH, In Focus and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and is a Key Opinion Leader for several companies, publications and associations and an ambassador with The Oral Cancer Foundation. Shannon has held an executive board position in The Cleveland Dental Hygiene Association for over 14 years and continues to create awareness on oral cancer and its horrific side effects.
Therese Stewart
Therese Stewart, CRDH, MS is a Registered Dental Hygienist with over 30 years of experience within the dental field. Her passion is the prevention and eradication of all cancers. When she served as President of the Palm Beach County Dental Hygiene association she masterminded, organized and executed three very successful Head Neck and Oral Cancer Seminars. These seminars highlighted National and International Keynote Speakers.
Therese` is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at Palm Beach State College where she teaches General and Oral Pathology, Clinical Radiology and has taught several other subjects over the past 19 years. Therese` is also a Professional Educator on behalf of both American Eagle Instruments and Waterpik. She considers herself a lifelong learner and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience in the profession she loves so much. Her speaking engagements have encompassed national and local engagements.
Amber Auger
Amber Auger is a hygienist with more than six years of experience in multiple clinical settings, including facilities abroad. This experience has allowed her to educate dental hygiene students and coach dental teams on periodontal systems to optimize practice growth. She holds a part-time position at an elite dental office in Boston, and is an advisor for Jameson Management. Auger obtained a master’s degree in public health from the University of New England and a bachelor’s in dental hygiene from the University of New Haven. She specializes in pediatric education, periodontal education, and continues to create progressive systems. Amber is co-owner of SpinCE where participants receive continuing while enjoy a challenging indoor cycling class. education Auger is a key opinion leader for several elite dental companies, a published author, and can be contacted at amberaugerrdh@gmail.com
Michael Ventriello
Michael Ventriello has more than 30 years of integrated public relations and marketing experience and has been successful in marketing to and for healthcare companies. His functional specialty is launching innovative companies and products quickly and effectively.
Mr. Ventriello also has more than 10 years of concentrated experience in dental industry public relations and marketing communications. During this time, he developed highly-successful PR and marcom campaigns for some of the dental industry’s most innovative products and technologies, many of which have strong oral-systemic relevance:
- OraPharma’s ARESTIN®
- Hu-Friedy’s DownPak™ endodontic obturation device
- Sunstar’s GUM® PerioShield™ oral health rinse
- The American Academy of Periodontology’s general practice dentist outreach program
- Heureaus-Kulzer’s InnoEndo™ Resilon® obturation system
- OralDNA® Labs periodontal disease salivary diagnostic tests
- ClearCorrect® invisible aligner system
- Provia Labs Store-a-Tooth™ dental stem cell storage system
- The OraVital® System for the diagnosis and treatment of oral infections
- The REPLICATE™ Immediate Tooth Replacement System
Regarding oral cancer, Michael was instrumental in the launch of the following screening technologies:
- LED Medical’s VELscope® oral cancer screening device
- OralDNA Labs’ OraRisk® salivary test for oral HPV
- PeriRx, LLC’s Salimark™ OSCC salivary test for oral squamous cell carcinoma
He has also written articles about the connection between high oral cancer mortality rates and the lack of standardized screening protocols. For example:
“Do Dentists Need to ‘Doctor Up’ on Oral Cancer?” – DrBicuspid.com (Registration Required)
“What Will it Take to Improve Oral Cancer Statistics?” – Dentistry Today
In addition to possessing award-winning writing skills, Mr. Ventriello has strong contacts with the editors of all the major dental publications, as well as most of the top key opinion leaders. He leverages these relationships to gain his clients increased and valuable industry exposure by “influencing the influencers”.
He formed his own public relations and marketing communications company, Ventriello Communications, LLC in 2013 and is currently applying his experience and relationships to introduce the National Cancer Network to clinicians and patients alike.