Conference '100 Years of Dental Education in Latvia'

Andris Ābeltiņš is a Doctor of Medical Sciences (PhD). He is the current dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at RSU and associate professor with the Department of Orthodontics.

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Education

• 2010 – Doctor of Medical Sciences (PhD); RCS Ed 2007
• 2003–2006 – Postgraduate training in orthodontics, Rīga Stradiņš University
• 1997–2002 – DDS, Medical Academy of Latvia

Work experience

• 2016 to present – Associate Professor, Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics
• 2018 to present – Dean, Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry
• 2003 to present – orthodontist, Institute of Stomatology, Rīga Stradiņš University
• 2014–2018 – Vice-Dean, Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry
• 2012–2016 – Assistant Professor, Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics
• 2011–2012 – clinical instructor, Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics

Research projects

• 2020–2021 – RSU project Impact of the orthognathic surgery on facial skeletal and soft tissue structures
• 2013–2018 – basic and applied research project Skeletal and soft tissues dysmorphology of the maxillofacial deformities related to treatment results, investigator
• 2009–2012 – basic and applied research project Three dimensional and immunohistological investigations of hard and soft tissue of maxillofacial deformities, investigator
• 2007 – basic and applied research project Radiological and immunohistological investigations of hard and soft tissue of maxillofacial deformities, investigator
• 2006 – basic and applied research project Morphogenesis of dentofacial anomalies and individualized treatment planning, investigator

Professor Ilze Akota is ADEE past-president, Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, member of the Senate at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and Corresponding Member of the Latvian Academy of Science.

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Her research activities are connected mainly to congenital deformities of oral and maxillofacial region and dentoalveolar surgery. She has an experience working as a Dean of Faculty of Stomatology (1999-2003), Vice rector for Education at RSU (2003-2013) and Member of Commission for Licence and Accreditation of Study Programs in Latvia (2015-2019).

At present, she is a Board member of Scandinavian Division of International Association for Dental Research (IADR/NOF) and Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). Ilze Akota has participated in many educational activities including DentEd, DentEdEvolves, Dent CPD, ERASMUS and ERASMUS+ projects. Right now she participates as a researcher from RSU as partner institution in the O-Health-Edu Erasmus+ project “Advancing Oral Health: A vision for Oral Health Professionals (OHP) Education”.

Prof. Dr. odont. Pål Barkvoll is an experienced administrator and professor of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry.

A former Dean and Head of Dental Services, he is skilled in Clinical Research, Medical Education, Life Sciences, Epidemiology, and Medical Devices. He has a strong education professional background. Barkvoll also holds qualifications in Military and Strategic Leadership from The Norwegian Military Academy.

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Present position

• Professor in Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine (1995–present)
• President ADEE (Association for Dental Education in Europe) (2022–present)

Education

• The Executive Officer Course, The Norwegian National Defense College 1997
• Specialty training – oral surgery and oral medicine 1988–1992
• Dr. odont. (PhD) University of Oslo, 1991. Thesis 'Actions and interactions of sodium lauryl sulfate and chlorhexidine in the oral cavity'
• Cand. odont – DDS. University of Oslo (UiO), 1984
• Military officer training; 1980 and 1984

Previous positions

• Dean, Faculty of Dentistry 2013–2020
• Chief Executive Director – Institute of Clinical Dentistry (1999–2012)
• Head, Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, UiO (01.01.96–31.12.11)
• Associate professor, Dept of Oral Surgery and Oral medicine (01.06.94–30.05.95)
• Platoon commander – Major – UNIFIL HOSPITAL, Southern Lebanon (21.10.91–20.04.92)
• Research fellow and post-doc (1986–1993)
• Military service (1984–1986)

Councils/executive committees

• President elect; ADEE, Association for Dental Education in Europe 2021
• Executive committee member. ADEE 2018, 2021
• Member – Scientific Advisory Board, Faculty of Health, University of Århus (2019–2021)
• Board member ACTA Odontologica Scandinavica Society (2016–present)
• Board member, NIOM (Nordic Institute of Dental Materials) (2019–present)
• Chairman of the Board, NIOM (Nordic Institute of Dental Materials) (2016–2019)
• Different international and national committees (23) for professorship, professor promotion and doctoral degrees (1995-)

Academic Interests and Teaching Experience – publications within these topics

• Oral Mucosal Diseases and Barrier functions
• Medical diseases with oral manifestations
• Identification and treatment of the medical risk patient
• Health Informatics and technology
• Health and research laws
• Research Methodology

• Professor and Head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health at Riga Stradiņš University, Head of the Clinic of Therapeutic Stomatology in the RSU Stomatology Institute
• President of the Latvian Dental Association, member of the certification commission and work expertise and quality control commission
• Member of the International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy

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• Defended dissertation "Guidelines for oral disease prevention programs for schools" and received a doctor degree in medical sciences
• Regularly participates in international and local scientific conferences, clinical courses and seminars, constantly adding to practical and theoretical knowledge, introducing the world's best practices and the latest methods in the Clinic of Therapeutic Stomatology
• Author and co-author of scientific publications, participated in several international projects and projects of Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia

Vilma Brukienė is a Professor and Head of the Institute of Dentistry Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University (Lithuania). As a paediatric dentist, she has been working in the field of dental caries prevention in children, adolescents and handicapped children.

• In 2007 Brukienė defended her PhD thesis "Dental status of 15–16 year old Lithuanian adolescents" 
• 2007–2008 – Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)
• In 2010, Brukienė was awarded the Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professional Development Award to visit the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA)

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• Brukienė is a member of European Association for Dental Public Health, Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), member of editorial board of the journal Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal
• Since 2012, member of the Council of Lithuanian Dental Chamber. 2012–2016 –  chairwoman of the Committee for Coordinating of Preventive Programmes at the Lithuanian Dental Chamber, 2016–2020 Vice-President of Lithuanian Dental Chamber; since 2020 – President of Lithuanian Dental Chamber
• 2018–2020 – Chair of the Dental Study Committee at Medical Faculty, Vilnius University
• 2019–2020 – Board Member and Vice-President of Scandinavian Division (NOF) of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
• 2022–2023 – President-elect of Scandinavian Division (NOF) of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR)

Dr Ulvi Gürsoy is the head of the Periodontology department at the University of Turku, Finland. He received his DDS from Gazi University, Turkey in 1998 and accomplished his PhD in periodontology in Cumhuriyet University, Turkey in 2004. He started his post-doctoral training in University of Helsinki, Finland and National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland in 2005. In 2009, he was appointed as university teacher at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. He received his associate professorship at the same university in 2010 and his lecturer position in 2012, and promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2018.

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He is serving as the director of Finnish Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS Turku), president of the Scandinavian Society of Periodontology and secretary general of the Scandinavian Division (NOF) of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR).

His main research interests are oral immunology and analyses of salivary components in diagnosis of periodontitis.

D.D.S., Dr. med. sc, Dr. philos., MOrthRCSEd Gundega Jākobsone graduated cum laude in Dentistry (DDS) at the Riga Medical Academy, Latvia, in 1995. She received postgraduate training and Doctor of the Medical sciences (Dr. med. sc.) at Riga Stradins University, Latvia. In 2014 she defended thesis for the degree of Dr. philos. at the Oslo University. She holds Membership in Orthodontics of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 2003. Presently she is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Orthodontics, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia.

She has published several articles in the international orthodontic journals in the field of orthognathic surgery, 3D evaluation of the upper airways, 3D facial scans and treatment with fixed functional appliances. The studies were conducted in cooperation with several universities world wide.

Maija Pozemkovska (Anže) is a medical historian. Assistant Professor at RSU, the Institute of the History of Medicine (since 2005), and a guest lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (since 2008), Dr. med. in the History of Medicine (2004), and a Master of History (1996).

• Graduated from the University of Latvia (1991), Historian and Teacher of History and Social studies
• President of the Association of Latvian Medical Historians (since 2006)
• Member of the International Society of History of Medicine (ISHM) and ICOMOS
• Publications on the Latvian medical history

• Dean of the Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
• Head of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
• Professor at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) Kauno klinikos

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Professional specialization fields

• Bone reconstruction and Implantation
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) surgery
• Orthognathic surgery
• Reconstructive surgery and oral rehabilitation

Professional membership

• Member and representative in Lithuania of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Member of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Maxillofacial Surgeons

Education

• 2021 – pedagogical title of professor
• 2017–2019 – Master’s degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, Kaunas University of Technology
• 2005 – PhD degree at Kaunas Medical University for defending theses on the Diagnostics of Mandibular Angle Fractures, their Clinical Peculiarities and the Effectiveness of Treatment.
• 2002–2005 – PhD study at Kaunas Medical University
• 2000–2002 – third-cycle residency in Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery at Kaunas Medical University
• 1998–2000 – secondary residency in Oral surgery at Kaunas Medical University
• 1997–1998 – Intern primary residency in Kaunas Kalnieciai Clinic
• 1992–1997 – Faculty of Stomatology, Kaunas Medical University

My laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of initial bacterial attachment to teeth, tissue, or biomaterial surfaces in the mouth. We try to unravel the molecular mechanisms of how glycoproteins in saliva or on host cells are recognized by glycan-binding microbial adhesins. It is our long-term goal to better understand the modulating role of saliva in supporting colonization of the human oral cavity by a benign commensal microbiota, and in host defense against pathogenic microorganisms. More recently, our research involves the investigation of evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped host-microbial interactions in the human mouth.

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Detailed description of our current research activities

Education and Training

• Professor (C3), Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Universität Regensburg (2004)
• Privatdozent, venia legendi, Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Universität Regensburg, (venia legendi) (2000)
• PhD, Dr. med. dent., Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Magna Cum Laude (1988)
• DDS, Dentistry, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (1984)

Employment

• Associate Chair, Oral Biology, University at Buffalo (2019-present)
• Adjunct Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo (2016-present)
• Professor, Oral Biology, University at Buffalo (2015-present)

Egita Senakola is an Associate Professor at the RSU Department of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health. She obtained Doctor of Medical Sciences degree in 1998, defending her PhD dissertation "Testing toothpastes containing biologically active substances in the prevention and treatment of gingivitis in adolescents". Since 1995, she has been Head of the RSU Institute of Stomatology Oral Health Center and the Head of the RSU Academic School of Dental Hygiene.

She has lead international and local projects, been a lead researcher in clinical studies, and the author of many scientific publications.

Una Soboļeva graduated from the Faculty of Stomatology of the Rīga Medical Academy in 1991. From 1995 to 1997, she received post-graduate education at the University of Oslo (Norway) for research work, defending the MSc scientific degree and specializing in prosthetic dentistry. She obtained a doctorate in medical sciences (Dr.med.) at Rīga Stradiņš University. Currently, she is an acting associate professor at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at Rīga Stradiņš University and head of that department. She leads the residency study programme in prosthetic dentistry.

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Una Soboļeva has published several articles in international publications about dysfunctions of the masticatory system, the possibilities of prosthetics for jaws without teeth and adhesive technologies. She took part in both the international project on the unity of continuing education of dentists in the European Union and the publication of the project results.

• Assistant professor at Rīga Stradiņš University's Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Member of Society of Anaesthesiologists and Reanimatologists of Latvia
• Researcher in several Latvia and Europe scientific projects
• Horizon 2020 project 'Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE)', scientific director at Rīga Stradiņš University Institute of Stomatology

CV

CV

MD, Med Lic, PhD Ülle Voog-Oras graduated from Tartu Univeristy, Estonia and acquired her Medical degree in 1992. In 1993 she completed internship and in 1997 residentship in the field of prosthetic dentistry at the same university. In 2000 she obtained the Licentiate degree at the Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and in 2003, as a follow-up, defended the PhD degree  at the same institute.

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Since 1993 Ülle Voog-Oras has been working as a general dentist and since 1997 focusing mainly on the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscle disorders. She has been working at the Univeristy of Tartu since 2004 and is currently holding positions of associate professor of Stomatognathic Physiology and the head of the Insitute of Dentistry, Univeristy of Tartu.

Honours / Awards

• Estonian Academy of Sciences II prize for Licentiate thesis (2001)
• Award for the Best Article Published in the year 2004 in Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, Julius von Szymanowski name's award for the best scientific article (2005)
• Tartu University Foundation, the memorial scholarship of Ernst Jaakson (2007)
• 3rd Baltic Scientific Conference in Dentistry, the best poster presentation (2008)

• Best Paper Winner BSCOSO (2015)

Research and administrative experience

• 2019−...    Nordisk Odontologisk Förening – Scandinavian Association for Dental Research Board Member for Estonia
• 2006-2010 and 2012- council member of Estonian Dental Association
• 2005−...    Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal "Stomatologija" editorial staff member
• 2004−...    Estonian Association for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• 2004−...    Estonian Pain Society
• 2003−...    International Association for Dental Research;
• 2003−...    International Association for Dental Research Neuroscience group member
• 2002−...    Baltic Association for Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery
• 1992−...   Estonian Dental Association

Ülle Voog-Oras’s research interest is focused on the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles with main emphases on the pain, mediatoris of inflammation, genetic background of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the health risks of ageing population and the efficasy of different treatment modalities.

Ülle Voog-Oras has supervised 2 PhD degrees and 3 MSc degrees which were all successfully defended.

Ülle Voog-Oras has written more than 70 scientific publications and she is a co-author of four books.