Junior Committee

Our vision

to give young scientists and clinicians a voice within the association, and to provide a platform enabling them to implement fresh ideas and share new perspectives, in order to raise the profile of emerging talent and ensure the EAO represents all age groups within the dental community.

Lucrezia Paterno-Holtzman (Italy)

Chair

Lucrezia Paterno Holtzman graduated from dental school in Rome, Italy, at the Sacred Heart Catholic University cum laude. She then completed a full-time 3 year periodontal and implant training in Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston USA in 2016. In the same year she completed a Master of Science (MSc) program at the same institution. Thereafter she completed the Implant Periodontal Prosthodontics Fellowship in Baltimore at the University of Maryland (USA).

Lucrezia Paterno Holtzman graduated from dental school in Rome, Italy, at the Sacred Heart Catholic University cum laude. She then completed a full-time 3 year periodontal and implant training in Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston USA in 2016. In the same year she completed a Master of Science (MSc) program at the same institution.

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EAO ADVISORS

Maria-Angeliki Alexopoulou (Greece)

Advisor

Marianzela Alexopoulou is an EFP Board Certified Periodontist, and she maintains a private practice limited to Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in Patras. She is also an associate at a private practice in Brussels limited to Periodontology and Dental Implants as well. Her scientific interest focus on immediate implant in the posterior region combined with alveolar ridge preservation, but also the bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and general health.

Marianzela Alexopoulou is an EFP Board Certified Periodontist, and she maintains a private practice limited to Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in Patras. She is also an associate at a private practice in Brussels limited to Periodontology and Dental Implants as well.

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Kathrin Becker (Germany)

Advisor

Kathrin Becker works as senior physician at the Department of Orthodontics at the University Hospital in Düsseldorf. She studied dentistry and computer science, obtained her doctorate in 2014, completed her residency in orthodontics in 2018 and habilitated in dental, oral and maxillofacial medicine in 2019. She received a call to become full professor and chairperson of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Charité (Berlin, Germany) in 2023, and is expected to start her new position there in October 2023.

Kathrin Becker works as senior physician at the Department of Orthodontics at the University Hospital in Düsseldorf. She studied dentistry and computer science, obtained her doctorate in 2014, completed her residency in orthodontics in 2018 and habilitated in dental, oral and maxillofacial medicine in 2019.

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Balazs Feher (Austria)

Advisor

Balazs Feher is the Osteology Research Scholar at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA, USA, as well as a Lecturer in Oral Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna in Vienna, Austria. His clinical research concentrates on the application of data science and artificial intelligence in oral surgery, while his preclinical research focuses on osteocytic signaling and bone regeneration.

Balazs Feher is the Osteology Research Scholar at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA, USA, as well as a Lecturer in Oral Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna in Vienna, Austria.

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Alfonso Gil (Spain)

Advisor

DDS Degree with highest honors from the University of the Basque Country (2008-2013). Advanced Periodontology Specialization Program and Master of Science from the University of Southern California (USC)(2013-2016). Specialization in Advanced Surgical Implant Dentistry from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (2016-2017). Board Certified and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2017.

DDS Degree with highest honors from the University of the Basque Country (2008-2013). Advanced Periodontology Specialization Program and Master of Science from the University of Southern California (USC)(2013-2016).

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Viraj Patel (United Kingdom)

Advisor

Viraj Patel received his Bachelors in Dental Surgery in Wales, UK. Since then, he has undertaken various surgical roles including positions in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. His passion for implants took him to New York University, USA in 2018 where he obtained his Advanced Certificate in Implant Dentistry following 2 years of full time training. Since returning back to the UK he predominantly spends his time in multiple private practices in London carrying out implant treatment.

Viraj Patel received his Bachelors in Dental Surgery in Wales, UK. Since then, he has undertaken various surgical roles including positions in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. His passion for implants took him to New York University, USA in 2018 where he obtained his Advanced Certificate in Implant Dentistry following 2 years of full time training.

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Miha Pirc (Slovenia)

Advisor

Dr. Miha Pirc is a specialist in periodontology, and a resident of prosthodontics and implantology. In 2015, he earned his degree from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and enriched his expertise with advanced studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany. His unwavering passion for education brought him back to the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he pursued a specialization program in periodontics.

Dr. Miha Pirc is a specialist in periodontology, and a resident of prosthodontics and implantology. In 2015, he earned his degree from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and enriched his expertise with advanced studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany.

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João Pitta (Switzerland)

Advisor

Senior Lecturer and responsible of undergraduate fixed prosthodontics education and supervisor of postgraduate students at Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials of University of Geneva. Specialist in Reconstructive Dentistry (Swiss Society Reconstructive Dentistry) and in Prosthodontics (European Prosthodontic Association. Master of Advanced studies and Doctorate from University of Geneva. Dental degree from University of Lisbon.

Senior Lecturer and responsible of undergraduate fixed prosthodontics education and supervisor of postgraduate students at Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials of University of Geneva. Specialist in Reconstructive Dentistry (Swiss Society Reconstructive Dentistry) and in Prosthodontics (European Prosthodontic Association.

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EAO OFFICE

Sophie Maupoil

Association Manager

s.maupoil@eao.org

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Ignacio Sanz Sanchez (Spain)

Chair

Degree in dentistry by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). Master in dental sciences by the UCM. Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) by the UCM. Certificate: “The Board in periodontology of the postgraduate education committee of the European Federation of Periodontology”. Pre-doctoral scholarship for the training of the university faculty (FPU) from the UCM 2009-2012. Publications in national and international journals. Lecturer in national and international conferences. Private practice in periodontics and dental implants. Collaborating professor of the master in periodontics and dental implants of the UCM. Coordinator of the third-year course (dental implantology). Collaborating professor of the master in restorative dentistry based on new technologies of the UCM. Coordinator of the periodontology and dental implantology sections. Associated Professor of Periodontics in the UCM. Member from the SEPA Foundation. President of the Junior Committee of the European Association for osseointegration (EAO). Member of the Osteology Foundation Expert Council.

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Maria-Angeliki Alexopoulou (Greece)

Advisor

Marianzela Alexopoulou is an EFP Board Certified Periodontist, and she maintains a private practice limited to Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in Patras. She is also an associate at a private practice in Brussels limited to Periodontology and Dental Implants as well.Her scientific interest focus on immediate implant in the posterior region combined with alveolar ridge preservation, but also the bidirectional relationship between periodontal disease and general health.

From 2017-2022 was an active member of the Belgian Society of Periodontology and from 2022 till now is a member of the Hellenic Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. In 2021 she became a member of the Junior Committee of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO).

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Kathrin Becker (Germany)

Advisor

Kathrin Becker works as senior physician at the Department of Orthodontics at the University Hospital in Düsseldorf. She studied dentistry and computer science, obtained her doctorate in 2014, completed her residency in orthodontics in 2018 and habilitated in dental, oral and maxillofacial medicine in 2019. She received a call to become full professor and chairperson of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Charité (Berlin, Germany) in 2023, and is expected to start her new position there in October 2023.

She is co-editor in chief of the Journals “Clinical and Experimental Dental Research” (Wiley) and “Informationen aus Orthodontie & Kieferorthopädie” (Thieme), and Editorial Board Member of three international, peer-reviewed journals, as well as committee member in various international societies including the EAO. Her research interests include digital dentistry, skeletal anchorage, aligner therapy, 3D-dental imaging and radiation protection.

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Balazs Feher (Austria)

Advisor


Balazs Feher is the Osteology Research Scholar at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA, USA, as well as a Lecturer in Oral Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna in Vienna, Austria. His clinical research concentrates on the application of data science and artificial intelligence in oral surgery, while his preclinical research focuses on osteocytic signaling and bone regeneration. He lectures internationally and teaches oral surgery at the graduate and postgraduate levels.

Balazs is a contributing member of the International Telecommunications Union–World Health Organization Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health, where he leads the subtopic Oral Surgery of the Topic Group Dentistry with Ulrike Kuchler. He further serves on the Junior Committee of the European Association for Osseointegration. In 2018, he was awarded the European Prize for Research in Implant Dentistry, where he represents Austria.

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Lucrezia Paterno-Holtzman (Italy)

Chair


Lucrezia Paterno Holtzman graduated from dental school in Rome, Italy, at the Sacred Heart Catholic University cum laude. She then completed a full-time 3 year periodontal and implant training in Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston USA in 2016. In the same year she completed a Master of Science (MSc) program at the same institution. Thereafter she completed the Implant Periodontal Prosthodontics Fellowship in Baltimore at the University of Maryland (USA). She is a licensed diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology since 2018.

She was the recipient of an ITI scholarship in Rome, (Italy) in 2017 at the George Eastman Dental Hospital where she currently works part-time as a research assistant while working in private practice as a periodontist and implant specialist.Since 2019 she has been a member of the Junior Committee and has been co-chair since 2021.She is also a certified member of the Italian Society of Periodontology, a founding member of the young ITI global and a co-director of the ITI Rome study club.

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João Pitta (Switzerland)

Advisor

Senior Lecturer and responsible of undergraduate fixed prosthodontics education and supervisor of postgraduate students at Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials of University of Geneva. Specialist in Reconstructive Dentistry (Swiss Society Reconstructive Dentistry) and in Prosthodon- tics (European Prosthodontic Association. Master of Advanced studies and Doctorate from University of Geneva. Dental degree from University of Lisbon. Member of EAO Junior Committee. Author of numerous publications in international peer-reviewed journals in the fields of fixed prosthodontics, implant dentistry and digital technologies.

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Alfonso Gil (Spain)

Advisor

– DDS Degree with highest honors from the University of the Basque Country (2008-2013).
– Advanced Periodontology Specialization Program and Master of Science from the University of Southern California (USC) (2013-2016).
-Specialization in Advanced Surgical Implant Dentistry from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (2016-2017).
– Board Certified and Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2017.
– Specialization program in Reconstructive Dentistry and Master of Implantology (MAS) at the Clinic of Reconstructive Dentistry in the University of Zurich: 2 years of Research Assistant and 3 years as an Assistant in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Dental Material Sciences (2017-2022).
– PhD in the University International of Catalunya 2019 with the doctoral thesis project of VISTA root coverage on teeth.
– Co-Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry.
– EAO Advisor and Ambassador for Spain; SEPES Board Member; EAED communication committee
– Research focused on periodontology, implantology and prosthodontics: 12 publications in indexed dental journals and 3 books chapters.

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Viraj Patel (United Kingdom)

Advisor

Viraj Patel received his Bachelors in Dental Surgery in Wales, UK. Since then, he has undertaken various surgical roles including positions in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. His passion for implants took him to New York University, USA in 2018 where he obtained his Advanced Certificate in Implant Dentistry following 2 years of full time training. Since returning back to the UK he predominantly spends his time in multiple private practices in London carrying out implant treatment. His specialty area is Regenerative Implant Dentistry mainly centered around Hard Tissue Augmentation and he is lecturing and presenting nationally and internationally on this topic.

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Miha Pirc (Slovenia)

Advisor

Dr. Miha Pirc is a specialist in periodontology, and a resident of prosthodontics and implantology. In 2015, he earned his degree from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and enriched his expertise with advanced studies at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany
His unwavering passion for education brought him back to the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he pursued a specialization program in periodontics. As an Osteology Foundation Scholar, he joined the Department of Reconstructive Dentistry at the University of Zürich.

Currently, Dr. Pirc is advancing his professional credentials by concurrently pursuing a postgraduate program in prosthodontics and completing a master’s degree in implantology.