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MEET OUR SPEAKERS

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Dr. Tammarie Heit, DDS

Dr. Heit is a clinical general dentist who practices all areas of general dentistry with a special interest of cranio facial development and optimization in patients of all ages. In her 25 year career, her major accomplishment is the practice of cranio facial sleep medicine to reduce, eliminate and prevent obstructive sleep apnea and pain along with general dentistry in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is a published author, an international speaker and a clinical scientist and researcher collaboratively with medical specialists. She is an Integrated Clinical Advisor in the Vivos® Integrated Healthcare Network where she leads a multidisciplinary team of medical doctors, general dentists, and their staff.

A frequent consultant at Vivos Therapeutics Inc and on the clinical advisory board at the inception of the company, she works with clinicians from around the world to conduct certified research and develop clinical protocols for the treatment of cranio facial developmental deficiencies that can result in sleep apnea and cranio facial pain.


Dr. Heit has achieved her Mastership at the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics in Nagano, Japan in 2010 with the thesis ‘Neuromuscular Orthotics in the treatment of Craniomandibular disorders and the effects on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.’ Dr. Heit is on the board of Regents at The international College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics, is head of the mastership committee and is on track for incoming president. Dr. Heit practices collaboratively with all specialties in Medicine and promotes multidisciplinary collaboration in the clinic as an effective tool to help patients in all practices.
Dr. Heit promotes collaboration between clinicians and academics and appreciates all roles as vital for progress in any and all fields of study for the simplest, safest and most effective treatments for patients.

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Dr. Bahar Esmaili, DDS

Dr. Esmaili grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when she was 20 years old to peruse her dream of becoming a doctor. Since graduating with honors from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2009, she has completed numerous advanced Continuing Education courses in the fields of craniofacial pain, TMJ disorder, and airway development, and currently focuses her clinical practice on the connection between oral and whole-body health.

She holds the prestigious position of being one of 24 North American consultants with 3M as part of the Council of Innovative Dentistry. She also serves as a member of educational committee at American Academy of Craniofacial Pain ( AACP).

More than just a practitioner, she is a passionate educator and goes out of her way to help her patients understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of the issues for which they’re seeking help. She is a certified personal trainer, specializing in posture corrective and is passionate about interconnectedness of the human body – from head & neck posture to jaw joint alignment to facial muscle tonicity to gait. In light of her profound realization that straight teeth cannot functional on crooked faces, she is on a mission to enlighten practitioners of all kinds of their ability to impact compensatory mechanisms that ultimately lead to the breakdown of our bodies and our health. She is eager to inspire patients and professionals alike to join her on her journey. 

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Dr. Manisha Witmans BSc Med, MD, FRCPC, FAASM

Dr. Witmans is a Board Certified Sleep Specialist who also subspecializes in pediatric pulmonology. Originally from Slave Lake, Alberta, Dr. Witmans completed her medical training at the University of Saskatchewan, her residency in Pediatrics and her Fellowship in Pediatric Respirology at the University of Calgary, Alberta Children’s Hospital. She subsequently completed additional fellowship training in Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
After returning to Alberta, she developed the pediatric sleep program at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. Currently, she is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and has a busy private practice office in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Her expertise in sleep medicine have enabled her to play an integral part in the development of the current international guidelines on the use of polysomnography in pediatric respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.
She has several publications and collaborations to her name, and is a sought-after journal and grant reviewer. She is involved with numerous committees to help address sleep problems in children nationally and internationally. Dr. Witmans is also involved in various research projects involving pediatric sleep medicine.

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Dr. Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC

Board certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABOIM, is deeply committed to expanding integrative medicine, education, and research globally. A leading proponent of integrative medicine, she serves on the founding board of the American Board of Physician Specialties in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). She is cofounder and has been medical director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc., at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in La Jolla, CA, since 2014, where she leads a team of experts in conventional, integrative, and natural medicine. Dr. Guarneri is cofounder and treasurer of Miraglo Foundation, a nonprofit public charity providing integrative medicine education and research and serving the underserved in the US and globally.

A clinical associate professor at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), she is also president of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and past president of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). She served as senior advisor to the Atlantic Health System for the Chambers Center for Well Being, among other healthcare system advisory positions. Her television special, “Live Better Now with Mimi Guarneri, MD,” airs in 2019 and 2020 at hundreds of public television stations across the US.

Dr. Guarneri was an English literature major as an undergraduate at New York University. Her medical degree is from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, where she graduated number one in her class. Dr. Guarneri served her internship and residency at Cornell Medical Center, where she later became chief medical resident. She served cardiology fellowships at both New York University Medical Center and Scripps Clinic in California. She is a fellow member of the American College of Cardiology, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the American Medical Women’s Association, as well as a fellow of the American College of Nutrition.

She cofounded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and served as medical director for 15 years. She began her career at Scripps Clinic as an attending in interventional cardiology, where she placed thousands of coronary stents. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and more holistic approach to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Guarneri pioneered the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, where state-of-the-art cardiac imaging technology and lifestyle change programs are used to aggressively diagnose, prevent, and treat cardiovascular disease. Her current integrative health and wellness center at Pacific Pearl La Jolla has received recognition as Best of La Jolla for several consecutive years and is widely sought for clinical rotations and as a model for practice transformation.

Dr. Guarneri’s book, 108 Pearls to Awaken Your Healing Potential, was published by Hay House in 2017, and she is the professor of “The Science of Natural Healing,” a 24-lecture video set from The Great Courses. She is the author of The Heart Speaks (2006) and co-author of Total Engagement: The Healthcare Practitioner’s Guide to Heal Yourself, Your Patients & Your Practice (2014).

Dr. Guarneri is an internationally sought speaker and educator. She was an invited presenter in November of 2017 for two international conferences on integrative health and medicine in Brazil and at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ conference on global health. An annual featured speaker at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine’s conference in San Diego, CA, she continues to advise, lead, and present at national integrative healthcare conferences. She also offers professional development programs to healthcare providers for integrative medicine.

Dr. Guarneri was recognized for leadership in integrative medicine by the Bravewell Collaborative and served as founding chair of the Bravewell Clinical Network for Integrative Medicine. She has garnered numerous awards, including the ARCS Foundation Scientist of the Year. In 2011, she was won the Bravewell Physician Leadership Award, which honors a physician leader who has made significant contributions to the transformation of the US healthcare system. She received the 2012 Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award from The Institute for Functional Medicine and the Grace A. Goldsmith award from the American College of Nutrition. Ranked as the number one female physician practicing integrative medicine by Newsmax in 2015, Dr. Guarneri was also honored with San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year Awards as Health and Wellness Pioneer 2016 for her outstanding leadership. In 2018, she received the Donna Feeley Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association’s Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices section. For more information, please visit MimiGuarneriMD.com or PacificPearlLaJolla.com.

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Dr. Kathleen S. Carson, DDS

Kathleen Carson, DDS, has been providing whole body health dentistry to patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for over two decades. About 18 years ago, she became intently focused on airway health and its effects on the entire body. Dr. Carson has extensive knowledge of the effects unhealthy breathing can have on our overall health and its intimate connection with the development of the orofacial structure. There has been high demand to share this knowledge with both her patients and other professionals.

Dr. Carson graduated cum Laude from the UCLA School of Dentistry and served a general practice residency with the Veterans Administration in Sepulveda. Dr. Carson earned her fellowship in neuromuscular/physiological dentistry as well as in Buteyko Breathing. She serves on the board of the AAPMD (American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry), is a clinical advisor for Vivos Therapeutics, and is on faculty with TAO method (TMJ, Airway, Orthodontics) through Gelb Practice Solutions.

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Dr. Kassi Klein, DDS

A West Texas native, Dr. Klein’s childhood passion for helping others look and feel their best ultimately led her to dentistry. After attending Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Dr. Klein earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Klein has practiced general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and airway-centered dentistry in the Houston area for the last seven years and is proud to call Spring, Texas, her newly adopted hometown. Dr. Klein completed the 2017 Texas AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry. This is a full-year course study in all phases of implant dentistry. She completed over 300 hours of surgical and didactic implantology education as a part of this program. In addition, she has successfully completed Part 1 of the examination toward becoming an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When Dr. Klein’s not using her artistic talents to reveal dazzling smiles, this self-proclaimed beauty product enthusiast can be found experimenting with the latest in makeup trends or pulling up a chair at a quiet wine tasting. That is, of course, when she’s not relaxing with her husband, Mike, son, Gavin, and baby girl, Sophie, during a Texas Tech football game. Go, Red Raiders!

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Dr. Brenda Donato, DMD

My Mission
“A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson

To help my patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health in a comfortable, caring, compassionate, friendly and professional environment. I am committed to continually updating my training and education in order to improve the quality of care I provide.

Education
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Doctor of Dental Surgery (2003)

Marquette University School of Dentistry
(1995-1998)

Marquette University – Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Science (1995)

Professional Memberships & Continuing Education
Academy of General Dentistry 
American Academy of Cosmetic Orthodontics
American Academy of Facial Esthetics
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
River Valley Dental Association
American Academy of Craniofacial Pain TMD/Sleep Residency
Invisalign Regional Doctor Mentor
AIR Institute Residency

I have been a dentist for 20 years and have received extensive training in Sleep Medicine, Cosmetics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Facial Esthetics and Invisalign so that I can provide comprehensive care in one convenient location. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Work brought me to Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2009, and it has become our home. I am committed to creating memories with my husband, our four kids, and our 6 dogs! I love to travel, cook, and grow our food in our small homestead!

Dr. Paul H. Nguyen

Dr. Paul H. Nguyen, MD, MS

Dr. Anne D'Avanzo RDH, QOM

Leigh Anne D'Avanzo RDH, QOM

Dr. Jonelle Crichton

Dr. Jonelle Crichton

DrBainCircle

Dr. Deborah Z. Bain, MD

Dr. Anissa Holmes

Dr. Anissa Holmes

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Dr. Kathleen Carson

Kathleen Carson, DDS, has been providing whole body health dentistry to patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for over two decades. About 18 years ago, she became intently focused on airway health and its effects on the entire body. Dr. Carson has extensive knowledge of the effects unhealthy breathing can have on our overall health and its intimate connection with the development of the orofacial structure. There has been high demand to share this knowledge with both her patients and other professionals.

Dr. Carson graduated cum Laude from the UCLA School of Dentistry and served a general practice residency with the Veterans Administration in Sepulveda. Dr. Carson earned her fellowship in neuromuscular/physiological dentistry as well as in Buteyko Breathing. She serves on the board of the AAPMD (American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry), is a clinical advisor for Vivos Therapeutics, and is on faculty with TAO method (TMJ, Airway, Orthodontics) through Gelb Practice Solutions.

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Kassi Klein, DDS

A West Texas native, Dr. Klein’s childhood passion for helping others look and feel their best ultimately led her to dentistry. After attending Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Dr. Klein earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Klein has practiced general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and airway-centered dentistry in the Houston area for the last seven years and is proud to call Spring, Texas, her newly adopted hometown. Dr. Klein completed the 2017 Texas AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry. This is a full-year course study in all phases of implant dentistry. She completed over 300 hours of surgical and didactic implantology education as a part of this program. In addition, she has successfully completed Part 1 of the examination toward becoming an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When Dr. Klein’s not using her artistic talents to reveal dazzling smiles, this self-proclaimed beauty product enthusiast can be found experimenting with the latest in makeup trends or pulling up a chair at a quiet wine tasting. That is, of course, when she’s not relaxing with her husband, Mike, son, Gavin, and baby girl, Sophie, during a Texas Tech football game. Go, Red Raiders!

4

Dr. Tammarie Heit, DDS

Dr. Heit is a clinical general dentist who practices all areas of general dentistry with a special interest of cranio facial development and optimization in patients of all ages. In her 25 year career, her major accomplishment is the practice of cranio facial sleep medicine to reduce, eliminate and prevent obstructive sleep apnea and pain along with general dentistry in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She is a published author, an international speaker and a clinical scientist and researcher collaboratively with medical specialists. She is an Integrated Clinical Advisor in the Vivos® Integrated Healthcare Network where she leads a multidisciplinary team of medical doctors, general dentists, and their staff.

A frequent consultant at Vivos Therapeutics Inc and on the clinical advisory board at the inception of the company, she works with clinicians from around the world to conduct certified research and develop clinical protocols for the treatment of cranio facial developmental deficiencies that can result in sleep apnea and cranio facial pain.


Dr. Heit has achieved her Mastership at the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics in Nagano, Japan in 2010 with the thesis ‘Neuromuscular Orthotics in the treatment of Craniomandibular disorders and the effects on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.’ Dr. Heit is on the board of Regents at The international College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics, is head of the mastership committee and is on track for incoming president. Dr. Heit practices collaboratively with all specialties in Medicine and promotes multidisciplinary collaboration in the clinic as an effective tool to help patients in all practices.
Dr. Heit promotes collaboration between clinicians and academics and appreciates all roles as vital for progress in any and all fields of study for the simplest, safest and most effective treatments for patients.

2

Dr. Bahar Esmaili, DDS

Dr. Esmaili grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when she was 20 years old to peruse her dream of becoming a doctor. Since graduating with honors from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2009, she has completed numerous advanced Continuing Education courses in the fields of craniofacial pain, TMJ disorder, and airway development, and currently focuses her clinical practice on the connection between oral and whole-body health.

She holds the prestigious position of being one of 24 North American consultants with 3M as part of the Council of Innovative Dentistry. She also serves as a member of educational committee at American Academy of Craniofacial Pain ( AACP).

More than just a practitioner, she is a passionate educator and goes out of her way to help her patients understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of the issues for which they’re seeking help. She is a certified personal trainer, specializing in posture corrective and is passionate about interconnectedness of the human body – from head & neck posture to jaw joint alignment to facial muscle tonicity to gait. In light of her profound realization that straight teeth cannot functional on crooked faces, she is on a mission to enlighten practitioners of all kinds of their ability to impact compensatory mechanisms that ultimately lead to the breakdown of our bodies and our health. She is eager to inspire patients and professionals alike to join her on her journey. 

Headshot Manisha Witmans 1

Dr. Manisha Witmans BSc Med, MD, FRCPC, FAASM

Dr. Witmans is a Board Certified Sleep Specialist who also subspecializes in pediatric pulmonology. Originally from Slave Lake, Alberta, Dr. Witmans completed her medical training at the University of Saskatchewan, her residency in Pediatrics and her Fellowship in Pediatric Respirology at the University of Calgary, Alberta Children’s Hospital. She subsequently completed additional fellowship training in Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
After returning to Alberta, she developed the pediatric sleep program at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. Currently, she is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and has a busy private practice office in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Her expertise in sleep medicine have enabled her to play an integral part in the development of the current international guidelines on the use of polysomnography in pediatric respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.
She has several publications and collaborations to her name, and is a sought-after journal and grant reviewer. She is involved with numerous committees to help address sleep problems in children nationally and internationally. Dr. Witmans is also involved in various research projects involving pediatric sleep medicine.

5

Dr. Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC

Board certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABOIM, is deeply committed to expanding integrative medicine, education, and research globally. A leading proponent of integrative medicine, she serves on the founding board of the American Board of Physician Specialties in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). She is cofounder and has been medical director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc., at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in La Jolla, CA, since 2014, where she leads a team of experts in conventional, integrative, and natural medicine. Dr. Guarneri is cofounder and treasurer of Miraglo Foundation, a nonprofit public charity providing integrative medicine education and research and serving the underserved in the US and globally.

A clinical associate professor at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), she is also president of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and past president of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). She served as senior advisor to the Atlantic Health System for the Chambers Center for Well Being, among other healthcare system advisory positions. Her television special, “Live Better Now with Mimi Guarneri, MD,” airs in 2019 and 2020 at hundreds of public television stations across the US.

Dr. Guarneri was an English literature major as an undergraduate at New York University. Her medical degree is from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, where she graduated number one in her class. Dr. Guarneri served her internship and residency at Cornell Medical Center, where she later became chief medical resident. She served cardiology fellowships at both New York University Medical Center and Scripps Clinic in California. She is a fellow member of the American College of Cardiology, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the American Medical Women’s Association, as well as a fellow of the American College of Nutrition.

She cofounded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and served as medical director for 15 years. She began her career at Scripps Clinic as an attending in interventional cardiology, where she placed thousands of coronary stents. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and more holistic approach to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Guarneri pioneered the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, where state-of-the-art cardiac imaging technology and lifestyle change programs are used to aggressively diagnose, prevent, and treat cardiovascular disease. Her current integrative health and wellness center at Pacific Pearl La Jolla has received recognition as Best of La Jolla for several consecutive years and is widely sought for clinical rotations and as a model for practice transformation.

Dr. Guarneri’s book, 108 Pearls to Awaken Your Healing Potential, was published by Hay House in 2017, and she is the professor of “The Science of Natural Healing,” a 24-lecture video set from The Great Courses. She is the author of The Heart Speaks (2006) and co-author of Total Engagement: The Healthcare Practitioner’s Guide to Heal Yourself, Your Patients & Your Practice (2014).

Dr. Guarneri is an internationally sought speaker and educator. She was an invited presenter in November of 2017 for two international conferences on integrative health and medicine in Brazil and at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ conference on global health. An annual featured speaker at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine’s conference in San Diego, CA, she continues to advise, lead, and present at national integrative healthcare conferences. She also offers professional development programs to healthcare providers for integrative medicine.

Dr. Guarneri was recognized for leadership in integrative medicine by the Bravewell Collaborative and served as founding chair of the Bravewell Clinical Network for Integrative Medicine. She has garnered numerous awards, including the ARCS Foundation Scientist of the Year. In 2011, she was won the Bravewell Physician Leadership Award, which honors a physician leader who has made significant contributions to the transformation of the US healthcare system. She received the 2012 Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award from The Institute for Functional Medicine and the Grace A. Goldsmith award from the American College of Nutrition. Ranked as the number one female physician practicing integrative medicine by Newsmax in 2015, Dr. Guarneri was also honored with San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year Awards as Health and Wellness Pioneer 2016 for her outstanding leadership. In 2018, she received the Donna Feeley Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association’s Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices section. For more information, please visit MimiGuarneriMD.com or PacificPearlLaJolla.com.

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Dr. Kathleen S. Carson, DDS

Kathleen Carson, DDS, has been providing whole body health dentistry to patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for over two decades. About 18 years ago, she became intently focused on airway health and its effects on the entire body. Dr. Carson has extensive knowledge of the effects unhealthy breathing can have on our overall health and its intimate connection with the development of the orofacial structure. There has been high demand to share this knowledge with both her patients and other professionals.

Dr. Carson graduated cum Laude from the UCLA School of Dentistry and served a general practice residency with the Veterans Administration in Sepulveda. Dr. Carson earned her fellowship in neuromuscular/physiological dentistry as well as in Buteyko Breathing. She serves on the board of the AAPMD (American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry), is a clinical advisor for Vivos Therapeutics, and is on faculty with TAO method (TMJ, Airway, Orthodontics) through Gelb Practice Solutions.

6

Dr. Kassi Klein, DDS

A West Texas native, Dr. Klein’s childhood passion for helping others look and feel their best ultimately led her to dentistry. After attending Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Dr. Klein earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Klein has practiced general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and airway-centered dentistry in the Houston area for the last seven years and is proud to call Spring, Texas, her newly adopted hometown. Dr. Klein completed the 2017 Texas AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry. This is a full-year course study in all phases of implant dentistry. She completed over 300 hours of surgical and didactic implantology education as a part of this program. In addition, she has successfully completed Part 1 of the examination toward becoming an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When Dr. Klein’s not using her artistic talents to reveal dazzling smiles, this self-proclaimed beauty product enthusiast can be found experimenting with the latest in makeup trends or pulling up a chair at a quiet wine tasting. That is, of course, when she’s not relaxing with her husband, Mike, son, Gavin, and baby girl, Sophie, during a Texas Tech football game. Go, Red Raiders!

Dra. Brenda Donato 1

Dr. Brenda Donato, DMD

My Mission
“A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson

To help my patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health in a comfortable, caring, compassionate, friendly and professional environment. I am committed to continually updating my training and education in order to improve the quality of care I provide.

Education
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Doctor of Dental Surgery (2003)

Marquette University School of Dentistry
(1995-1998)

Marquette University – Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Science (1995)

Professional Memberships & Continuing Education
Academy of General Dentistry 
American Academy of Cosmetic Orthodontics
American Academy of Facial Esthetics
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
River Valley Dental Association
American Academy of Craniofacial Pain TMD/Sleep Residency
Invisalign Regional Doctor Mentor
AIR Institute Residency

I have been a dentist for 20 years and have received extensive training in Sleep Medicine, Cosmetics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Facial Esthetics and Invisalign so that I can provide comprehensive care in one convenient location. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Work brought me to Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2009, and it has become our home. I am committed to creating memories with my husband, our four kids, and our 6 dogs! I love to travel, cook, and grow our food in our small homestead!

placeholder

Dr. Kathleen Carson

Kathleen Carson, DDS, has been providing whole body health dentistry to patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for over two decades. About 18 years ago, she became intently focused on airway health and its effects on the entire body. Dr. Carson has extensive knowledge of the effects unhealthy breathing can have on our overall health and its intimate connection with the development of the orofacial structure. There has been high demand to share this knowledge with both her patients and other professionals.

Dr. Carson graduated cum Laude from the UCLA School of Dentistry and served a general practice residency with the Veterans Administration in Sepulveda. Dr. Carson earned her fellowship in neuromuscular/physiological dentistry as well as in Buteyko Breathing. She serves on the board of the AAPMD (American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry), is a clinical advisor for Vivos Therapeutics, and is on faculty with TAO method (TMJ, Airway, Orthodontics) through Gelb Practice Solutions.

placeholder

Kassi Klein, DDS

A West Texas native, Dr. Klein’s childhood passion for helping others look and feel their best ultimately led her to dentistry. After attending Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Dr. Klein earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Klein has practiced general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and airway-centered dentistry in the Houston area for the last seven years and is proud to call Spring, Texas, her newly adopted hometown. Dr. Klein completed the 2017 Texas AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry. This is a full-year course study in all phases of implant dentistry. She completed over 300 hours of surgical and didactic implantology education as a part of this program. In addition, she has successfully completed Part 1 of the examination toward becoming an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When Dr. Klein’s not using her artistic talents to reveal dazzling smiles, this self-proclaimed beauty product enthusiast can be found experimenting with the latest in makeup trends or pulling up a chair at a quiet wine tasting. That is, of course, when she’s not relaxing with her husband, Mike, son, Gavin, and baby girl, Sophie, during a Texas Tech football game. Go, Red Raiders!

Course Objectives

  1. Learn how to diagnose a tongue restriction can affect the growth and development of the craniofacial region
  2. Learn the impact of an undergrown craniofacial complex on the health of the child
  3. Learn how you can help your patient collaboratively with medicine reverse disease from an undergrown craniofacial complex at any age
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Dr. Tammarie Heit, DDS

Dr. Witmans is a Board Certified Sleep Specialist who also subspecializes in pediatric pulmonology. Originally from Slave Lake, Alberta, Dr. Witmans completed her medical training at the University of Saskatchewan, her residency in Pediatrics and her Fellowship in Pediatric Respirology at the University of Calgary, Alberta Children’s Hospital. She subsequently completed additional fellowship training in Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
After returning to Alberta, she developed the pediatric sleep program at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. Currently, she is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and has a busy private practice office in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Her expertise in sleep medicine have enabled her to play an integral part in the development of the current international guidelines on the use of polysomnography in pediatric respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.
She has several publications and collaborations to her name, and is a sought-after journal and grant reviewer. She is involved with numerous committees to help address sleep problems in children nationally and internationally. Dr. Witmans is also involved in various research projects involving pediatric sleep medicine.

Dr. Bahar Esmaili, DDS

Dr. Esmaili grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when she was 20 years old to peruse her dream of becoming a doctor. Since graduating with honors from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2009, she has completed numerous advanced Continuing Education courses in the fields of craniofacial pain, TMJ disorder, and airway development, and currently focuses her clinical practice on the connection between oral and whole-body health.

She holds the prestigious position of being one of 24 North American consultants with 3M as part of the Council of Innovative Dentistry. She also serves as a member of educational committee at American Academy of Craniofacial Pain ( AACP).

More than just a practitioner, she is a passionate educator and goes out of her way to help her patients understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of the issues for which they’re seeking help. She is a certified personal trainer, specializing in posture corrective and is passionate about interconnectedness of the human body – from head & neck posture to jaw joint alignment to facial muscle tonicity to gait. In light of her profound realization that straight teeth cannot functional on crooked faces, she is on a mission to enlighten practitioners of all kinds of their ability to impact compensatory mechanisms that ultimately lead to the breakdown of our bodies and our health. She is eager to inspire patients and professionals alike to join her on her journey. 

Dr. Manisha Witmans BSc Med, MD, FRCPC, FAASM

Dr. Witmans is a Board Certified Sleep Specialist who also subspecializes in pediatric pulmonology. Originally from Slave Lake, Alberta, Dr. Witmans completed her medical training at the University of Saskatchewan, her residency in Pediatrics and her Fellowship in Pediatric Respirology at the University of Calgary, Alberta Children’s Hospital. She subsequently completed additional fellowship training in Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
After returning to Alberta, she developed the pediatric sleep program at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. Currently, she is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and has a busy private practice office in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Her expertise in sleep medicine have enabled her to play an integral part in the development of the current international guidelines on the use of polysomnography in pediatric respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.
She has several publications and collaborations to her name, and is a sought-after journal and grant reviewer. She is involved with numerous committees to help address sleep problems in children nationally and internationally. Dr. Witmans is also involved in various research projects involving pediatric sleep medicine.

Dr. Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC

Board certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABOIM, is deeply committed to expanding integrative medicine, education, and research globally. A leading proponent of integrative medicine, she serves on the founding board of the American Board of Physician Specialties in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). She is cofounder and has been medical director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc., at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in La Jolla, CA, since 2014, where she leads a team of experts in conventional, integrative, and natural medicine. Dr. Guarneri is cofounder and treasurer of Miraglo Foundation, a nonprofit public charity providing integrative medicine education and research and serving the underserved in the US and globally.

A clinical associate professor at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), she is also president of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and past president of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). She served as senior advisor to the Atlantic Health System for the Chambers Center for Well Being, among other healthcare system advisory positions. Her television special, “Live Better Now with Mimi Guarneri, MD,” airs in 2019 and 2020 at hundreds of public television stations across the US.

Dr. Guarneri was an English literature major as an undergraduate at New York University. Her medical degree is from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, where she graduated number one in her class. Dr. Guarneri served her internship and residency at Cornell Medical Center, where she later became chief medical resident. She served cardiology fellowships at both New York University Medical Center and Scripps Clinic in California. She is a fellow member of the American College of Cardiology, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the American Medical Women’s Association, as well as a fellow of the American College of Nutrition.

She cofounded the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and served as medical director for 15 years. She began her career at Scripps Clinic as an attending in interventional cardiology, where she placed thousands of coronary stents. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and more holistic approach to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Guarneri pioneered the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, where state-of-the-art cardiac imaging technology and lifestyle change programs are used to aggressively diagnose, prevent, and treat cardiovascular disease. Her current integrative health and wellness center at Pacific Pearl La Jolla has received recognition as Best of La Jolla for several consecutive years and is widely sought for clinical rotations and as a model for practice transformation.

Dr. Guarneri’s book, 108 Pearls to Awaken Your Healing Potential, was published by Hay House in 2017, and she is the professor of “The Science of Natural Healing,” a 24-lecture video set from The Great Courses. She is the author of The Heart Speaks (2006) and co-author of Total Engagement: The Healthcare Practitioner’s Guide to Heal Yourself, Your Patients & Your Practice (2014).

Dr. Guarneri is an internationally sought speaker and educator. She was an invited presenter in November of 2017 for two international conferences on integrative health and medicine in Brazil and at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ conference on global health. An annual featured speaker at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine’s conference in San Diego, CA, she continues to advise, lead, and present at national integrative healthcare conferences. She also offers professional development programs to healthcare providers for integrative medicine.

Dr. Guarneri was recognized for leadership in integrative medicine by the Bravewell Collaborative and served as founding chair of the Bravewell Clinical Network for Integrative Medicine. She has garnered numerous awards, including the ARCS Foundation Scientist of the Year. In 2011, she was won the Bravewell Physician Leadership Award, which honors a physician leader who has made significant contributions to the transformation of the US healthcare system. She received the 2012 Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award from The Institute for Functional Medicine and the Grace A. Goldsmith award from the American College of Nutrition. Ranked as the number one female physician practicing integrative medicine by Newsmax in 2015, Dr. Guarneri was also honored with San Diego Magazine’s Woman of the Year Awards as Health and Wellness Pioneer 2016 for her outstanding leadership. In 2018, she received the Donna Feeley Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association’s Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices section. For more information, please visit MimiGuarneriMD.com or PacificPearlLaJolla.com.

Dr. Kathleen S. Carson, DDS

Kathleen Carson, DDS, has been providing whole body health dentistry to patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for over two decades. About 18 years ago, she became intently focused on airway health and its effects on the entire body. Dr. Carson has extensive knowledge of the effects unhealthy breathing can have on our overall health and its intimate connection with the development of the orofacial structure. There has been high demand to share this knowledge with both her patients and other professionals.

Dr. Carson graduated cum Laude from the UCLA School of Dentistry and served a general practice residency with the Veterans Administration in Sepulveda. Dr. Carson earned her fellowship in neuromuscular/physiological dentistry as well as in Buteyko Breathing. She serves on the board of the AAPMD (American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry), is a clinical advisor for Vivos Therapeutics, and is on faculty with TAO method (TMJ, Airway, Orthodontics) through Gelb Practice Solutions.

Dr. Bahar Esmaili, DDS

A West Texas native, Dr. Klein’s childhood passion for helping others look and feel their best ultimately led her to dentistry. After attending Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Dr. Klein earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Dr. Klein has practiced general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and airway-centered dentistry in the Houston area for the last seven years and is proud to call Spring, Texas, her newly adopted hometown. Dr. Klein completed the 2017 Texas AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry. This is a full-year course study in all phases of implant dentistry. She completed over 300 hours of surgical and didactic implantology education as a part of this program. In addition, she has successfully completed Part 1 of the examination toward becoming an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When Dr. Klein’s not using her artistic talents to reveal dazzling smiles, this self-proclaimed beauty product enthusiast can be found experimenting with the latest in makeup trends or pulling up a chair at a quiet wine tasting. That is, of course, when she’s not relaxing with her husband, Mike, son, Gavin, and baby girl, Sophie, during a Texas Tech football game. Go, Red Raiders!

Dr. Brenda Donato, DMD

My Mission
“A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” – Tom Wilson

To help my patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health in a comfortable, caring, compassionate, friendly and professional environment. I am committed to continually updating my training and education in order to improve the quality of care I provide.

Education
University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Doctor of Dental Surgery (2003)

Marquette University School of Dentistry
(1995-1998)

Marquette University – Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Science (1995)

Professional Memberships & Continuing Education
Academy of General Dentistry 
American Academy of Cosmetic Orthodontics
American Academy of Facial Esthetics
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
River Valley Dental Association
American Academy of Craniofacial Pain TMD/Sleep Residency
Invisalign Regional Doctor Mentor
AIR Institute Residency

I have been a dentist for 20 years and have received extensive training in Sleep Medicine, Cosmetics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Facial Esthetics and Invisalign so that I can provide comprehensive care in one convenient location. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Work brought me to Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2009, and it has become our home. I am committed to creating memories with my husband, our four kids, and our 6 dogs! I love to travel, cook, and grow our food in our small homestead!

Dr. Paul H. Nguyen, MD, MS

Dr. Nguyen graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 1997. His rigorous training also included a postgraduate residency training in Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center where he received the distinguished “Resident of the Year Award” in two consecutive years and two distinguished “Scholar Award.” His dedication and commitment to higher education led him to seek further training in Cardiology at University of Missouri Kansas City, and Electrophysiology at the prestigious Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City. Dr. Nguyen’s passion for human service is highlighted by his compassion for patient care, belief in Women’s Health, commitment to clinical research in the areas of “Health Status Outcomes”, and relentless supporter of medical and clinical education.

Prior to Dr. Nguyen joining the staff at Provena Saint Joseph Hospital in 2006, he said “there was a void in electrophysiology (EP) services in areas of prevention, health status outcomes, and quality of life research.” He worked relentlessly every day to fill that void as the Director of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology at Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, while serving as the lead researcher on multiple novel clinical studies related to the psychosocial impact of device therapies and health status outcomes. In addition to being named as the Physician Champion of the new heart failure program at Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Dr. Nguyen was also the recipient of the 2007 R.I.S.E. Award for clinical excellence.

Motivated by his passion to teach, he established the Cardiovascular Symposium for all the nurses and ancillary staff at Provena Saint Joseph to empower them with the most up to date information and strategies to optimize patient care. He is a life time supporter of Women’s Health Initiatives.

Presently he has joined the medical staff at Provena Mercy Hospital and Kishwaukee Community Hospital where he brings technology, innovation, and research to optimize patient care.

Leigh Anne D'Avanzo RDH, QOM

A Dedicated Dental Hygienist and Accomplished Myofunctional Therapist.
It’s my pleasure to introduce Leigh Anne – a dental industry veteran with over thirty years of experience. Leigh Anne, along with her husband and three grown children, calls South Florida home. Her extensive expertise in Myofunctional Therapy is highly regarded, having previously owned her own practice where she provided patients with tailored treatments.

Presently, Leigh Anne serves as the Vice President of the MyoCorrect Department at Vivos Therapeutics, Inc.

Leigh Anne’s qualifications extend beyond her coursework in Myofunctional Therapy to include her “QOM” status, making her a Qualified Orofacial Myologist. Her specialty lies in treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, whether inperson or via Telemedicine. Leigh Anne is passionate about helping individuals become their best selves and takes great pride in her work.
When she’s not working, Leigh Anne enjoys shelling at the beach with her loved ones.

Dr. Jonelle Crichton

Dr. Jonelle Crichton

Dr. Crichton was raised in Barbados and moved to Florida where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in biology. She pursued her dental degree from Nova Southeastern University and subsequently completed her General Practice Residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Hospital in Miami, Florida. Not content to keep quiet thereafter, she gained clinical experience working in the South Miami area and actively volunteered with the Caribbean Dental Program before returning to academia to undertake and complete a three-year post-graduate Master’s degree in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 2014.

Dr. Crichton is a Canadian and American Board Certified Orthodontics Specialist. She believes in staying abreast of new technology and techniques in the field and routinely participates in continuing education courses and seminars. Her professional affiliations include:

Canadian Association of Orthodontics
American Association of Orthodontics
Alberta Dental Association and College
Alberta Society of Orthodontists
Alberta Society of Dental Specialists
Edmonton District and Dental Society
Beyond the world of orthodontics, Dr. Crichton loves cooking, horseback riding, snowboarding, and spending time with her family in Barbados. She is a firm believer in giving back to the community. Over the years, she has sought to volunteer wherever possible, especially with kids. Dr. Crichton is also an avid sports fan who formerly represented Barbados in field hockey and tennis at the junior level.

The real satisfaction of her profession, she says, is in providing her patients with smiles that empower them with confidence and improved self-esteem in a patient-centered, friendly environment. Building relationships and getting to know her patients sets Dr. Crichton and her team at Smile Worx Orthodontics apart from the rest. You will quickly experience the energy and passion for orthodontics at Smile Worx Orthodontics!

Dr. Deborah Z. Bain, MD

Dr. Deborah Z. Bain, MD

I was born into a middle class home with a very hard working father who never completed college, and a loving mother who was a housewife and highschool graduate. My parents desired nothing more than to have their 3 children be successful and most importantly, complete college and have a meaningful career.

I wanted to be a doctor since I was 8 years old, motivated by such influential shows as Trapper John MD, Quincy, and Mash during my childhood. I made straight A’s throughout my undergraduate years and graduated summa cum laude in college as well. I completed my medical degree at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1993 and completed my residency at Dallas Children’s Medical Center in 1996. I am certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and am a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

I was married during my residency and changed my name from Dr. Deborah Zebold to Dr. Deborah Z. Bain. If you are wondering why I kept the “Z” as my middle initial, it is because my great, great, great grandfather was a doctor back in the 1890’s, the only doctor in my whole lineage. He was at one point held by gunpoint by one of Jesse James’ brothers to have him take a bullet out of Jesse, and lived to tell about it!

I worked for Cook Children’s Physician Network hired right out of residency and served as a corporate pediatrician for my first 10 years. During that stressful time of working in a corporate-compliance model of medicine, I had some very unfortunate life-altering medical problems including herniated discs in my neck and back over a several year period requiring multiple surgeries, as well as breast cancer at 39 years of age, requiring a leave of absence and treatment with chemotherapy and radiation.

During my journey to get well, definitely a steep uphill climb, I had a fire stirred up in me that could not be squelched. It was a completely different philosophy of medicine. I thought to myself, “How can someone as young as I am already have 9 neck/back surgeries and breast cancer.” There has to be another way. I sought out alternative doctors for an explanation and new approach to my care after I was pronounced cured by my oncologist, yet feeling chronically fatigued and ill all the same.

With my new passion about holistic and integrative medicine, I made a commitment to expand my education in this field by studying and achieving certification through the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM), as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). I became the first Pediatrician to successfully certify with the IFM. I became a Gluten Certified Practitioner in 2016. In 2021 I also became board certified by the American Board of Integrative Medicine and certified in homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis.

I am the sole owner and originator of Healthy Kids Pediatrics Center for Health and Wellbeing for the past 16 years, after 10 years of practicing traditional medicine, and I have never looked back. I have coined the type of practice I have developed as Functional Integrative Pediatrics.

My Philosophy: Life is a Journey

I used to think life was about the destination, but I am now convinced that it is more about the journey and what people we touch along the way. In my journey to recover from nine neck and back surgeries and breast cancer, all in my 30’s, I found myself initially lost in the system. I blindly followed the doctor’s advice to fuse this and that area of my spine. Ultimately I was subjected to chemotherapy and radiation all in the name of the cure for breast cancer. In my medical training, I was brought up to believe a compartmentalized model of medicine. That everything had a diagnosis and treatment or medication assigned to it. But since my treatment, I found myself questioning the very principals that I lived by in my previous practice of medicine. I found myself turning to a whole network of alternative medicine providers to find the path that made sense to me to help me find true wellness, not just Band-Aid fixes of my health problems. For me, it was turning to chiropractors, naturopaths, and nutritionists to get me well. Whatever the path we follow to find wellness, I think we have to be actively searching, not just blindly following. I have gained respect for so many different ways to get someone well. I do not have all the answers to get someone well as a pediatrician. It is something that I have accepted over the years. I think pride gets in the way of so many good doctors, and prevents them from being great doctors. If we just all work together and open our minds to many ways of treatment, and focus on the needs of the patient, then we would all be doing what is right. As I have opened my mind to these paths, I have continued to find wellness in its most comprehensive sense – mind, body, spirit.

As I have also journeyed down my own path, I have encountered so many people who are on their own path to become well. I found myself compelled to reach out to them to show them the way. Not in the same way as I practiced medicine prior to my medical illnesses, but in a very different holistic way. I wrote the book, “How the Chiropractor Saved my Life, My Journey to Wellness and Beyond” as a way for me to help those who are lost, confused, who have been wronged by the very system of medicine that was supposed to heal them.” The book was, in a sense, part of my ministry of healing others and is part of God’s ultimate will for my life. It was meant to open the minds of others to alternative possibilities to treating illness and was to serve as a tool to motivate people to become their own health advocate as I have.

There is another way. Finding the root of disease, or better yet, preventing it from happening at all, is so much more effective than picking up the pieces later and trying to do damage control. It’s all about healing disease, not just treating it. Until doctors understand this link and become more integrative in their treatment approach, the patient will be no more than “well managed” with Band-Aids on the real problem that is trying to rear its ugly head.

Deborah Z. Bain, MD, FAAP, ABIHM, IFMCP, D-ABOIM, HCP, GCP

Dr. Anissa Holmes

Dr. Anissa Holmes

“Revolutionizing dental education: meet Dr. Anissa Holmes, founder of delivering wow”

With a passion for transforming the face of dental education, Dr. Anissa Holmes has made a name for herself as a leading expert in coaching and presentations. Her exceptional skills have earned her numerous invitations to keynote at prominent events like aacd, contribute to dental publications like dental economics, and present at top dental meetings and societies. At the helm of delivering wow dental education, dr. Holmes and her team of experts work alongside dental practices to help them achieve exponential growth. Their focus is on team transformation, leadership, effective case presentation, schedule and systems optimization, and high-return marketing implementation.

While many coaches aim for multiple six-figure years for their clients, Dr. Holmes sets her sights higher – helping her clients reach multiple six-figure months. With her proven approach and results, she is truly changing the game in the world of dental education.