Standing Committees

The Administrative Committee assists the president and executive director in performing their duties and makes recommendations to the board on issues related to the employed staff.

John Demas, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Howard I.A. Lieb, House Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
John P. Demas ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾             
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

Marc Meiselman ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾

The Audit Committee audits the Treasurer's annual report.

Mitchell D. Mindlin, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
John P. Demas ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Aia Shalan ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Awards Committee formulates and recommends policies to the SDDS Board of Trustees on all matters regarding the established Loan Forgiveness Program and all academic awards for ancillary dental programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island high schools and colleges.

Craig S. Ratner, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Chritopher Bowers ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Kirsten A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The Benevolent Fund Committee consists of the officers of the Society, who serve as trustees of the SDDS benevolent fund. The committee investigates and acts upon all applications for aid or contributions from the benevolent fund in accordance with the rules and regulations of the benevolent fund indenture of trust.

Phyllis G. Merlino, Vice President, Chair
Paul W. Teplitsky, President
Valerie A. Venterina, President-Elect
Cherry Libramonte, Secretary
Joseph Merola, Treasurer

The Constitution and Bylaws Committee receives all resolutions of amendment to the bylaws for review and makes recommendations to the board of trustees. It also periodically reviews the bylaws to recommend to the Board changes that would improve the administrative procedures of the Society.

Phyllis G. Merlino, Chair
Tricia Quartey, Immediate Past President
Michael L. Costa ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
John P. Demas ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Paul Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Cherry Libramonte ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Saad A. Butt ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Craig S. Ratner ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾

The Continuing Education Committee is responsible for developing all the educational programs other that the general membership meetings and the Friday Moring Seminars for the ensuing year. Members of the committee also serve as presiding chairpersons for assigned courses.

Alyson Buchalter, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Paul S. Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Babak Bina ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Saad A. Butt ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Gary Klemons ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Phyllis G. Merlino ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Gisele F. Richard ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Shahram Shekib ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Christopher Bowers ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Mitchell Mindlin, Consultant

The Dental Benefits Programs Committee is responsible for assisting with and keeping our members informed on dental health and third party dental insurance programs.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Steven Backer ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Alyson K. Buchalter ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jacob Sokol ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Lauro F. Medrano-Saldaña ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Stephanie B. Sager ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jose E. Santana ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Sagar M. Shah ⁽²⁰²⁴⁾
Valerie A. Venterina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Mitchell T. Zientz ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Dental Health Planning and Hospital Dentistry Committee develops plans and programs and works with all other concerned organizations to make better oral health care available for the public.

Alfred C. Joseph, Chair ^{(June 2025)}
Cherry Libramonte, Chair ^{(Starts June 2025)}
Valerie A. Venterina, Governmental Affairs Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Esther Nelson, Oral Health Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Brian F. Perrone, Staten Island Representative ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Phyllis G. Merlino, Membership Chair ^{(June 2028)}
Babak Bina, Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Ricardo A. Boyce, Jr., Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Steven Gounardes, Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Gisele F. Richard, Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
James J. Sconzo, Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Aia H. Shalan, Consultant ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Dental Practice Committee studies and disseminates to the Board of Trustees and the membership factors that affect the economics and practice management in dentistry.

Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille, Chair ^{(June 2026)}
Paul S. Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Craig S. Ratner ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jose E. Santana ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jacob Sokol ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Valerie A. Venterina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The District Claims Committee works with providers of professional liability insurance to protect the valid interests of our members.

Kirstin A. Wolfe, Chair ^{(June 2025)}
Abraham Ancselovics ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Babak Bina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
John S. Cavallaro, Jr. ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Jacques Doueck ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Yaela E. Faitlowicz Gayer ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Cherry Libramonte ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Howard I.A. Lieb ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Stuart L. Segelnick ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Michelle Nguyen ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Ardeshir Taheri-Tafreshi ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Paul W. Teplitsky ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Michael Zidile ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The District Relief Committee investigates and reviews applications for temporary financial assistance made necessary because of a hardship.

James Sconzo, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Phyllis G. Merlino ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Paul W. Teplitsky ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Ethics Committee investigates complaints against a member dentist involving ethical behavior that are registered with the Society, the New York State Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

Yaela Faitlowitz, Chair ^{(June 2026)}
Brian F. Perrone, Staten Island Representative ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Babak Bina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Judah L. Chasky ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
John P. Demas ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁴⁾
Howard I.A. Lieb ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Phyllis G. Merlino ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Charles J. Mistretta ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Joel L. Sokol ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Paul W. Teplitsky ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Finance and Budget Committee supervises the finances of the Society and prepares a budget to be presented to the Board of Trustees for the ensuing year.

John Demas, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Paul W. Teplitsky, President
Valerie Venterina, President-Elect
Joseph Merola, Treasurer
Tricia Quartey-Sagaille, Immediate Past President
Cherry Libramonte, Immediate Past Treasurer
Brian F. Perrone, RCDS President-Elect
Howard I.A. Lieb ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Mitchell Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Gisele F. Richard ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾

The Governmental Affairs Committee monitors all pending and passed legislation that affects the practice of dentistry and makes recommendations for actions and dissemination to the membership.

Valerie A. Venterina, Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Lawrence J. Weiss, Dental Benefits Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Ricardo A. Boyce, Jr. ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Christen J. Carute ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Cherry Libramonte ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Stephanie B. Sager ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Aia H. Shalan ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Greater New York Dental Meeting Committee consists of Second District members who, with their counterparts from New York County Dental Society, plan, develop and run the annual Greater New York Dental Meeting.

Lorna Flamer-Caldera, GNYDM Chair-Elect ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Saad A. Butt ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Steven Gounardes ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Charles J. Mistretta ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Lawrence Flaum ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾

The Half-Day Seminars Committee prepares a program of half-day seminars for the following year. Members of the committee also serve as presiding chairpersons for assigned courses.

Leonard Brenner, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Lawrence Flaum ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Jeffrey M. Galler ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Edward Jastremski ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Ronald Turchak ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The House Committee supervises the maintenance of the headquarters building and recommends needed repairs and improvements to the Board of Trustees.

Howard I.A. Lieb, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Bernard W. Hackett, Executive Director
Emma Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Cherry Libramonte⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Marc Meiselman ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Insurance Committee reviews Society-endorsed insurance plans for members and insurance coverage necessary for the function of the Society. It may also recommend changes or additions to the existing endorsed maintenance plans.

Kirstin A. Wolfe, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Bernard W. Hackett, Executive Director
Michael L. Costa ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Cherry Libramonte ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Brian F. Perrone ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jose E. Santana ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Aia H. Shalan ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Membership and Communications Committee is responsible for recruitment and retention of qualified dentists as members, development of programs to implement these responsibilities and to assure favorable public and professional relations.

Phyllis G. Merlino, Chair ^{(June 2028)}
Joseph Albanese, RCDS Vice President
Esther Nelson, Oral Health Chair
Constantine G. Pavlakos, Program Chair
Lawrence J. Weiss, Dental Benefit Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Gisele Richard, Peer Review Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Theressa L. Eliscar-Hewett, New Dentist Chair ^{(June 2028)}
Howard I.A. Lieb, Publications Chair
Man Sing Cheung ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Stephanie B. Sager ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Sophia L. Scantlebury ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Aia H. Shalan ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The New Dentist Committee identifies the special needs of the new dentist and recent graduates and develops programs to meet those needs.

Theressa L. Eliscar-Hewett, Chair ^{(June 2028)}
John P. Demas ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Joelle L. Goggans ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Thema Hepburn ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Cherry Libramonte  ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Stephanie B. Sager ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Matthew C. Sciascia ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Aia H. Shalan ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Kirstin A. Wolfe  ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Michael Zidile ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Jacob Sokol ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The Nominating Committee develops a slate of candidates to fill vacancies in elected positions within the Society that will occur in the following year. The slate is presented to the membership for consideration and five other members are elected in April.

Paul W. Teplitsky, Chair ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Paul S. Albicocco, Past President ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Babak Bina, Past President ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Michael J. Donato, Jr., Past President ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Raymond A. Flagiello, Past President ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille, Past President ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Valerie Venterina, Observer ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

^{Plus 5 Members to be elected at the April Membership Meeting}

The Oral Health Committee disseminates information to the public to improve awareness of the need for good oral health and offers programs to implement good oral health.

Esther Nelson, Chair
Christina L. Klein, Staten Island Representative
Diane M. Klein, Staten Island Representative
Reneida E. Reyes, Consultant
Paul S. Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Lisa Alli-Lazzara ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Saad A. Butt ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Man Sing Cheung ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Angela DiBartolo ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Tanesha M. Francis ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Joelle L. Goggans ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Rena S. Kravitz ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Cherry Libramonte ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Juana E. Luster ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Lauro F. Medrano-Saldaña ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Phyllis G. Merlino ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Gisele F. Richard ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Sari R. Rosenwein ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Sophia L. Scantlebury ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Peer Review and Quality Assurance Committee conducts reviews of complaints lodged involving quality of care, and determines their disposition.

Gisele Richard, Chair ^{(June 2027)}
Paul S. Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Babak Bina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Ricardo A. Boyce, Jr. ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Saad A. Butt ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Joann M. De Leonibus ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Jacques Doueck ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Lawrence E. Flaum ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Alvin D. Fried ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Murray Fryd ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Jeffrey M. Galler ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Rena S. Kravitz ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Robert Lichtenstein ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Marc Meiselman ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Alan L. Mintz ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Nathalie S. Mohadjeri ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Anthony Ramirez ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Sari R. Rosenwein ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Sagar M. Shah ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Ronald V. Speranza ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Michael L. Steinberg ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Ronald Turchak ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Valerie A. Venterina ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The Program Committee plans and conducts the programs of the four general membership meetings held annually. Members of the committee also serves as presiding chairpersons for the evening sessions.

Constantine G. Pavlakos, Chair
Cherry Libramonte
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille

The Publications Committee appoints an editorial staff and has jurisdiction over all publications of the Society, including those of the Branch Society.

Howard I.A. Lieb, Chair
Jeffrey M. Galler, Business Manager ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Paul S. Albicocco, Secretary
Alyson Buchalter, Editor ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾
Paul S. Albicocco ⁽²⁰²⁸⁾
Babak Bina ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Alyson K. Buchalter ⁽²⁰²⁹⁾
Sumaya Ibraheem ⁽²⁰²⁷⁾
Howard I.A. Lieb ⁽²⁰²⁶⁾

The Reception and Entertainment Committee arranges for dinners at scheduled meetings and is in charge of all social events.

John R. Halikias, Chair
Emma J. Guzman ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Tricia S. Quartey-Sagaille ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾

The Senior Dentist Committee identifies the special needs of the senior dentist and develops programs to address those needs.

Robert A. Seminara, Chair
Howard I.A. Lieb ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Mitchell D. Mindlin ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
Richard L. Oshrain ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾
James J. Sconzo ⁽²⁰²⁵⁾