The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), an international, professional membership association, recently installed James Carreiro, DMD as its president. The announcement was made during the ALD’s recent 30th Anniversary Meeting in Dallas.
Dr. Carreiro is a general dentist with a private practice in Largo, Florida who has been utilizing laser technology since 2007. He incorporates laser technology, including photobiomodulation in almost every aspect of patient care. Dr. Carreiro is a graduate of Fordham University and earned his dental degree from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. In addition, he holds Mastership Certification and Advanced Proficiency Certification from the Academy of Laser Dentistry and is a member of the Academy’s Speakers Bureau. In addition, Dr. Carreiro has also earned Fellowship Certification with the World Clinical Laser Institute.
“My number one goal as ALD president is to encourage and support new Academy initiatives to increase awareness of the many benefits of laser and light therapy for patients and practitioners alike,” said Dr. Carriero. “This includes being a strong dental industry advocate for laser education, certification and safety.”
Other recently installed ALD officers include the following leaders in laser dentistry:
President-Elect and 2024 Conference Chair | Walid Altayeb, DDS | Private Practice, Dohar, Qatar Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Dr. Altayeb received his dental degree from the Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, in 1998 and completed his Master of Science degree in Periodontics in 2004 and Doctor of Philosophy in Periodontics in 2007. Dr. Altayeb has achieved Advanced Proficiency certificates from the Academy of Laser Dentistry in 980-nm diode and Er:YAG lasers. He also has Mastership in the Academy of Laser Dentistry and is also Chair of the ALD Gulf Laser Chapter. He works in private practice as a periodontist and implantologist in the Tamim Dental Polyclinic, Doha, Qatar, The British Lasik and Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dubai, UAE, and the Masters Dental and Aesthetic Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Treasurer |Grace Sun, DDS | Private Practice, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Sun graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in 1981 and operates a full-time comprehensive cosmetic practice and dental laboratory in the Beverly Hills, California, area. She was the first female Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and served on the AACD Professional Education Committee for two terms. Dr. Sun is also a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, a Master and Educator with the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) and an international lecturer for dental laser and PBM education. She is also a senior instructor with the International Association for Orthodontics (IAO) and holds Mastership status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). In January 2022, Dr. Sun received Dental Acupuncturist Certification with an emphasis on orofacial pain management from the UCLA Center for East-West Integrative Medicine. Dr. Sun utilizes multiple wavelengths of dental lasers, including photobiomodulation, acupuncture and photoacupuncture in various treatment procedures.
Secretary | Shigeyuki Nagai, DDS, PhD | Private Practice, Tokyo Japan
Dr. Nagai received his DDS from Osaka Dental University, Japan in 1987 and studied at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine as a Clinical Fellow from1989-1992. He practiced at the Massachusetts Veterans Administration Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in 1991. He received his PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Dr. Nagai serves as a Board member of the Japanese Society for Laser Dentistry, Asia and Pacific Division of the World Federation for Laser Dentistry and Vice President of the Japanese Academy of Color for Dentistry. He served as the board member of Academy of Laser Dentistry from 2010-2018. Dr. Nagai is a committee member of the Japan Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, Japan Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine and Japan Association of Microscopic Dentistry. He is responsible for translating ALD’s certification examinations in Japanese and maintains a full-time private dental practice in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Nagai is also a visiting lecturer at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Department of Periodontology.
Immediate Past President | Samuel B. Low, DDS, MS, MEd | Private Practice, Palm Coast, Florida
Dr. Low is Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, College of Dentistry, and an Advisor Member of the Pankey Institute. He is a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology and is a current officer of the Academy of Laser Dentistry as Immediate Past President. Dr. Low provides periodontists, dentists, and dental hygienists with the tools for successfully managing the periodontal patient. He was selected “Dentist of the Year” by the Florida Dental Association, Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Texas Dental School, and recipient of the Gordon Christensen Lecturer Recognition Award.
He is a Past President of the Florida Dental Association and past American Dental Association (ADA) Trustee.
Executive Director | Gail Siminovsky, CAE | Coral Springs, Florida
Ms. Siminovsky is a leadership professional and has served as executive director of the Academy of Laser Dentistry since 1999 and serves the ALD Board as an advisor. Gail is the 2019 Florida Society of Association Executive of the Year. She earned and maintains the credential Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and served on ASAE’s Small Staff Advisory Committee. Gail is an active member of FSAE after serving as Chairwoman of the Board in 2021-22 and is a member of the American Dental Association’s Committee on Dental Meetings and National Coalition of General Dental Organizations (NCGDO). Gail raises awareness of the role of lasers as beneficial tools that dentists and hygienists have for treating dental disease. She speaks on governance and board leadership, building strategic alliances, and the importance of associations being trusted knowledge brokers.
