Jūratė Žekonienė,

Dr

Jūratė Žekonienė holds a Master's degree in dentistry from Kaunas Medical Academy (1997) and a license as a periodontist from Vilnius University. She is the author of numerous research papers and textbooks for Lithuanian students and dentists.

Her research focuses on dental hygiene and the etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease, exploring various approaches to maintaining optimal oral health and patient motivation.

A graduate of Kaunas Medical Academy (now Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), Jūratė completed her internship and postgraduate training at Žalgirio Clinic of Vilnius University Hospital. She received her diploma as a periodontist from Vilnius University in 2000. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, she works as a clinical periodontist and lectures at Vilnius University, specializing in professional oral hygiene, non-surgical periodontal therapy, diagnostics and treatment planning.

Jūratė is the President of the Lithuanian Society of Periodontology and a member of the Lithuanian Dental Chamber Council. She also heads the Polyclinic Department at the Žalgirio Clinic of Vilnius University Hospital. Fluent in Lithuanian, she enjoys spending time with her family - her husband, three children and a cat - and is passionate about traveling and reading literature.

Louise Baguley,

DH

Louise is a highly acclaimed dental hygienist known for her commitment to prevention. She currently divides her professional time between working in private practice and serving as a UK iTOP Lecturer. She is also a Student Program Consultant for Curaden UK, helping to shape and improve dental education.

Nataša Martić,

Spec, Dr Stom

Nataša Martić is a highly qualified periodontist with extensive clinical and educational experience. Since 2010, she has been a consultant in periodontology and oral medicine at the Petrovič Private Clinic and head of the periodontology department at the Pančevo Health Center, Serbia. Nataša has been a dedicated dentist at the same health center since 1994.

She completed her specialization in Periodontology and Oral Medicine at the Dental School of Belgrade in 2002 and holds a degree in Dentistry from the University of Belgrade (1991). Nataša is also an accomplished iTOP educator, having attended iTOP introductory, advanced and teacher seminars throughout Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Fluent in Serbian, Russian and English, Nataša combines her clinical expertise with a passion for advancing dental education.

Denis Bourgeois,

Prof

Dr. Denis Bourgeois, DMD, MSc, Ph.D., is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Lyon, France, with special expertise in prevention, health economics and periodontology. As a clinical officer in periodontology, his work focuses on the study of microbiota, plaque-induced gingivitis, and oral prophylaxis strategies to reduce the risk of periodontitis and systemic diseases. Dr. Bourgeois is also an international lecturer, sharing his knowledge on these critical topics with dental professionals worldwide.

Dóra Tihanyi,

Dr

Dóra Tihanyi graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry of Semmelweis University, Budapest in 2002. She started her career at the Department of Periodontology, where she first specialized in general dentistry and later in periodontology. For more than 15 years, she worked as a clinician and tutor, contributing significantly to education and curriculum reform, especially in the development of preclinical courses.

In 2009, Dóra founded Denteam, a practice focused on high quality, patient-centered care, where she leads a dynamic team of periodontists. A passionate educator, she has over 15 years of experience delivering lectures, seminars and hands-on training in periodontal therapy, maintenance, oral hygiene and implantology. Dóra is also the first iTOP instructor in Hungary and leads the national team of instructors and is a strong supporter of prevention and the critical role of periodontology in overall health.

Edith Maurer,

RDH, HBO

Edith Maurer has been practicing clinical periodontology in a private clinic in Basel, Switzerland since 1976. She graduated from the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Amsterdam and has had a diverse career ever since. Over the years, Edith has taken on roles as a sales representative, technical advisor and organizer, contributing significantly to the dental hygiene community in Switzerland.

Since 2010, Edith has been an iTOP lecturer, sharing her extensive knowledge of oral prophylaxis with dental professionals. She continues to be actively involved in various iTOP seminars and educational events across Europe, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the field of periodontology.

Edith is fluent in German, English, Dutch, French and Portuguese, which allows her to interact with a wide range of professionals and patients from different cultures.

Carla Mora,

Dr

Dr. Carla Mora received her dental degree from the Mayor University in Santiago de Chile in 2005. She began her career as an assistant professor in the Occlusion Department of the same university, where she worked from 2006 to 2008. During this time, she also ran her own private practice, working with a team of specialists from 2005 to 2012. Dr. Mora also contributed to the Dental Clinic of the Chilean Army, working in the Restorative and Preventive Departments between 2006 and 2010.

Her passion for periodontics led her to specialize in periodontics and implant surgery at the University of Los Andes, Santiago, where she graduated in 2012. While pursuing her specialization, she joined the Department of Periodontology as an Assistant Professor in 2011 and began practicing as a periodontist and implant surgeon in her private clinic.

In 2013, Dr. Mora moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where she continues her practice, focusing on periodontics and implantology. In 2015, she expanded her expertise with advanced training in implant dentistry at the Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France. Carla speaks fluent Spanish, French and English.

Romana Mance Kristan,

Dr dent med, spec

Romana is the Head of the Department of Adult Specialist Dentistry at the Community Health Center Maribor, Slovenia, where she has been working since 2017. With a focus on periodontology, she has been part of the periodontal department at the same center since 2009, after starting her career as a general dentist in 2000.

She graduated from the University of Ljubljana with a degree in dentistry and later specialized in periodontology, graduating in 2009. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies at the Medical Faculty of the University of Maribor. Romana is also an iTOP instructor and teacher, having completed advanced training in iTOP methodology. She speaks Slovenian, Croatian, English and German.

Claudia Berki,

RDH

Claudia Berki began her dental career in 1981 as a dental assistant at the University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, where she first met Dr. Jiri Sedelmayer. In 1991, she furthered her knowledge by completing her certification as a dental assistant at the Norddeutsche Fortbildungsinstitut. After taking time off to raise a family, she resumed her career in 1997 and, together with Dr. Sedelmayer, taught iTOP courses to students and dental professionals until 2011.

Claudia lives in Germany, speaks German and enjoys sailing with her family in the summer.

Elna Van der Ham,

RDH

Elna van der Ham began her dental career in 1977, graduating with a Diploma in Oral Hygiene from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in private practice, specializing in periodontics, implant dentistry and prosthodontics.

From 2015 to 2018, Elna served as an iTOP lecturer in South Africa. Her involvement with OHASA includes roles as OHASA IFDH Representative and member of the National CPD Accreditation Committee, as well as leadership positions such as Immediate Past President and Secretary of the South African Society of Dental Implantology. She has also played a key role in the organization of major dental congresses and has been actively involved in various OHASA committees.

Elna obtained her Extended Function in Oral Hygiene Certificate from the University of Western Cape in 2018 and has a long-standing commitment to advancing the field of dental hygiene. She speaks Afrikaans and English.

Misato Sugawara Parrochon,

Dr

Misato Sugawara Parrochon is the director of All Smile Dental Clinic in Yokosuka, Japan, a position she has held since 2016. She is also an iTOP Lecturer and has been involved in dental education and training since 2016. Previously, she served as an Assistant Associate at the Department of Dentistry at the University of Lyon in France from 2014 to 2016 and was the Deputy Director of the Jinai Dental Clinic in Tokyo, Japan from 2002 to 2009.

Misato completed her iTOP teacher training in Prague and advanced iTOP courses in Tokyo in 2016. Her postgraduate education includes specialized training in orthodontics, endodontics and implants. She received her DDS degree from TMDU Dental Department in Tokyo in 2002. Misato is fluent in Japanese, English and French.

Isabel Martinez Lizán,

Prof Dr

Isabel Martinez Lizán is a full-time Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry at the University of Barcelona, where she has been teaching since 2001. She is also an iTOP Lecturer, a role she has held since 2013. Isabel previously served as Chief Academic Affairs in the Dental Degree Program from 2009 to 2016, and was Faculty Secretary and Head of International Affairs at the University of Barcelona from 2001 to 2009.

Her background includes a long-term general dentistry practice in Barcelona from 1991 to 2001 and part-time teaching in Preventive & Community Dentistry at the same university from 1993 to 2001. Isabel earned her Doctorate in Dentistry from the University of Barcelona in 2000, after completing her specialization in Public Oral Health at the University of the Basque Country. She graduated in Dentistry from the University of Barcelona in 1991. Isabel is fluent in English, Spanish and Catalan.