Meet Inspira Advantage’s Dental School Admissions Experts

Dr. Saw earned her DDS from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and founded Oral Genome, a pioneering company in saliva‑based diagnostics, and the Harmony Health Foundation, a nonprofit oral health organization. With more than a decade of mentorship experience, Dr. Saw has helped numerous students gain admission to some of the nation’s top dental schools.

Amy graduated summa cum laude with a BS in neuroscience before matriculating at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry on a full-ride National Health Service Corps Scholarship. At UMichigan, Amy served as an MMI interviewer and mentored pre-dental students through personal statement creation and interview prep.

Dr. Shah is a dentist, educator, and award-winning author with over 15 years of diverse experience in clinical dentistry, public health leadership, policy development, and dental education. After graduating with a DMD from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Shah completed a general practice residency at the Long Island College Hospital. She has worked as an outreach dental consultant for the State of California’s Medi-Cal Dental Program.

Dr. Nguyen is a general dentist with a passion for preventative and cosmetic care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Wichita State University, where she graduated in just three years as an early high school graduate. She was accepted early into the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, where she conducted preliminary interviews with potential dental students prior to their formal admissions interviews.

Dr. Perry is a dental resident, educator, and mentor with a longstanding commitment to academic coaching and empowering students from underrepresented backgrounds. He graduated with a BS in biochemistry from Roanoke College and a DDS from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He is currently completing a hospital-based general practice residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he provides care for medically complex and underserved populations.

Dr. Castillo is a general dentist with over 17 years of clinical experience in private practice, with a primary focus on cosmetic and restorative dentistry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clemson University and graduated with a DDS from Howard University College of Dentistry, where he served on the admissions committee. Following dental school, he completed an AEGD residency at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.

Dr. Allan is a board-certified pediatric dentist with over a decade of clinical experience and a deep commitment to mentorship. She currently practices in Texas and has coached countless students on their journeys to dental school. Dr. Allan provides applicants with tailored, honest, and goal-oriented support, drawing directly from her years in practice and experience as an interviewer for pediatric dental residency at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.

Dr. Powell is a practicing dentist with over six years of admissions and coaching experience, specializing in oral surgery, implant dentistry, and dental school admissions strategy. As the owner of multiple dental practices in Florida affiliated with Affordable Dentures & Implants, Dr. Powell leads clinical teams, mentors associate dentists, and trains future dental implant surgeons and aspiring practice owners.

Dr. Hanna has over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, mentoring, and healthcare leadership. A graduate of Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, Dr. Hanna has since built a successful career rooted in service, innovation, and dental education, making him a valuable resource for students pursuing dentistry.

Dr. James brings several years of mentorship experience to her role as a dental school admissions coach. She graduated with a DMD from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, where she also served as a student ambassador. During dental school, Dr. James served as President of the Student National Dental Association and the local chapter of the American Dental Education Association.

Dr. Everlith actively contributed to the dental community at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine as an admissions ambassador, serving as a liaison between applicants and the administration. She acted as President of Philly Phaces, Penn Dental's craniofacial awareness organization, and the First-Generation Professional Students' Society. She also served as Chapter Secretary for the American Student Dental Association at Penn.

Dr. Oyenuga graduated from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and works as a dentist at Brooklyn JobCorps and Smile of New York Outreach. She is also the Lead Outreach Faculty and Clinical Instructor at NYU College of Dentistry, where she also serves as an interviewer. With years of coaching experience, Dr. Oyenuga has supported diverse applicants through the admissions process.

Dr. Olson is a pediatric dentist who graduated from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry, bringing over six years of dental admissions experience to his role as a counselor. He also completed his pediatric dentistry residency training and concurrently graduated with an MS in oral and craniofacial sciences at UCSF.

Dr. Bowen is a general dentist with over 10 years of the admissions committee and coaching experience. She currently serves as the Dental Program Director at Mountain Empire Community College. While at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Dr. Bowen served as a student ambassador—today, she collaborates with the admissions office for recruitment activities.

Dr. Stoddart graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where she spent four years serving on the admissions committee reviewing applications and interviewing candidates. With seven years of coaching and mentorship experience, Dr. Stoddart has guided many students through their journey to dental careers.

Dr. Pastewait is a board-certified orthodontist, working in the public and private sectors. As an Air Force officer, Dr. Pastewait is a flight commander, AEGD-1 course director, and Chief of Orthodontics. He has over a decade of mentoring experience, including his work on the residency admissions committee as an interviewer at UNC Adams School of Dentistry and the US Air Force AEGD-1 Program and Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Dr. Parmar has served as a Matriculation Coordinator and Ambassador for over three years at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, where she has worked closely with incoming dental students. In these roles, Dr. Parmar has guided hundreds of prospective dental students through the admissions process, advising them on how to strengthen their applications and prepare for the challenges of dental school.

Dr. Pham is a resident dentist specializing in periodontology and dental implant surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). As an admissions ambassador at the New York University College of Dentistry for three years and an interviewer for the URMC periodontics program, Dr. Pham has firsthand experience evaluating dental and dental residency applications.

Noah graduated from the University of Kentucky before pursuing a DMD/MBA at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry through the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program. As the president of the University of Kentucky Pre-Dental Society and the Student Dental Business Organization, Noah has assisted many students in preparing their applications for dental school.

Dr. Choe draws upon 10+ years of experience working with students. During dental school, he worked at a college prep center, where he acted as an admissions counselor for college and dental school applicants. In addition to a DMD, Dr. Choe holds a Master’s in biomedical sciences and a PhD in biomedical/medical engineering.

Isaac is a dedicated dental health care professional and mentor. Before attending the Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Isaac graduated magna cum laude with a BS from Stony Brook University. He has extensive experience guiding students through the intricate application process, having worked as a private tutor, undergraduate teaching assistant, and admissions mentor.

Dr. Cohen is an enthusiastic dental professional passionate about helping students achieve their goals. He has a proven track record of success, having helped students gain acceptance to dental schools such as the University of Florida, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Harsh attended Nova Southeastern University before matriculating to the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where he served as a student admissions committee member. He has mentored several traditional and non-traditional applicants who have gained acceptance to top dental programs at UMichigan, Harvard, UCLA, UCSF, NYU, UF, Howard, and other schools.

Before attending the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Nivi earned a BS in biological sciences and a BA in economics at the University of Maryland, graduating summa cum laude. Nivi is passionate about mentorship, and has guided students to acceptance at multiple dental programs, including at the University of Southern California, Midwestern University – Arizona, the University of New England, and Howard University, among others.

Alex graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University before attending the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. Having successfully navigated the rigorous application process, he has helped many students gain admission to dental school, including programs at Tufts University, Arizona State University, and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Sana attended the University of Texas at Austin before attending the University of Texas Houston School of Dentistry. With years of coaching experience, Sana has successfully guided numerous dental students to gain acceptance into their desired programs. Her expertise particularly shines in interview preparation, where she has a proven track record of excellence.

Dr. Ebrahim graduated with a DMD from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RDSM), and leverages years of experience in higher education and admissions to mentor pre-dental students. She specializes in personalized application plans, personal statements, and mock interviews, helping students gain admission to top dental programs. Dr. Ebrahim also advises on academics, extracurriculars, and volunteer opportunities.

Carrie attended the University of Texas at Tyler before pursuing her DDS at the University of Texas Health Houston School of Dentistry. At Tyler, she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in biochemistry and was awarded the Presidential Fellow's Scholarship. Students Carrie has coached have been accepted to dental schools at Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, Augusta University, and the University of Maryland.

As an accomplished general dentist with a passion for mentoring and a proven track record of academic excellence and leadership, Dr. Kalajian draws upon her extensive experience and organizational skills to help aspiring dental students navigate the challenging path to becoming a dentist, breaking down the process into manageable milestones and tailoring her tutoring approach to each student's strengths and needs.

Dr. Bayardo-Guzman is an associate dentist working in California’s Central Valley. She graduated with a DMD from Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry, where she was a member of the Honors Prosthodontics Club. Her educational journey began at the University of California, Merced, where she was an active member of the pre-dental club and focused on community service in different organizations.