Board of Directors
Diversity In Dentistry Memberships, Inc.
Dr. Laila Hishaw, an advocate for diversity in dentistry and children's oral health, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, and International College of Dentists. She founded DIDM in 20218 to enhance the path to dental school for underrepresented minorities through mentoring and educational initiatives. As a successful private-practice owner and an Amazon bestselling author of "Cavity Free Kids," she has gained recognition on Discovery Health Channel, podcasts, and various publications. Actively contributing to the field, she serves on the ADA Task Force and the Board of Directors for Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation.
DR. LAILA HISHAW
Founding Board Member & President
Dr. Laila Hishaw is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Speaker, Author, and Consultant.
STUDENT DR. LUMA CHENYI
Founding Board Member & Vice President
Mrs. Luma Chenyi is a dental student at Texas Tech Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine and NGO Board Member.
Lynette, a 2015 graduate of Adelphi University with a Bachelor's degree in Business, brings a wealth of experience to DIDM. Her roles at LIDA DENTAL included excelling as a lead dental assistant and office manager. She also served as an oral surgery assistant at Advanced Dental Arts and DENTAL365, contributing in various capacities, including lead dental assistant, front desk receptionist, and assistant manager. Beyond her professional endeavors, she has volunteered for organizations like Give Kids a Smile and Unspoken Smiles. Fluent in Spanish with strong technical skills, she adds a valuable blend of expertise and passion to the DIDM team.
MS. LYNETTE RODRIGUEZ
Founding Board Member & Treasurer
Ms. Lynette Rodriguez is a Practice Management Consultant and Fellow at Unspoken Smiles.
Dr. Susan Sergie is an Alaskan Native originally from Alakanuk, Alaska. Dr. Sergie is dedicated to creating genuine connections with each patient, treating them like cherished family members. A graduate of Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Dr. Sergie further refined her skills through Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry (AEPD) at NYU Langone in Phoenix, Arizona. While specializing in pediatric dentistry, she holds numerous certifications and licenses and extends her comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages, including those with special needs.
DR. SUSAN SERGIE
Board Secretary
Dr. Susan Sergie is the practice owner of North Coast Family Dentistry in Anchorage, Alaska
Dr. Jonelle G. Anamelechi is a board-certified pediatric dentist, CEO of Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in DC and MD, bestselling author, and speaker. She earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and pursued dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Anamelechi completed her pediatric dental residency at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and founded Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in 2014 and 2019. She holds faculty positions at Children’s National Hospital, Medstar Georgetown Hospital, and Georgetown School of Law. Her work focuses on children with craniofacial abnormalities, oral health disparities, and health equity. Dr. Anamelechi is involved in various professional organizations and has been recognized as a top doctor. She enjoys traveling, lego building, gardening, and exploring new foods with her husband and their two children.
DR. JONELLE GRANT ANAMELECHI
Board Member
Dr. Anamelechi is the CEO of Children's Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Author & Speaker
Dr. Berg is a cross-functional visionary with people-first operations acumen. He is a process innovator and connection-cultivator with over 35 years of experience. His operations, people, and process shrewdness supported volumetric success in his Chief Dental Officer roles at Phillips Sonicare and ESPE, and he has served numerous start-ups in C-suite and consulting capacities since leaving academia as Dean of the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Joel currently acts as Chief Dental Officer at Willo alongside his founding role as President of Execudent, Inc.
DR. JOEL BERG
Board Member
Dr. Joel Berg is also President at Execudent, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. O.S. Butch Diggs is a graduated of UC--San Francisco School of Dentistry. He owns a private practice and is the lead clinician at J.C. Rose Prosthodontic Dental Clinic in Tucson, AZ. As an educator, he has served as Department Chair for the Dental Division at Kino Community Hospital and clinial instructor for the Graduate Dental Residency Program. Dr. Diggs is an expert in Laser Dentistry and an instructor for LARES Institute. For several years, he has been a mentor for Pre-Dental Students at the University of Arizona Pre-Dental Honor Society. Outside of dentistry, his talents are seen in his music working with greats such as Chaka Khan, Gerald Albright, Paul Jackson, Jr. and more!
DR. O.S. BUTCH DIGGS
Founding Board Member
Dr. O.S. Diggs is a General and Cosmetic Dentist and a mentor and advisor for the University of Arizona Pre-Dental Club.
Dr. Edmond R. Hewlett is Professor and Associate Dean for Outreach and Diversity at the UCLA School of Dentistry. A Los Angeles native, Dr. Hewlett was a UCLA undergrad from 1972 to 1976, received his D.D.S. degree from the UCLA 1980, and completed a General Practice Residency program at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1981. He practiced as an associate and taught part-time at UCLA for six years before accepting a full time faculty position at UCLA in 1987, and he completed postgraduate training in Prosthodontics at UCLA in 2003. Dr. Hewlett’s bibliography includes numerous scientific articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals and two book chapters. He also serves as a consultant to the FDA and Consumer Advisor for the ADA. He has presented over 300 invited lectures and courses on adhesive restorative dentistry materials and techniques both nationally and internationally, and has earned numerous awards for his teaching.
DR. EDMOND HEWLETT
Founding Board Member
Dr. Edmond Hewlett is a Professor and Associate Dean for Outreach and Diversity at UCLA School of Dentistry.
With 15 years in the field, Dr. Lopez is a passionate, patient-centered dentist and public health and health equity advocate dedicated to prioritizing people’s overall health and well-being. She divides her time between running her Oak Park, Illinois-based practice, Healthy Tooth Dental, serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Dentistry, and volunteering as a clinician and co-chair of the Dental Advisory Committee at RefugeeOne, a Chicago-based non-profit agency that helps refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants resettle into the U.S.
DR. ESTHER LOPEZ
Board Member
Dr. Esther Lopez is also the President of the Greater Chicago Hispanic Dental Association in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Mills received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Northern Arizona University in 1980. She then continued her education to receive her D.D.S. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1985. She has practiced in Public Health through the Indian Health Service and had been in private practice since 1985. In July of 2009, Dr. Mills became a faculty member of Midwestern University, College of Dental Medicine-Arizona as a pre-clinical instructor. Currently she serves as full-time clinical faculty. She has continued her education receiving a Master’s Degree in Health Administration in 2014 and in 2020 received Doctoral Degree in Education.
DR. DENISE MILLS
Board Member
Dr. Denise Mills is currently a Professor at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
