The ACOMS Board of Regents is composed of 12 individuals. All are elected by ACOMS members through a plurality of votes and serve unique roles in supporting ACOMS’ mission.
President Allen Fielding, DMD, MD, MBA
The President has general charge and responsibility for all matters of administration under the direction of the Regents.
Dr. Fielding received his Bachelor of Science and his dental degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He did his internship in OMS at Roosevelt Hospital NYC, his Fellowship at NYU and his OMFS training at Philadelphia General Hospital.
Dr. Fielding’s publications are extensive in peer-reviewed journals nationally and internationally. He has been invited to present papers both at national and international societies and presently is the associate director of the oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program at Temple University School of Dentistry. He has regularly led Temple Dental Students to Haiti, where care is rendered to over 23 outlying Villages near the town of Jeremie.
President-Elect Faisal Quereshy, MD, DDS, FACS
ACOMS’ president-elect presides at meetings and performs all duties of the president in their absence and is set to automatically succeed the president in the event they can no longer serve.
A native of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Quereshy is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon by the ABOMS and is a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) and American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS). After graduating from dental school from the State University of New York (SUNY) School of Dental Medicine with a DDS degree in 1994, he completed a specialty training residency program in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Case Western Reserve University with an integrated medical school curriculum, whereby he earned his MD (1997) and a one-year PGY General Surgery training. He then further advanced his surgical skills, completing a specialized fellowship program, accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) and CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation), in Facial Cosmetic Surgery (2000). He is currently enrolled in an MBA program at the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.
Dr. Quereshy has both academic and private practice positions, where he practices full-scope OMS. He shares a community-based practice with his wife, Dr. Najia Usman (Endodontist) – The Visage Surgical Institute and V-Spa, in Medina, OH. Additionally, he is a full professor with tenure, and the residency program director of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, at the Case School of Dental Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland, OH.
He holds memberships at all local, state, and national levels: In addition to his role at ACOMS, he is currently vice president for the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS); president of the Ohio Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons; he has been an examiner (seven years) and section chair for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS); past secretary of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) 2010-2013; past board of trustee for the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS); past president of both local Cleveland and Medina Dental societies; and is a current member of the State of Ohio Dental Board (appointed by the Governor of Ohio) for two four-year terms.
For the AAOMS, he is a delegate for Ohio, District IV caucus secretary and current chair of their Special Committee in Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Clinical Interest Group in Cosmetic Surgery, as well as a member of the editorial board for the Journal of OMS. At the local level, he has been a delegate for Cleveland and Medina at the ODA, both involved in the representation at the House of Delegates and are nominated political positions that represent dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery.
He has given numerous continuing education seminars and presentations internationally and locally in his specialized field and has published a number of scientific and clinical papers, as well as textbook chapters. He is very active in the above professional organizations devoted to the advancement in the field of facial cosmetic surgery, facial surgery, dental implant surgery, and craniofacial and non-syndromic orthognathic (jaw reconstructive) surgery.
He and his wife have four beautiful children, enjoy golf, and enjoy supporting all Cleveland professional sports teams.
Vice President Rui Fernandes, DMD, MD
In the absence of the president and president-elect, ACOMS’ vice president presides at all meetings and exercises the powers and performs the duties of the president.
Dr. Fernandes is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who holds dual appointments in oral and maxillofacial surgery and surgical oncology at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Currently, he serves as the chief of head and neck surgery, director of the head and neck/microvascular reconstructive surgery fellowship and associate chairman of the department of oral & maxillofacial surgery.
He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Boston University and a doctorate in dental medicine from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine, also at Boston University. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and completed residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as well. Upon completion of his residency, he began a two-year combined head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery fellowship at the University of Maryland College of Medicine. Dr. Fernandes has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally and has authored several manuscripts in the areas of head and neck oncology and reconstructive surgery as well a single-author textbook in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck.
Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Arce, DMD, MD, FAC
ACOMS’ secretary-treasurer is elected to a two-year term and administers the funds of the college under supervision of the regents. They also work with the finance committee to review the financial quarterly and the annual audit for presentation to the Board of Regents. They’re also responsible for meeting minutes.
Dr. Arce is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a special interest in head and neck cancer, as well as in maxillofacial trauma and reconstructive surgery. He is the chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Arce earned his medical degree from the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, MN. He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and his head and neck surgery fellowship at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Dr. Arce earned his Master of Clinical Research at Oregon Health and Science University Medical Center and his Master of Academic Medicine at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Arce is an active leader in research and education. He is widely published and has been awarded Teacher of the Year by the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science on multiple occasions.
Immediate Past President Jeffrey Bennet, DMD
After completing their one-year term, each president becomes the immediate past president. They perform duties delegated by the Board of Regents. A vacancy in the office may be filled by vote of the Board of Regents, and the individual elected serves the remainder of the predecessor’s unexpired term in office.
Dr. Bennett is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. He is active in organized dentistry and has served in many leadership positions and is a regularly invited speaker at national and international meetings. He has numerous publications and has edited both texts and clinics
At-Large Regent Donita Dyalram, DDS, MD, FACS
ACOMS’ at-large regent serves members from all regions across the United States.
Dr. Dyalram is currently an associate professor and program director in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She attended New York University College of Arts and Science for her undergraduate degree. She then obtained her dental degree from New York University College of Dentistry and her Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. At the completion of her Oral Maxillofacial Surgical Residency training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center/ Kings County Hospital Center in NYC, she left her home town to pursue fellowship training in head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstruction at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Following these two years of fellowship training, she accepted an academic positing at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.
She has remained at the University of Maryland, and she is presently the program director of the OMFS residency training program. She also is one of the core faculty in the Head and Neck Oncology / Microvascular Reconstruction fellowship training program. Here, she trains two fellows in ablative techniques and microvascular reconstruction each year. She also serves as a course director and faculty advisor to students at the University of Maryland Dental School.
Dr. Dyalram has been awarded the prestigious Faculty Educator Development Award by the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation. This echoes her commitment as an educator to students, residents, and fellows. Dr. Dyalram is board certified by the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and is currently an ABOMS examiner. She is a member of the Face Transplant Team at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Dr. Dyalram maintains a clinical interest in tumors of the jaw (benign and malignant), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, salivary gland tumors, sialoendoscopy osteoradionecrosis, and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, head, and neck reconstruction, and trigeminal nerve repair.
Regent – Region I (Northeast) Daniel Oreadi, DMD
ACOMS members who reside in the Northeast can direct any questions or ideas to Dr. Oreadi.
Dr. Oreadi earned his dental degree at the Universidad Central of Venezuela and completed the Advanced Graduate Education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Oreadi then completed a fellowship training in oncologic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Currently, Dr. Oreadi is an assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at TUSDM and a staff member at Tufts Medical Center, where he holds operating room privileges. Dr. Oreadi is recognized for his expertise in the management of oral and maxillofacial surgery pathology and reconstruction. He has authored multiple articles published in the literature as well as book chapters in his specialty. He is also a reviewer for the pathology and reconstruction section of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Regent – Region II (Mid-Atlantic) Daniel Meara, MS, MD, DMD, MHCDS
ACOMS members who reside in the Mid-Atlantic can direct all questions and ideas to Dr. Meara.
Dr. Meara has worked at the Christiana Care Health System since 2010, after completing a craniomaxillofacial surgery fellowship at West Virginia University/Charleston Area Medical Center. Prior to that, he completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, where he also completed a separate general surgery internship. Prior to that, he completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Meara earned a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Notre Dame. His master's degree in toxicology is from Michigan State University. His medical degree is from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and his dental degree is from the University of Alabama. He spent research time at the National Institute of Health and has studied abroad in England, Australia, and Japan. More recently, he completed a master's degree in healthcare delivery science at Dartmouth College.
Dr. Meara is a recipient of the Faculty Educator Development Award and has interests in residency education, surgical simulation, performance improvement, and population health strategies related to oral and maxillofacial surgery. His surgical interests include facial trauma management, orthognathic surgery/OSA, and craniomaxillofacial surgery.
Regent – Region III (Southeast) Melissa Amundson, DDS, MPH, FACS
ACOMS members who reside in the Southeast can direct all questions and ideas to Dr. Amundson.
Dr. Amundson is currently a full-time, hospital-based maxillofacial trauma surgeon. In 2020, she joined the faculty of Florida State University School of Medicine to start the first oral and maxillofacial trauma program for the “Big Bend” region at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. She manages complex trauma and pathology for the region including Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
She received her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her DDS from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2007. She started her career in OMFS with an internship at the University of Pennsylvania followed by her residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2012. In 2015, she returned to an academic setting and completed her fellowship training in advanced craniomaxillofacial surgery and trauma in Portland, Oregon at the Head and Neck Institute/Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
After completing her fellowship, she remained with Head and Neck Surgical Associates from 2016 to 2019, managing complex trauma for Southern Washington, Central and Western Oregon, and Northern California. During this time, she was also the program site director for resident education and was the CMF/Trauma fellowship director from 2018 to 2019. She is an editor/reviewer for several publications and has authored/co-authored several articles and chapters on craniomaxillofacial trauma.
Regent – Region IV (Great Lakes) Kelly Kennedy, DDS, MS
ACOMS members who reside in the Great Lakes region can direct all questions and ideas to Dr. Kennedy.
Dr. Kennedy is currently a clinical associate professor and OMFS residency program director of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in the division of oral and maxillofacial surgery and dental anesthesiology. She received her dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2004 and then served her residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Currently, she is co-investigator of a clinical trial called “Formulation, Evaluation, and Phase 0 Trial of Nanoparticle Releasing Oral Thin Film for OSCC Chemoprevention,” and she has published numerous book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles and abstracts. Additionally, she is the OMSNICase committee editor for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery National Insurance Company. In addition to her involvement in ACOMS and AAOMS, she participates in a number of other dental and OMS associations as a member or fellow. She served as an ABOMS examiner for seven years, five of which were in significant leadership roles.
Regent – Region V (Mid-West) Thomas Schlieve, DDS, MD, FACS
ACOMS members who reside in the Mid-West region can direct all questions and ideas to Dr. Schlieve.
Thomas Schlieve, D.D.S., M.D., FACS, is an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is also director of the OMFS residency training program and the medical director for oral and maxillofacial surgery at Parkland Hospital and Dallas Presbyterian Hospital.
Dr. Schlieve holds a B.S. in biology from the University of Wisconsin. He earned his dental surgery degree at Marquette University and his medical degree at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport School of Medicine. He completed a four-year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery and an internship in general surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center before continuing his training through an oral/head and neck oncologic surgery fellowship program at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and Cancer Institute.
In addition to serving on the Board of Regents for ACOMS, Dr. Schlieve is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a fellow of both the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He has lectured nationally and internationally and authored multiple scientific articles and textbook chapters in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He participates in community outreach efforts to raise awareness of oral cancer, teaches future surgeons, and leads continuing education courses for practicing physicians.
In his research, Dr. Schlieve studies the same diseases he treats in the operating room. His current research is focused on diseases of the oral cavity, including jaw osteonecrosis and oral cancer.
Regent – Region VI (West) Jasjit K. Dillon, DDS, MBBS, FDSRCS, FAC
ACOMS members who reside in the West region can direct all questions and ideas to Dr. Dillon.
Dr. Dillon serves as the program director of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and chief of Harborview Medical Center’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
Dr. Dillon has an internationally based background with experience and training garnered in five different countries. She received dental degrees from both the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Dental School and the University of California San Francisco. She also holds a post-doctorate diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a medical degree from St. Bartholomew’s Medical School, University of London.