Early years and education
- Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York
- Graduated from James Madison High School
- Received bachelor's degree in biology from Brooklyn College in 1968
- Attended Camp Vacamas as a child and volunteered for their Hands in 4 Youth programming for close to 40 years
- Wanted to be a dentist because of his fondness for working with hands and his own dentist

Career
- Board certified in periodontics
- Practices at Synergistic Dentistry of New York (SDNY) since 1975
- Specialist in both periodontics and prosthodontics
- Former chairman of the Department of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at NYU College of Dentistry
- Has written over 250 scientific papers and co-authored textbooks

Awards and recognition
- Received the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Charles L. Pincus / Ronald E. Goldman Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019
- Awarded the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2015
- Received the William J. Gies Award for outstanding contribution to the field of periodontology in 2005
- Honorary Alumni Award from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
- Received the 2017 Academic Excellence in Prosthodontics award from the Northeastern Gnathological Society

Implant education and affiliations
- Director of implant education at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine since May 2010
- Section editor for two peer-reviewed dental journals
- Editorial review board member of ten dental journals
- Master Clinician Award recipient from the American Academy of Periodontology
- NYU College of Dentistry named its periodontal and implant dentistry postgraduate clinical wing in his honor

Personal life
- Married to Karen
- Has a son named Derek