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