- Dr. Randy Kluender
- Chairman, Board of Directors
Dr. Randy Kluender serves as Chairman of the Georgia School of Orthodontics Board of Trustees. Dr. Kluender attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and Masters of Science degree in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Kluender’s professional career has been that of a clinician, educator and administrator. Dr. Kluender previously was the Associate Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs and Advanced Dental Education along with being the Director for Continuing Dental Education and Information Technology at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. His career in dentistry did not start in dental education but in a solo pediatric dental practice in 1979. He started his dental education career as a part-time clinical instructor in 1985 while maintaining his private practice.
During his tenure as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Colorado, he secured over $2.5 million in grant funding with the majority of those funds starting new programs to help people in need. For three years he was the Regional Consultant for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentist’s Dental Home Initiative that linked Headstart children with dental homes.
Dr. Kluender participated in the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute and was selected for ADEA’s Harry Bruce Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C He actively worked on legislative issues impacting oral heath, informing legislators about the relationship of oral heath and general health, diversity in the healthcare workforce, student indebtedness and financial aid, and funding for dental schools in the United States. These issues also included advocating for additional funding for oral heath care for the underserved, continuation of Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding for dental schools, loan repayment strategies for students, dentists and new dental faculty. Additionally, he advocated for increasing the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding that provides significant financial support for research grants to health science centers and dental schools in the U.S.
He holds or has held many leadership roles in organized dentistry including the American College of Dentists and Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Dr. Kluender initiated the White Coat Ceremony for dental students at Colorado that emphasizes ethics and professionalism in dentistry.
Dr. Ricky E. Harrell is a 1979 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. After serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in the Navajo Area Indian Health Service for three years, he returned to the University of Alabama and completed his residency in orthodontics in 1984. He was in the private practice of orthodontics in Westminster, CO from 1984-2006. Upon leaving private practice in 2006, he became a commissioned officer in the US Army Reserves, 919th Medical CO (DS) in Aurora, CO and joined the faculty at the University of Colorado. He earned an MA in education from the University of the Pacific in 2014.
Dr. Harrell most recently served as program director and professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the Medical University of South Carolina. His clinical teaching interests include temporary anchorage devices, diode laser treatment, the role of extractions in orthodontic treatment, and surgical orthodontics. Dr. Harrell de-commissioned from the US Army Reserves as a Lt. Colonel in the medical corps in August 2016 after 10 years of service in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras and two deployments to Camp Bucca, Iraq, and Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan.
Dr. Harrell is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (1984) and the Southern Association of Orthodontists (2015). He is also a certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (2010).
When out of the office, he enjoys music, fishing, skiing, hiking, yard work, reading, and spending time with his wife, Melanie, and their family.
Dr. Janakiraman obtained his dental degree from Government Dental College Bangalore University, India in 1998, and a master’s degree in orthodontics from Government Dental College NTR University of Health, India in 2002. He moved to the United States of America in 2010 after getting accepted to the Fellowship Program in Orthodontics at the University of Connecticut. In the next three years he obtained his master’s degree (M.Dent.Sc) and a certificate in orthodontics. He served as full-time faculty member at University of Connecticut from July 2014 – May 2016. Later he joined the faculty of the University of Louisville as Assistant Professor and Research Director.
Dr. Janakiraman is a Diplomate of American Board of Orthodontics and member of AAO and SAO.
He has published twenty articles in peer reviewed orthodontic journals and contributed to two chapters in orthodontic textbooks. Additionally he has presented his work in scientific meetings both nationally and internationally. His research interests have primarily focused on reducing treatment time and improving the evidence and biomechanical knowledge of various orthodontic techniques and appliances. His publication have covered numerous topics including investigating new orthodontic techniques and appliances, re-evaluating routinely used orthodontic systems in order to throw greater light on them, and more recently, integrating the current 3D technologies into clinical orthodontics. One of his primary objectives as a researcher and clinician is to translate his research findings to more efficient and effective outcomes for patients.
Dr. Deborah Borden brings more than 30 years of expertise to her Associate Professor role at GSO. Dr. Borden is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), and her Master of Science in Oral Biology. Dr. Borden is dual trained and holds a Certificate in both Orthodontics from the University of Louisville and Pediatric Dentistry from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
From 1981-1991, Dr. Borden was in private practice initially in Louisville and then Elizabethtown, Kentucky as a pediatric dentist. Following this experience, she returned to the University of Louisville to specialize in orthodontics and established a private practice in Elizabethtown, KY from 1993-2010. In 2010, she sold her private practice and became a Christian mission volunteer, providing dental services and support to at-need individuals both locally and in various countries around the world. She plans to continue her involvement with missions while working at GSO.
Prior to coming on-board with GSO, Dr. Borden served as an orthodontist and consultant with Taylor Orthodontics in Crestwood, Kentucky and Milliner Orthodontics in Mayfield, Kentucky.
Dr. Asercion attended the University of New Orleans and received a Bachelor of Science (’73) and a Masters of Science (’77) in Biology. Completing his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (’79) from LSU School of Dentistry, he chose to enter LSU’s residency program and was awarded a certificate in orthodontics in 1981. During his professional career, Dr. Asercion practiced the specialty of orthodontics in Louisiana, Arizona, and Colorado for more than 30 years. He retired from private practice in January 2016 to participate in the development of the GSO orthodontic program. Dr. Asercion was a member of the LSUSD Curriculum Committee and was the Director of Clinical Operations at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Department of Orthodontics.
Notable academic awards include: Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor society, C Edmund Kells Dental Honor Society, Mosby Scholarship Award and the American Association of Orthodontics Oral Facial Development Scholarship Award. He has presented different research papers to the International Association of Dental Research, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Orthodontics. He was Director of Clinical Advancement for Orthodontic Centers of America.
Dr. Asercion was a member of the New Orleans and Louisiana Dental Associations, the Metropolitan Denver and Colorado Dental Associations, the Rocky Mountain Association. He was awarded Life Active Membership of the American Association of Orthodontists.
His orthodontic philosophy is founded upon evidence based outcomes and result-directed clinical efficiency.
Doctor Doris received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Emory University School of Dentistry in Atlanta, Georgia in 1967. He continued his education at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry where he earned a Certificate in Orthodontics in 1977. After operating a private practice in general dentistry in Marietta, Georgia for 6 years, he returned to The University of Louisville where he became an instructor for Pre-Doctoral/Orthodontic Dentistry, and a Resident Member of Clef Palate and Craniofacial team in the Department of Surgery/Orthodontics. From 1978 to 2010, he operated a private Orthodontic practice in Marietta. Dr. Doris also held the position of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Orthodontic Department at Emory University School of Dentistry from 1985 to 1990. In addition to his role as a faculty member at the Georgia School of Orthodontics, he is also an Associate Professor and Director of Orthodontic Laboratory in the in the Orthodontic program at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and a fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Frouchard Academy.
Dr. José Luis Garcia joins the Georgia School of Orthodontics with 41 years of clinical experience. He received his orthodontic certificate from the University of Illinois School Of Dentistry and entered private practice in his hometown of Mexicali, Baja California. Dr. Garcia taught in the undergraduate program at the University of Baja California Dental School for six years while working part-time in his son’s private orthodontic practice in Temecula, CA. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Mexican Association of Orthodontists.
Dr. M. Noam Green was born in Toronto, Ontario. He earned his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors in Clinical Dentistry and induction into the OKU Dental Honor Society. He completed his orthodontics residency at the University of Detroit Mercy. There he earned his Masters of Science by developing a mid-sagittal plane definition for 3D cephalometric analyses and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society. Dr. Green now lives in Atlanta and provides orthodontic care for patients in Decatur, Georgia.
Dr. Michael Hebert is a Louisiana native and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from Loyola University New Orleans. After graduation, he served for two years in the United States Air Force as a Captain in the Dental Corps, treating Vietnam-era troops at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. Upon finishing active duty, he resumed his education at St. Louis University School of Orthodontics, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Orthodontics.
Dr. Hebert has more than forty years’ experience in the private practice of orthodontics in Colorado and Louisiana. He was affiliated with Orthodontic Centers of America from 1988 until 2000.
Dr. Hebert now runs an orthodontic consulting company, and looks forward to bringing his clinical experience to GSO. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Colorado Orthodontic Association and Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontists.
Dr. Gabriela Herrera joins GSO with an extensive international background in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Dr. Herrera began her dental education in Venezuela, where she graduated Universidad Santa Maria (USM) in 2004. She then completed her fellowship in endodontics through USM in 2005 and became a specialist in dentofacial functional orthopedics through the Venezuelan Society of Functional Orthopedics in 2006.
In 2008, Dr. Herrera continued her specialist education in orthodontics in the United States, where she attended New York University to become a specialist in orthodontics. She completed cleft lip and palate advanced training at New York University Medical Center in 2008.
After obtaining her masters in orthodontics with a three year post-graduate program at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, she went on to open a private practice in orthodontics and craniofacial orthopedics in Caracas, Venezuela in 2011. Dr. Herrera also served as a faculty member at USM from 2011-2014 for their pre-doctoral pediatric/orthodontic dentistry program.
Dr. Herrera is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) and the Sociedad Colombiana de Ortodoncia (SCO).
Dr. Lazzara is a Florida native and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Emory University in 1966. He received his Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans in 1969.
Dr. Lazzara joins GSO with more than 40 years of experience in the field of orthodontics. His experience includes maintaining private orthodontic practices for 25 years, and serving as Founder/CEO/Director/Chairman of the world’s largest orthodontic management company, Orthodontic Centers of America (OCA) from 1985-2001. Additionally, Dr. Lazzara has lectured on a variety of orthodontic and business-related topics at numerous professional conferences.
Dr. Lazzara retired as a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of both the American Association of Orthodontists and the Southern Society of Orthodontists.
When out of the office, he enjoys traveling, golfing, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.
Doctor Robert Pickron is a Board Certified Orthodontist who earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Emory University and his Certificate in Orthodontics from the University of Alabama. He became board certified from the American Board of Orthodontics in 1972.
Dr. Pickron has over forty-five years of orthodontic clinical experience in the private practice sector, and has served as an adjunct professor at NOVA Southeastern School of Dental Medicine since 2012. His publications have been featured in Orthodontic Products, and he has presented at the World Congress on Facial Sculpting in Cosmetic Surgery, Jacksonville University, University of Southern Nevada, University of Tennessee, and Nova Southeastern, to name a few.
He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, the Georgia Association of Orthodontists, and the World Federation of Orthodontists.
Dr. Polk is a Nashville, TN native and received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Tennessee and his D.D.S. from Meharry Medical College. He earned his Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from the U.S. Army Medical Department at Fort Knox, KY and simultaneously, was awarded his M.S. in Oral Biology from the University of Louisville.
His dental career began serving in the U.S. Army Dental Corps where he retired at the rank of Colonel in 2002, after 21 years of service. After retirement, he practiced in Reston, VA for two and a half years before deciding to relocate back to Nashville to serve as Chair, Department of Orthodontics at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (2004-2009). He has maintained a private practice since 2006.
Dr. Polk is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Southern Association of Orthodontists, and is a certified Diplomate, of the American Board of Orthodontics (1998).
When out of the office, he enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Potter graduated from Northwestern University School of Dentistry in 1979. After private practice in general dentistry in Colorado for 10 years, he returned to The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where he earned a Certificate and an M.S. in Dental Diagnostic Sciences. In 1991, he joined the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. There,
Dr. Potter served in many roles including Interim Dean of the School of Dentistry from 2001 to 2003, and Vice Dean from 2003 to 2005. Dr. Potter returned to Colorado and served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine for 10 years.
His current appointment is as Professor and Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in the Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and a fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.
Dr. Stockstill attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and received a Bachelor of Science (’73) in Pre-Dentistry. After completing his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (’75) from Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Dentistry he served for two years in the U.S. Public Health Service/U.S. Coast Guard as a staff dentist (rank of Lieutenant) and received an honorable discharge in 1977.
Dr. Stockstill attended the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine as a Neuromuscular Research in Clinical Dentistry Fellow and completed his M.S. in Oral Sciences and Certificate in Temporomandibular Disorders/Orofacial Pain in 1987. He served as Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and was promoted to Associate professor in 1994. He entered the Orthodontic Residency at the UNMC College of Dentistry and received his Certificate in Orthodontics in 1996. Later he joined the faculty at Creighton University School of Dentistry where he served as Associate professor until 2001, when he joined the Medical College of Georgia College of Dental Medicine as Director of Orthodontic Research and Director of undergraduate orthodontic curriculum.
In 2012 he joined the faculty of the ECU School of Dental Medicine as Division Director of Orthodontics and as Director of Curricula in Orthodontics as well as TMD/Orofacial Pain. After successfully developing the orthodontic and TMD/Orofacial Pain curricula at ECU, Dr. Stockstill was recruited by Seton Hill University to serve as Professor of Orthodontics within the Center for Orthodontics residency program.
Dr. Stockstill also serves as the Associate Editor of the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. He is a past Chairman of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Special Interest Group for Temporomandibular Disorders/Orofacial Pain and is a founding member of the Association of University Temporomandibular Disorder/Orofacial Pain Programs American Dental Education Association.
Dr. Stockstill has edited, authored and co-authored numerous scientific journals and textbooks, holds patents for orthodontic instruments, and has presented orthodontic lectures at the local, regional and international levels. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon (Alpha-Alpha chapter), and is a Diplomate (Board certified) in the American Board of Orthodontics.
In addition to a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree and Certificate in Orthodontics, Dr. Damon Wilkerson holds an Associate’s Degree in Dental Laboratory Technology. He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Texas San Antonio School of Dentistry. After completing a one-year Pediatric Dental Hospital G.P.R. at Oklahoma Memorial Children’s Hospital, he returned to the University of Texas at Houston and completed his residency in orthodontics in 1986.
After two years of private practice he attended the University of Michigan to pursue advanced training in Human Growth and Development. While attending the University of Michigan, Dr. Wilkerson was an Associate Orthodontist in the Private Practice of Dr. Robert Moyers. Upon leaving Michigan he went back into his own private practice in Texas for ten years.
During the Early Development of Invisalign training he was Contributor and Reviewer in 2003 of the first published Invisalign Clinical Monitoring Guide.
Before coming to the Georgia School of Orthodontics. Dr. Wilkerson’s Educational/Teaching experience included:
Dr. Wilkerson most recently served as the Director of Orthodontics at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System Advanced Education in General Dentistry. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Texas Dental Association and American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association.
Dr. Wilkerson presently enjoys a part-time private practice in Corpus Christi, Texas.
