Piacsek, Mitchell, DDS

Dr. Luis Yepes’ desire to pursue dentistry stems from a passion rooted in his diverse life experiences. Growing up as the son of an electrical engineer, he witnessed his father’s dedication and hard work. His older brother, a dentist, ingrained in him the value of caring for others in all circumstances and situations. He graduated from Pontifical Xaverian University in Colombia, his home country, with his dental degree and endodontics certification. He completed a general practice residency at the University of Kentucky, serving as chief resident, before beginning an endodontics fellowship and instructing in the clinic. Dr. Yepes then joined the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry as an assistant clinical professor and went on to serve as director of the advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD) residency and clinic. Dr. Yepes is a Commission on Dental Accreditation site visitor for AEGD and general practice residency programs. He is a recipient of the 2021 Presidential Award for clinical excellence, and a fellow with the Institute for Diversity in Leadership, with the American Dental Association. He is on the board of the Hispanic Dental Association, co-editor of the Journal of the Hispanic Dental Association, president-elect of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society Mu Nu chapter, and a fellow of the International College of Dentistry.

Dr. Hua-Hong Chien came aboard as a professor and chief of the Division of Regenerative Sciences and Periodontology on July 31, 2023. Born and raised in Taiwan, Dr. Chien matriculated into China Medical University School of Dentistry from which he received his D.D.S. degree in 1986. Dr. Chien completed his specialty training at the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, where he received a Ph.D. degree in Oral Biology and a certificate in Periodontics in 1997. Immediately afterward, he moved back to his native country, Taiwan, and became a full-time faculty member at China Medical University. In 2001, he was appointed as the Dean of the School of Dentistry at China Medical University. In 2007, he accepted a faculty position at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Dentistry, where he was appointed as a clinical associate professor in the Division of Periodontology. Dr. Chien became a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and was appointed as the Pre-doctoral Program Director in the Division of Periodontology in 2009. Dr. Chien's major focus of study since starting at OSU has been dental implant research. He has been the principal investigator in two college seed grants and one corporate-funded research contract. He was also the co-investigator for several dental implant contracts/grants from corporations or foundations. Dr. Chien has mentored both periodontal and prosthodontic graduate students in the completion of their master's degrees in clinical studies. Dr. Chien has contributed to the scientific knowledge in periodontics with the publication of 38 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. He has also served on the editorial board for several journals.