Casey Tupea is a dental hygienist with more than 25 years of experience and a leader in the field of dental care for adults with disabilities. She currently serves as the Dental Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of Integrated Health, where she advocates for adults with disabilities and has developed and implemented a statewide program to increase access to dental care for persons with developmental disabilities. She also provides education to dental professionals and peers on best practices for serving this population. Casey received a Master of Science in Population Health Sciences in 2021 from the University of Alabama, where she was awarded the Centennial Scholar Award in recognition of her research and contributions to individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as honors from the University of Alabama Graduate School.

Dr. Paul Kovalski has dedicated more than 33 years to treating patients with mental illness and special health care needs. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University College of Dental Medicine in 1987 and began his career at Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital. In 1996, he became Chief of Dentistry at Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital, a position he held until the hospital’s closure in 2011. He then served as Chair of the Dental Department at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital until his retirement in 2020. Beyond his clinical leadership, Dr. Kovalski has remained actively engaged in professional and community service. He is a past president of Special Care Advocates in Dentistry and the New Jersey State Dental Chiefs. He also served in public office as an elected member of the Marlboro Township Council. Dr. Kovalski has volunteered with the Special Olympics New Jersey and the National Park Service. For over 25 years, he served as a Forensic Dental Consultant with the Monmouth County Medical Examiner's Office. In this role, he conducted forensic dental examinations and contributed to more than 75 identifications, collaborating with agencies including the New Jersey State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Coast Guard, and the National Park Service. His work in forensic identification led to a feature on the television program America's Most Wanted in connection with the “Baby Bones” case. He is an active member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the New Jersey Association of Forensic Scientists.

Dr. Beetstra, a native of Wisconsin, received his dental degree from the Baylor College of Dentistry. He served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service for nine years in Oregon, Florida, and North Carolina, where he worked with Native Americans, migrant farmworkers, and other underserved populations. For his efforts in community water fluoridation, Dr. Beetstra received the Outstanding Service Medal, the highest award granted by the United States Public Health Service, and was recognized by the National Health Service Corps as a Healthcare Hero. Following his service in Public Health, Dr. Beetstra joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, where he developed programs, state policy initiatives, and training programs focused on the care of medically complex patients and individuals with special health care needs. Six years later, he was recruited to Arkansas Children’s Hospital / University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to develop a statewide program serving medically complex children and patients with special health care needs. He served there for sixteen years, including eleven years as Chair. Since 2020, Dr. Beetstra has served as the Dental Program Director at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, where he continues his work advancing care and training for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Dr. Joyce Leonetti earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1980 and completed postgraduate training at the USAF Malcolm Grow Medical Center and the Brooks Air Force Base School of Aerospace Medicine. During her service as a Flight Surgeon at McGuire Air Force Base, she also served as the base Drug and Alcohol Consultant, developing a strong foundation in addiction medicine and substance use disorders. Following her military service, Dr. Leonetti became board certified in both Family Practice and Preventive & Occupational Medicine. As an FAA Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, she worked closely with pilots participating in the FAA HIMS Program, a nationally recognized monitoring and treatment program for substance use disorders. Throughout her career in private practice, public health, and collaboration with local school districts, she dedicated significant time to addressing substance use disorders and their broader impact on individuals, families, and communities. Now recently retired, Dr. Joyce Leonetti and her husband Bob divide their time between the New Jersey shore and Philadelphia. She enjoys music, theater, travel, and embracing this exciting new chapter of life.

Dr. Bob Leonetti is a 1978 graduate of UMDNJ, now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Following five years of service in the United States Air Force Dental Corps, he began an 18-year career at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, where his passion for providing care to individuals with disabilities and complex behavioral health needs took root. Committed to advancing his expertise in special care dentistry, Dr. Leonetti completed a fellowship in Dental Education in the Care of Persons with Disabilities (DECOD) at the University of Washington in 1998. In addition to his hospital service, he maintained a private practice for more than 30 years, providing compassionate and inclusive dental care to underserved and special needs populations. Dr. Leonetti has been an active member of SAID since 1993 and served as SAID President in 2001. Throughout his career, he has lectured nationally on topics including dentistry and mental health, advocacy for patients with disabilities, managed care, and the opioid crisis. He also served as Chief of Dental Services for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, a Clinical Instructor at UMDNJ, and Co-Founder and Clinic Director of Project Smiles Dental Clinic in Camden, New Jersey, expanding access to care for vulnerable communities. Now happily retired, Dr. Leonetti enjoys traveling with his wife Joyce and continuing to support the mission of special care dentistry through education and advocacy.

Dr. Robert Rada, DDS, MBA is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Science at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. He also maintains a private practice in La Grange, Illinois focusing on patients with special needs. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages are cared for in his practice. Advanced behavior management, anesthesia care and hospital dentistry are all part of his practice. Dr. Rada has facilitated many live patient courses to assist dentists and dental students in their learning to care for the patients with special needs. He teaches in the Group Practice Clinics and currently has dental students rotate through his private practice and directs the Special Care Dental Track at UIC.

Dr. David Itzkoff has been the Supervising Dentist at Shapiro Center, a 500-bed residential facility for adults with IDD operated by the State of Illinois in Kankakee for over 30 years. He now is retired and pursuing other areas of Special Oral HealthCare. He is a graduate of NYU School of Dentistry.  He is a senior fellow of National Academies of Practice where he serves as Chair of the Dental Academy and is a Diplomate and immediate past president of the American Board of Special Care Dentistry.   He has been a proud member of SAID for 30 years, where he served as President, committee chair, and remains in a leadership role for program planning and other SAID projects. He hasn’t missed a meeting yet.