IAMDI - Key Persons
Dr. Powers has been a practicing dentist for over 20 years. He graduated from Loma Linda University in 1993. He moved his office to Temecula, CA, in 2012 after being in Moreno Valley for many years to be closer to home. In January 2019, Dr. Powers moved to the Aesthetic Associates Centre in Buffalo, NY, where he practices alongside Dr. Dr. Powers is also one of the resident dentists at Shatkin F.I.R.S.T., where he treatment plans cases and provides clinical support to the company's customers.
Dr. Powers has extensive training and experience which he uses to treat his patients with compassion while providing them with the highest quality of dental treatment. He has placed dental implants since 1999.
Dr. Powers is a past President of the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants, where he continues to be a member as one of its Diplomats. Some of his other credentials include:
Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantology (ICOI)
Mastership in the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants (IAMDI)
Graduate of Pacific Aesthetic Continuum (PAC Live)
Senior Lecturer For Shatkin F.I.R.S.T. on Mini Dental Implant Procedures
and Techniques
Member of the American Dental Association (ADA)
Member of the California Dental Association (CDA)
Member of the Tri-County Dental Association
Dr. Rodriguez received her bachelor's degree from Manhattan College. Her passion for dentistry led her to the prestigious Tufts Dental School in Boston, where she continued her formal education in the field of dentistry. Upon her return to New Jersey, she worked as a Cosmetic and Family Dentist. Since 2014, Dr. Rodriguez has focused primarily on the use of mini implants for single tooth to full mouth restorations.
Dr. Rodriguez is a Diplomate of the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a member of ADA and NJDA. She is a permanent lecturer for Shatkin F.I.R.S.T. and a faculty member of the Postdoctoral Dental Residency Program at the Shatkin F.I.R.S.T. Centre.
Dr. James Tharp received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from Northwestern University. He has been practicing dentistry for over 35 years and has completed several courses offered by the Pankey Institute and Dawson Academy. He is a Fellow and member of the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants and has just completed the requirements for Mastership status. Dr. Tharp is currently an evaluator for the Gordon Christensen Clinicians Report. He has studied with Joe Massad (prosthodontics specialist) at the Massad Institute.
He has taught for over twenty five years in several areas of dentistry in seventeen different states, and three countries. He has dedicated his professional career to providing you with the best that dentistry has to offer. Dr. Tharp believes when you love your work, it shows. Outside of work Dr. Tharp enjoys playing ice hockey, hiking mountain trails, and being a flying instructor. He enjoys a variety of music and loves to dance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Dental Association
Dr. Randy Staples is a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry and has been serving the Jackson, TN, community since 1977. He has demonstrated a commitment to excellence by completing nearly 2,000 hours of continuing education with some of the finest clinicians and programs in the world.
Dr. Staples is a member of the American Dental Association, the Tennessee Dental Association, the Seventh District of Tennessee Dental Association, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the Mini Dental Implant Centers of America.
In 2009, Dr. Staples joined the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants and began working diligently achieving both a Fellowship and Mastership status. Dr. Staples previously served as President and is a Diplomat of the IAMDI.
Job Titles:
- LECTURER
- Founder and CEO of Practical Clinical Courses
Gordon J. Christensen is Founder and CEO of Practical Clinical Courses (PCC) and Co-Founder and CEO for Clinicians Report Foundation (CR) and a practicing prosthodontist in Provo, Utah. PCC is an international continuing education organization that provides courses and videos for all dental professionals. CR offers unbiased research on thousands of dental products.
Dr. Christensen has presented over 45,000 hours of continuing education throughout the world and has published many articles and books.
Gordon and Dr. Rella Christensen are co-founders of the non-profit Gordon J. Christensen CLINICIANS REPORT (previously CRA), which Rella directed for many years. Since 1976, they have conducted research in all areas of dentistry and published the findings to the profession in the well-known CRA Newsletter now called CLINICIANS REPORT.
Gordon's degrees include: DDS, University of Southern California; MSD, University of Washington; PhD, University of Denver; an Honorary Doctor of Science from Utah State University, and an honorary Doctor of Dental Education and Research from Utah Valley University.
Early in his career, Gordon helped initiate the University of Kentucky and University of Colorado Dental Schools and taught at the University of Washington.
Gordon is a practicing prosthodontist in Provo, Utah. Gordon and Rella's sons are both dentists. William is a prosthodontist, and Michael is a general dentist. Their daughter, Carlene, is a teacher.