2020-21 Officers & Board Members

The purview of the Board of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) is an academy exemplifying professional excellence in upper airway, breathing and sleep issues in the burgeoning field of sleep-related Dental Medicine (Dental Sleep Medicine).

Officers

President: Dr. Kent Smith

Dr. Kent Smith is a Diplomate of both the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and is on the Advisory Committee of the Australasian Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. In 2007, he was asked to start a sleep curriculum at the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Clinical Studies. In 2011, he started the SKISH Initiative (“School Kids in Safe Hands”), to keep bus drivers and students safe on the roads. In 2012, he was the first in Texas to be awarded a Dental Sleep Medicine Facility Accreditation and is the creator of the “Best Sleep Hygiene” app, which is a free download. That same year, he was asked to host a radio show on sleep disorders, and has been the host of “The Sleep Show” for the last 3 years, heard every Friday at 1PM on KAAM 770 in the Dallas area.

Past President: Dr. Erin E. Elliott

Dr. Erin Elliott is a practicing general dentist with a private practice in Post Falls, Idaho. She focuses on many aspects of dentistry including general and cosmetic dentistry as well as orthodontics and dental sleep apnea. Dr. Elliott is a past president of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. Dr. Elliott has authored several articles on Dental Sleep Medicine, She is a regular contributor to Dental Economics including her latest article published in the October 2012 issue of Dental Economics entitled “Take the Time to Check for Sleep Apnea and “Pediatric Sleep Apnea” in the June 2013 issue of Dental Economics. She is considered a national expert in this growing field of dentistry and has lectured extensively educating dentists on how to incorporate dental sleep medicine into their practices.

CEO: David Gergen

David Gergen, CDT and President of Pro Player Health Alliance, has been a nationally respected dental lab technician for over 30 years. He received the award for “The Finest Orthodontic Technician in the Country” given by Columbus Dental in 1986. He also has been appointed Executive Director and CEO of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy Dental Division, a national interdisciplinary academy dedicated to sleep training and education with over 60,000 members. David rolled out of bed on December 4, 1982 and had his career “ah ha” moment. He knew he was going to be an orthodontic technician and he knew he was going to help people all over the country to help treat their sleep disorders in partnership with their dentists. He has worked for some of the pioneers in the orthodontic and sleep dentistry fields. He was the personal technician for the likes of Dr. Robert Ricketts, Dr. Ronald Roth, Dr. A. Paul Serrano, Dr. Clark Jones, Dr. Harold Gelb, Dr. Joseph R. Cohen, Dr. Rodney Willey, Dr. Allan Bernstein, and Dr. Thien Pham. One of his proudest achievements is receiving The National Leadership award for Arizona Small Businessman of the Year in 2015

Credentialing Director: Dr. Paul Van Walleghem

Dr. Paul Van Walleghem has been practicing Dentistry for 27 years and Dental Sleep Medicine for 22 years. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1986 with honors. Dr. Van Walleghem received his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1999, and is a member of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. Dr. Van Walleghem is credentialing chair for the board of the Sleep and Breathing Academy. BASBA is the board administers diplomacy review and testing for the ASBA. Earning Diplomate status from the ASBA is a unique honor that recognizes special competency in dental sleep medicine.

Treasurer: Dr. Richard Klein DDS

Dr. Richard Klein founded Michigan Head & Neck Institute, PC in 1985 to provide a place for people suffering from TMJ problems to seek specific treatment. After practicing general dentistry for 17 years (including the voluntary time he spent when he served as a Lieutenant in the US Naval Dental Corp), he saw a need to open a practice that exclusively treated patients with TMJ problems as he saw an increasing amount of patients with the relevant symptoms, and treatment for the condition was evolving. He later added the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea to his exclusive practice as he saw a growing number of people who suffered from the condition, and evolution in the treatment of such a sleep disorder included an oral appliance (mouthpiece) that could be made by an expertly educated dentist like Dr. Klein.

Board Members

Dr. Eugene M. Azuma, DDS

Dr. Eugene M. Azuma, DDS received his Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa before pursuing his Professional Diploma in Secondary Education Specializing in Biology and Marine Science. He then received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in Washington DC.

In 1990, Dr. Azuma established Eugene M. Azuma, DDS, his family-oriented dental practice in Honolulu, HI. What started off as a small, two-operatory office later evolved into a technologically advanced dental practice in 1995. We utilize digital xrays, 3D conebeam radiography and dental Lasers for the Nightlase procedure.

Dr. Eugene M. Azuma, DDS is a specialist in sleep apnea treatment and dental sleep medicine. In 2016, Dr. Azuma, along with his colleagues, established Hawaii Dental Sleep Medicine, LLC.

Additionally, Dr. Azuma is a member of the American Dental Associations, Honolulu County Dental Society, Diplomat of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, Cerec Study club, Leeward Prosthetics Study club, and the Hawaii Sleep Society.

Dr. Harry Sugg

Dental Icon Dr Harry Sugg has related the following credo “Gaining the trust and respect of my patients and colleagues alike means that I’ve proven my expertise professionally and personally. But that’s just a small part of why I maintain professional memberships. It is through these groups that I am able to learn a great deal of information on new advances in dentistry.”

“I’m grateful for the knowledge my educational background has afforded me, and I always look forward to new and better ways to treat my patients.”

“I like to think that I’ve been practicing ‘people oriented’ dentistry for the last 30 years. During each exam I spend a considerable amount of time just listening to the concerns of my patients, and helping them to understand why I’ve recommended a procedure, and what it will do for them.”

Dr. Shad Morris

Dr. Shad L. Morris began observing the toll that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was taking on the oral health of his patients. In particular a friend and dental patient whom he treated suddenly passed away in his sleep from obstructive sleep Apnea one night due to not wearing his CPAP.

Dr. Morris decided he wanted to help save lives through treating OSA. In taking many continuing education courses on OSA, along with the trained staff, Premier Sleep Solutions is now saving lives daily. His involvement in sleep medicine turned from primarily screening for sleep apnea to now having very close relationships with sleep physicians and allied health professionals in the community in treating this disease.

Dr. Kevin Mueller

Dr. Kevin Mueller received is D.M.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 1980. He has specialty training in Sleep Apnea, advanced dental management of snoring and sleep apnea. He has additional training from the L.D. Pankey Institute and Seattle Institute.

Dr. Mueller maintains professional memberships in the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

He enjoys gold and ballroom dancing and is an Associate Faculty of Midwestern Dental School.

Dr. Chris Chui

Dr. Chris Chui is a general dentist, specialized in Dental Sleep Medicine. He has successfully treated numerous patients with snoring and sleep apnea issues. He utilizes the latest technology and the most up-to-date dental appliances to tackle the patients with sleep issues that a lot of Primary Care Providers and Board Certified Sleep Physicians could not treat.Dr. Chris Chui has been a leading family dentist in the San Francisco Bay Area with expertise in Sleep Apnea, TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction) and orthopedic development for both children and adults. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and of UC San Francisco as a Doctor of Dental Surgery, Dr. Chui has been continuously recognized for his stellar work and genuine patient caring, receiving prestigious accolades such as KRON4 News and the most up-to-date dental appliances to tackle the patients with sleep issues that a lot of Primary Care Providers and Board Certified Sleep Physicians could not treat.Dr. Chris Chui has been a leading family dentist in the San Francisco Bay Area with expertise in Sleep Apnea, TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction) and orthopedic development for both children and adults. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and of UC San Francisco as a Doctor of Dental Surgery, Dr. Chui has been continuously recognized for his stellar work and genuine patient caring, receiving prestigious accolades such as KRON4 News Best of the Bay Dentist, America’s Top Dentist, Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists and Fellow of the International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics.

Dr. Jon Caulfield

Dr. Jon W. Caulfield owns and operates Epic Dentistry in Littleton, Colorado, where he focuses on treating patients with airway, sleep and TMJ disorders. A self-proclaimed CE junkie, Dr. Caulfield has committed the practice to continuing education for himself, his team, and for other dentists around the country who share his passion for helping patients reclaim their health and live better lives. He has been fortunate to work alongside world leaders in neuromuscular occlusion, sleep, and airway improvement. He has been a certified DNA appliance provider since 2010 and is an integrated clinical advisor for Vivos.