invited speakers
PROF LUCIA CEVIDANES (USA)
Dr. Lucia Cevidanes is the Thomas and Doris Graber Professor of Dentistry and Associate Professor in Orthodontics at the University of Michigan, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. A practicing clinician and prolific researcher, she has published over 200 manuscripts on 3D imaging and AI, supported by grants from the AAOF and NIDCR. Her work has been recognized with the AAO Thomas M. Graber Award, B.F. Dewel Award, Milo Hellman Award, and AAOMR Wuehrmann Award. Her clinical and research interests focus on leveraging 3D imaging, AI, and additive manufacturing to solve complex orthodontic challenges, evaluate treatment outcomes, and innovate care for craniofacial anomalies.
DR RENATO COCCONI (ITALY)
Dr Renato Cocconi - MD, MS - obtained his postgraduate degree in orthodontics with full marks and honor in 1993 at the University of Milan.
In the last 30 years his practice has been exclusively dedicated to orthodontics.
He directs the Face Ortho-Surgical center in Parma together with his partner Silvia Rapa.
He is involved in an intense scientific and educational activity and he has been invited as keynote speaker by the most important international orthodontic societies ad universities in Europe and US.
He is current President of the Angle Society of Europe and active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.
In the recent years his attention has focused to the digital evolution of orthodontics, interdisciplinary treatments and ortho facial surgery together with Prof. Raffaini.
PROF AMA JOHAL (UK)
Ama Johal is Professor/Consultant Orthodontist, Academic Lead for Orthodontics at Bart's and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary College, University London [QMUL]. He qualified in dentistry at Sheffield University in 1989, with Honours and completed the Membership in Orthodontics (Royal College Surgeons England) and Masters Degree in Orthodontics at QMUL, graduating with distinction in 1996. He has completed a PhD in the use of mandibular advancement splints in sleep-related breathing disorders. Ama is past Vice-President of the British Society Dental Sleep Medicine, a full member of the Angle Society of Europe and appointed a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
Both his clinical and research work has been rewarded with numerous National and International prizes and grants, including the Turpin Award [2021] from the American Association of Orthodontics [AAO] for Evidence-based Research, the Chapman Award [2022] for best published research from British Orthodontic Society and 2024 B.F. and AAO Helen E. Dewel Award for best Clinical Research publication. He is an invited lecturer, both nationally and internationally, with over 125 publications in peer-reviewed International journals and several book chapters. His research interests include the impact of quality of life in orthodontics and the management of patients with sleep-related breathing disorders. His specialist interests include multidisciplinary care of patients with orthodontic-restorative needs.
PROF Bernd LAPATKI (GERMANY)
Bernd Lapatki received the degree in dentistry from the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 1994. He defended his thesis leading to the Dr. med. dent. degree in 1998, and his Habilitation Thesis on the pathogenesis and treatment stability of cover-bite and Class II Division 2 malocclusion in 2007. He also received a Ph.D. degree in neurophysiology from Radboud University Nijmegen (NL) in 2010 for the electrophysiological characterization of the facial motor system at a motor unit level. His clinical career started in 1995 with practicing as a general dentist for two years before he began his postgraduate study at the Department of Orthodontics, Freiburg University Medical Center. During his clinical work at this department as Specialist in Orthodontics from 2000 to 2009 he was also a Research Fellow at the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. Since 2009 he is a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Orthodontics at the Ulm University Medical Center. From 2013 – 2019 he was the Director of the Centre of Dentistry, and since 2019 he is the Dean of Studies in Dentistry at this University. Bernd Lapatki was awarded in 1999 by the Faculties of Medicine and Applied Sciences of the University of Freiburg for the best dissertation in the field of medicine/medicine technique. In 2004, he received the Alex Motsch Award by the German Society of Dentistry and Oral Medicine, and the Arnold Biber Award (the highest scientific award of Orthodontics in Germany) by the German Orthodontic Society in 2007. The research of this group focuses on the development of methods for clinical force-moment monitoring in orthodontics, mechanical evaluation of orthodontic treatment approaches including multi-bracket appliances and aligners, and the (patho-)physiology of the facial and masticatory motor systems. His clinical focus areas are skeletally-anchored treatment mechanics, segmented arch techniques and in-office aligner therapy.
PROF AMBrA MICHELOTTI (ITALY)
Professor Ambrosina Michelotti graduated in Dentistry (DDS) in 1984 and received the Honorary Degree in Dentistry at the University of Malmo (Sweden) in 2018. In 1991 she's got the degree of specialist in Orthodontics. She is full professor in Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology. She is director of the post-graduated School in Orthodontics and responsible of the Master course on “Orofacial pain and Temporomandibular Disorders” at the University of Naples Federico II. She has authored or co-authored more than 200 papers published in Italian and international journals, and co-author of several book chapters. She also gave numerous lectures at international congresses. Her research interests are mainly focused on clinical orthodontic, the basic physiology of the jaw muscles, on the etiology, diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders and on the relationship between the jaw musculature and orthodontics.
She was the president of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders (2010), President of the Neuroscience group of IADR (2011); President of SIDA (società italiana di disfunzioni ed algie temporomandibolari; 2012-2013); President of the RDC/TMD Consortium at the International Association od Dental Research (2013-2014); President of the Italian Board of Orthodontics (2020-2021), President of the European Society of Oral Physiology (2024), President elected of the SIG-Orofacial Pain di IASP (2026) and President elected of the Italian Society of Orthodontics (SIDO – 2028).
Editor in Chief of the Orthodontic and Craniofacial Research journal, Associate Editor of the European Journal of Oral Science, Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, member of the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Orthodontics and referee of several national and international journals.
PROF SABINE RUF (GERMANY)
Prof. Dr. Sabine Ruf completed her undergraduate dental education at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen from 1986 to 1991, followed by earning her Doctorate (Dr. med. dent.) in 1994. Dr. Ruf became a Certified Orthodontist in 1995 and later received her Habilitation (Dr. med. dent. Habil.) in 2001. Her academic journey includes notable positions such as Lecturer for Orthodontics at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (2001-2005) and Professor and Chair for Orthodontics at the University of Bern, Switzerland (2002-2005).
Since 2005, Dr. Ruf has served as Professor, Chair, and Clinical Director for Orthodontics at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen. She has held significant leadership roles including Deputy Executive Director of the Dental School at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Meeting Chairman of the German Orthodontic Society in Berlin (2008). She is recognized internationally, having been an External examiner for Master and PhD programs at the University of Hong Kong and the recipient of numerous awards, including the W.J.B. Houston Research Award from the European Orthodontic Society (1997) and the Beni Solow Award from the European Orthodontic Society (2019).
Dr. Ruf's research interests are expansive, focusing on dentofacial orthopaedics, craniomandibular function and dysfunction, and the biological basis of orthodontics. She has authored over 180 publications in national and international journals and has been actively involved in various scientific societies, including her current role as President of the Angle Society of Europe since April 2025.