School of Medicine
Showing 1-9 of 9 Results
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Dalena Ha
Affiliate, Department Funds
Resident in Surgery - Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryBioDalena Ha, DMD, MPH, MS is a dental provider with a strong commitment to community service, public health, and advancing access to equitable care. She is a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholar and holds degrees in Dental Medicine and Public Health from A.T. Still University, as well as a Master of Science in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, where she concentrated on regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies.
During dental school, Dalena co-authored “The Current Applications and Efficacy of Stem Cells in Dentistry” published in EC Dental Science (2023), reflecting her interest in translational research and the future of regenerative therapies in dental care. Her academic work is rooted in a commitment to evidence-based practice and the integration of innovation into clinical decision-making.
She is the founder of the Remembering My Roots Charity Group, established in 2018 to serve underserved communities through local and international outreach. Her participation in the Good Samaritan Medical and Dental Mission further highlights her dedication to global health equity. Dalena also served as President of the ASDOH chapter of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and as a national board member on ADEA’s Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows, helping to shape student engagement and professional development in dental education. -
Jill Helms
Professor of Surgery (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Helms' research interests center around regenerative medicine and craniofacial development.
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Rod Hentz
Professor of Surgery, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly Interests1. Nerve regeneration and repair, evaluation of repair methods, modalities to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, development of improved methods to analyze nerve regeneration.
2. Implementation of functional neuromuscular stimulation to paralytic deformities.
3. Computer modeling of upper limb function. -
Franco Hernandez
Clinical Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
BioDr. Franco Hernandez was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from the University of California, Riverside where he obtained a Bachelor’s in Economics, graduating with honors. He went on to complete his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Southern California where he spent dedicated time as a selective student with emphasized training in the areas of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Anesthesia, and Public Health. Following graduation, he began his post-graduate training as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery intern at Parkland Memorial Hospital / UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the largest level 1 trauma centers in the state of Texas. He continued his training at Stanford University Medical Center where he completed a Dental Medicine, Oral & Maxillofacial clinical instructorship.
Dr. Hernandez diagnoses, treats, and manages a variety of conditions including: odontogenic infection, dentoalveolar trauma, edentulism (partial and complete), non-malignant oral lesions, benign cysts/tumor of the maxilla/mandible, osteonecrosis of the maxilla/mandible, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and orofacial pain. He routinely performs surgical dental extractions, oral rehabilitation with dental implants, removal of 3rd molars (“wisdom teeth”), bone grafting, excision of benign maxillary/mandibular cysts, as well as management of TMD and Orofacial pain. As a Dental Oncologist, he specializes in dental procedures and surgeries prior to, during, and following head & neck radiation therapy and chemotherapy. As a Hospital Dentist, he performs medically necessary dental procedures and surgeries in the context of extensive cardiac disease, major organ failure/transplant cases, major systemic disease, cancer therapy, and orthopedic surgery.
