National Oral Health Advisory Committee

Chairperson: Dr. Carlos Quiñonez

Dr. Quiñonez is a dental public health specialist, and Vice Dean and Director of Dentistry at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. Dr. Quiñonez has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature on programmatic and technical issues in oral health care and is regularly called upon to provide advice on public dental care policy.

Vice-Chairperson: Dr. Sacha Singh

Dr. Singh is a licensed periodontist currently engaged in providing intravenous sedation to patients in private-practice settings in Ottawa, Canada. In 2012, he worked with Health Canada to review the Non-Insured Health Benefits preventive and periodontal policy. Dr. Singh holds a Doctorate in Dental Surgery, a Master of Science and a Diploma in Periodontics from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. He is a past member of the Canadian Academy of Periodontics, the American Academy of Periodontics and the Ontario Society of Periodontists and is a current member of the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association.

Dr. Meredith Brownlee

Dr. Brownlee earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Winnipeg in 1999 and her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from University of Manitoba in 2004. She then pursued her dental career providing care for northern indigenous people of Manitoba from 2004 to 2011 in numerous isolated communities. After 7 years in private practice, Dr. Brownlee undertook her training in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at University of Connecticut, obtaining her Master of Dental Science in 2014.

Dr. Brownlee was an Assistant Professor and Division Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at the University of Manitoba from 2014 to 2020 in the department of Dental Diagnostics and Surgical Sciences. Dr. Brownlee conducts a private practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology imaging referral service and enjoys giving continuing education lectures. Dr. Brownlee is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Dr. Bruce Freeman

Dr. Freeman is an honours graduate of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto where he is an Assistant Professor. He completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York and his Diploma in Orthodontics and his Master of Science degree in the field of orofacial pain at the University of Toronto. He is Co-Director of the Hospital Dental Residency Program and Facial Pain Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital where he participates in research and cares for patients with complex facial pain disorders in addition to training the hospital's dental residents and specialty dental residents. Dr. Freeman is also a facial pain consultant in the Department of Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital and the Wasser Pain Management Centre at Mount Sinai. Dr. Freeman lectures internationally on clinical orthodontics, facial pain, patient experience, mindful communication and virtual surgical planning. Dr. Freeman is a certified yoga instructor with additional training in breathing techniques, meditation and trauma-informed movement.

Dr. Peter Coyte

Dr. Peter C. Coyte is a Professor of Health Economics in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the University in 1987, he was a member of the Economics Department at the University of Alberta and, before that, at Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Coyte is a national and international expert in health economics, health services evaluation, and health policy and planning. In 2002, he was elected president of the Canadian Health Economics Research Association and championed its evolution into the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR). He was elected as CAHSPR's inaugural president in 2003.

In 2000, Dr. Coyte was awarded a Canadian Healthcare Services Research Foundation and Canadian Institute of Health Research Health Services Chair, for 10 years. He was the Director of the Canadian Institute of Health Research's Strategic Research and Training Program in Health Care, Technology and Place between 2002 and 2013. Dr. Coyte was awarded the Health Services Research Advancement Award from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, in 2010 in recognition of his significant career contributions to the advancement of health services research in Canada.

Ms. Dawn Sauvé

Ms. Sauvé is a registered dental hygienist currently managing the dental health program at the Northwestern Health Unit in Ontario. She started as a clinical dental hygienist in 1988, where she discovered a passion for dental public health. She has progressed in her field and obtained various positions with the Northwestern Health Unit.

The Northwestern Health Unit is the most westerly of Ontario's public health units, serving the Kenora and entire Rainy River Districts with 12 offices and a catchment area that stretches across 173,828 square kilometers, about one fifth the province of Ontario. The total population of approximately 82,000 and almost a third of the population identifies as Indigenous.

As Program Manager, Ms. Sauvé provides leadership and direction to dental staff, the dental program and manages service delivery to 10 First Nations communities in the north.

Dr. Darsi Perusini

Dr. Perusini grew up in Spruce Grove, Alberta. He is a certified specialist in pediatric dentistry and a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Dr. Perusini runs an inclusive practice in downtown Edmonton focused on providing quality and culturally appropriate dental care to all children, as well as adults with special healthcare needs. He maintains privileges at the Stollery Children's Hospital and the Alberta Surgical Centre. Dr. Perusini is a clinical instructor and lecturer in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Following graduation from the University of Alberta School of Dentistry, Dr. Perusini moved to Toronto to complete a general practice residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Subsequently, he completed a Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr. Karl Cuddy

Dr. Cuddy is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon working as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto as the director of education and maxillofacial trauma. He is also on staff at Mount Sinai, Princess Margaret and Humber River hospitals in Toronto. Dr. Cuddy has Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Medicine degrees as well as a Master of Science in pathology, completed at Western University where he also completed residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Following this, he completed additional fellowship training in advanced craniomaxillofacial surgery and trauma at the Head and Neck Institute in Portland, Oregon. His clinical and research interests include utilization of technology and assessment of outcomes in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery including for patients suffering from trauma, tumors and congenital deformities as well as curriculum development in oral and maxillofacial surgery education.

Mr. Mahdi Khodadadi

Mr. Mahdi Khodadadi is a denturist with over 30 years of experience in dentistry, denturism and dental prosthetics.

His educational background includes a Denturist Diploma from the College of Denturists of Ontario, 2013 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Tehran University, Iran, 1998 . He also earned an Associate Degree in Dental Prosthodontics from Tehran University, 1987 and completed a one-year orthodontic apprenticeship at the same university, 1990.

Since 2016, Mr. Khodadadi has provided denture services to Inuit communities across Nunavut, completing numerous travel missions in the Baffin and Kitikmeot regions. He also served First Nations communities in Sioux Lookout, Ontario from 2018 to 2020. 

Mr. Khodadadi's deep passion for the rich culture and history of the Inuit has enabled him to build meaningful relationships and effective communication with the communities and people of Nunavut.

In addition to his denturist practice, Mr. Khodadadi is a photographer who has captured an extensive collection of photography and videography from across Nunavut.

He is a registered member of the College of Denturists of Ontario, the Denturist Association of Ontario, and the Denturist Association of Canada. He also holds a Dental Mechanics License from the Government of Nunavut.

Dr. Tanya Cook

Dr. Cook is a licensed full-time prosthodontist and Assistant Dean of Admissions at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Dentistry. She holds a Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree, a Master of Applied Science combined with a Diploma in Prosthodontics from Dalhousie University and a Master of Education degree from Acadia University. At Dalhousie University, she serves as the Chair of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the Faculty of Dentistry, as well as the Chair of the Academic Policy and Appeals Committee.

Dr. Cook is an examiner and board member for the National Dental Examining Board, serving as the representative for the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia. Dr. Cook is also a member of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada Accreditation Review Committee and serves as the Team Lead for the Prosthodontics National Dental Specialty Examination with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Dr. Ben Balevi

Dr. Balevi holds degrees in Engineering and Dentistry from McGill University, along with a graduate degree in Evidence-Based Healthcare from the University of Oxford. A recognized leader in the dental profession, Dr. Balevi has served as Chair of the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals' Standards and Guidance Committee, where he played a role shaping regulatory policies and professional standards. In recognition of his commitment to research-driven clinical excellence, Dr. Balevi received the prestigious Evidence-Based Dentistry – Practice Award from the American Dental Association and the International Association of Dental Research.