A childs oral health is essential to long-term success and wellness, and the ISPD is dedicated to serving and supporting the dentists, who protect it. We are able to effectively and efficiently provide resources for pediatric dentists at every stage of their career, so they are able to thrive both clinically and professionally. The ISPD enables pediatric dentists to achieve their personal goals, while providing incredible value to their communities and teams.
The Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists (ISPD) serves to support the oral health of all children by engaging membership through quality education, advocacy and volunteer opportunities. Each of our members is dedicated and is working together to achieve optimal oral health for all children.
ISPD members enjoy a wide variety of benefits starting on day one. We seamlessly connect our dentists and offer several resources to stay on top of the latest research and quickly integrate the newest technology and techniques into practice.
One of the best things about the ISPD is that it provides a forum to easily connect with other like-minded dentists, who are also dedicated to safeguarding the oral health of children. Dentists can share their victories, challenges and strategies with one another, which can help everyone improve. It also allows for mentorship opportunities, so past mistakes can become future lessons for all.
The pediatric dental field is constantly evolving, but between managing your practice and taking care of your own patients, dedicating time to research and continuing education can seem impossible. You will have direct access, as a member of the ISPD, to a broad network of experienced pediatric dentists. These connections can help to improve both your clinical skills and business, all without having to sacrifice your normal schedule.
Thinking about adding a service to your practice? Interested in purchasing a new piece of equipment? Curious about how you could adjust your marketing to make it more effective? Thanks to the network of top pediatric dentists in the ISPD, you will have the chance to talk with people, who have found themselves in similar situations. You can learn how others handled these intricacies, so you can move forward to achieve your goals.
We not only host our own array of conferences that feature some of the best minds and vendors in pediatric dentistry, but we also sponsor dentists to attend out-of-state conferences. It is simple to keep up with the latest breakthroughs in the field, as a member of the ISPD, because the network of support is dedicated to helping you learn.
The ISPD holds regular meetings and hosts several events each year. These conferences focus on the subjects that are most important to members. Our team is constantly doing research and listening to feedback, so we can tailor the schedule to provide as much value as possible. You will find a list of upcoming meetings and events, for which you can register for them on the same page.
We pride ourselves on being a small and efficient professional organization, and this is due, in part, to our excellent Executive Board Officers and Directors. Their experience and passion for helping fellow dentists allows them to accomplish so much for the IPSD and its members. They are committed to building upon progress, so you can become the very best version of yourself.
An outstanding team of directors supports our Board. They ensure that the ISPD continues to run well and provides excellent value for our members. You will find a little information about each of them below.
Dr. Vorachek has been a member of the ISPD for 10 years and is thrilled to serve as President of an organization she truly believes provides so much value for both dentists and their patients. She has been practicing for 11 years and earned her dental degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. This was followed by her pediatric residency at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital., where she is currently the residency Program Director. She is also a Diplomate of the ABPD and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society. Dr. Vorachek has taken part in multiple published studies, including Inhibition of Autism Spectrum Disorder Associated Bacteria by Polyols. Shes an advocate for resident research and was the first chair of the Dr. Indru Punwani Graduate Student Research Award from the ISPD.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Vorachek enjoys baking sweet treats, golfing with her husband, and traveling to visit her sister in Charleston, SC. She regularly takes classes at The Barre Code and likes to spend her weekends painting, taking her dog Nugget for a walk, or just sipping a nice cold margarita.
Dr. Shah has been practicing for 20 years and been a part of the ISPD for 14 years. As a pediatric dentist, she loves that every day is different but always fun because children bring such a unique happiness and energy to the world. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and completed her GPR at the University of Illinois. After practicing general dentistry for a few years, she earned her pediatric certification at Northwestern University. When she eventually joined the ISPD, she initially didnt know what to expect, but she felt it was important to give back to the profession. As time went by, she learned the importance of organized dentistry and realized the power that a combined group has to better the profession versus just individuals. Today, she has a great appreciation for what the organization does, and she loves that she gets to meet and work with so many like-minded individuals with whom she can seek advice and share ideas. She is also a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Originally from Michigan, Dr. Shah and her husband have two teenage daughters and a new Australian Labradoodle puppy. When not spending time with family, she loves to frequent Chicagos many terrific restaurants, play tennis, and practice yoga.
Dr. Ursitti has been a member of the ISPD for her entire 25-year dental career. She attended the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and earned her Certificate of Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While she was still a student, she spent time going to schools providing an educational program called the Smile Squad. This type of outreach wasnt very common back in the 90s, so Dr. Ursitti is considered a pioneer when it comes to spreading awareness for oral health. She chose to get involved with the ISPD because she believes that sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and learning new techniques through continuing education keeps a dentist energized and fresh so they can provide the highest quality care. She also enjoys getting to mentor younger dentists so they can begin their careers on the right foot. She is currently a member of the ADA, ISDS, AAPD, and Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Dr. Ursitti is happily married with one son, and as a family, they enjoy skiing, traveling, cooking Italian food, and working on their small ranch. In the past, she has sung with multiple classical chorales in the Chicago area.
Dr. Lobos is an 18-year dental veteran, and she joined the ISPD in 2010. She says that nothing is better than helping a child get past their dental anxiety and feel proud of themselves. For her, the ISPD offers a way to help her stay abreast of the latest in pediatric dentistry. She also enjoys that it enables her to maintain old friendships and make new ones as time goes by. She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, where she earned her DDS degree as well as her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Masters in Oral Sciences. In 2013, she was certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Today, she also maintains memberships in the ADA as well as the AAPD.
Her primary hobby is running, with her favorite 5K being the Carrera de Los Muertos in Pilsen. She also likes to write poetry and find tasty, hole-in-the-wall cafes, but she says her greatest passion is international travel. She actually spent an entire year in Paris while in college!
Dr. Albert joined the ISPD the same year she started practicing dentistry2006. She chose pediatrics because she loves helping children be happy and healthy, and she saw that the ISPD would give her the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded dentists and advocate for the profession. She earned her dental degree from the University of Michigan and obtained her Master's degree and certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the ISDS and is a national spokesperson for the AAPD. She is also involved with the ABPD on their examination committee.
Dr. Elliot has been practicing dentistry for 14 years, and shes been a proud member of the ISPD for her entire career. For her, the best part of her job is getting to experience the lightheartedness and playfulness provided by her little patients every day. She obtained her dental degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed her pediatric residency at the Childrens Memorial Medical Center. She joined the ISPD because she wanted to be a part of organized dentistry and give back to the field that has already given her so much. She is also a member of the ADA, AAPD, ISDS, and CDS.
When shes not working, Dr. Elliot primarily spends her free time with her husband, their three daughters, and their pet bunny, Fergus. On the weekends, youll often find her reading, crafting, watching movies, and baking (she has a major sweet tooth!).
Dr. Richardson has 15 years of dental experience, all of which she has spent as a member of the ISPD. She is a graduate of the NYU College of Dentistry and earned her Pediatric Dental Certificate from the same institution. She says that her mentors taught her early that organized dentistry is important because it helps dentists represent themselves to the outside world in a unified way, plus it enables them to advocate for their patients (which is especially important when it comes to children). She is a member of the ADA, AAPD, ISDS, CDS, and College of Diplomates of the ABPD.
Dr. Richardson is a proud mother and describes her family as warm, loving, and crazy in a good way! She is a passionate avocational singer and enjoys performing for her patients and is a member of an a capella group. She also likes to knit, cook, and bake.
Dr. Montero comes to us all the way from Fortaleza, Brazil, and she has 28 years of experience in the dental field. After graduating from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil, she then completed a two-year AEGD at the Eastman Dental Center. This was followed by a GPR at the University of Rochester, and she received her pediatric dentistry certificate in 2000 from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Hurwich is a pediatric dentist because she wants to positively impact the lives of children. This is also what drew her to the ISPD. She values a voice in organized dentistry and works to adequately represent the ideals of the local pediatric dental community. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry, Dr. Hurwich obtained her pediatric certification from the UIC College of Dentistry. She is an active member of, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society. She is also a founding member of the Chicago Pediatric Dentistry Study Club.
When she is not helping patients or supporting fellow dentists, Dr. Hurwich likes to spend of her free time with her family and friends. She enjoys practicing yoga, traveling with her husband and exploring the vibrant Chicago restaurant scene.
Dr. Feinstein has been a pediatric dentist for 10 years, and she truly loves the profession because she gets to be a positive role model for children and play an active part in their lives, ensuring they grow up healthy. She attended the University of Pittsburgh for dental school as well as her pediatric residency. She joined the ISPD because she believes that organized dentistry is critical to providing the best care for children, which is why she is also a member of the ADA, ISDS, AAPD, AAP, and CDS.
At home, Dr. Feinstein stays nice and busy thanks to her husband and their three children. She enjoys playing with her kids, needle pointing, reading, and cheering on her beloved St. Louis Cardinals (she is originally from St. Louis).
Dr Flavia Lamberghini is a Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She graduated at the Faculty of Dentistry of the National University of Cordoba and moved to the United States where she completed a Residency in General Dentistry, a Residency in Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellowship in Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellowship in Community Health, a Master in Oral Sciences and a Master in Public Health in the area of Epidemiology at the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC).
Flavia is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at UIC and an Invited Professor of the Master in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Catalunya in Barcelona. She is a CODA Site Visitor, a Consultant to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the Examining Commission of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. In 2007, she founded a practice in Pediatric Dentistry, Apple Dental Care, which has a great commitment to the community. Flavia is married to Fernando Testai, a Professor in Neurology at UIC, and together have two children.
Dr. Rabinowitz is honored to serve on the Board of the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists having been a member for the past seven years since he began practicing. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and completed his specialty training at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Rabinowitz has practiced in the Chicagoland area since 2014, primarily in the Lakeview community, and loves the quick pace and high energy of the city. He is excited to get more involved with organized dentistry through the ISPD because they promote continuing education so that pediatric dentists can remain on the forefront of new techniques and research that affect how patients are cared for. He also serves on the Examination Committee of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry & is a member of the ABPD, AAPD, ADA, CDS and ISDS.
Dr. Naik has been practicing dentistry for 16 years and been part of ISPD for 9 years. She is a Board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the following organizations: AAPD, COD, ISDS, ADA, ISDS, and CDS.
She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology and dual graduate degrees as a Doctor in Dental Surgery and a Master of Science in Oral Sciences. She went on to complete her residency in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Southern California and Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles.
She is excited for her role as an ISPD board member because of the opportunity to contribute to improving the practice environment for dentists, patients,and the broader community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters, cooking, and practicing hot yoga in 100 degree studios.
Dr. Petrik believes a pediatric dentist should support and strengthen the lives of their patients in a fun and caring way. Serving on the board of the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists is her way ofsupporting and strengthening the vibrant community of pediatric dentists in Illinois. Dr. Petrik received her dental school education at the UIC College of Dentistry in Chicago, IL and her pediatric specialty training at the Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
She is committed to life-long learning and staying up-to-date with modern dentistry and is Diplomate and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Being part of the ISPD is a great way to connect with colleagues and stay current in all areas of the dental profession. When Dr. Petrik likes to stay active by running, walking her dog, or continuing the never-ending quest to find the best cup of coffee.