Our Board of Directors
The Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences has surrounded itself with passionate, smart, experienced people who can help us grow in our vision and improve our processes to provide all who suffer from orofacial myofunctional disorders the proper care. In collaboration with the AAMS, we seek to build and maintain a Board of Directors that has a wide range of experiences, competencies and perspectives. Along with our various societies and our growing member involvement, the board of directors is helping us shape the future of myofunctional therapy through research, networking relationships, education, public awareness, through an ongoing demonstration of competency and standards.
Executive Board
Irene Marchesan, President
Professor Irene is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Specialist in Orofacial Myotherapy and Research Associate at CEFAC, Department of Orofacial Myotherapy Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Irene has over 40 years of experience in research and clinical practice in Brazil specialising in oral functions in the areas of alterations to speech, swallow, chewing and breathing. Her research, combined with other SLPs on lingual frenulum characteristics, tongue function with restricted frenulum, changes after frenectomy and the development of the lingual frenulum protocol have all culminated in the landmark law in Brazil, which now requires all infants born to be assessed for tongue-tie! As a professor, Irene has visited several countries sharing her knowledge and experience. She has published books, book chapters, and several papers on Orofacial Myotherapy.
More About Irene
Trinn Jagomägi, Vice-President
Triin Jagomägi graduated from the University of Tartu, Estonia in 1993 with DDS in stomatology, soon after that from University of Kuopio, Finland with master’s degree (MSc) in Orthodontics in 1995. In 2005 she got diploma of Membership in Orthodontics (MOrth RCSEd) by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK. In January 2012 she acquired PhD in medicine from the University of Tartu, Estonia. Currently she works as Associate Professor and Researcher at the Institute of Dentistry by the University of Tartu, the same time also being head of the orthodontic postgraduate training. Since 2000 she has also been working as orthodontist and head of the Ortodontiakeskus clinic in Tartu (private practice), which has recently changed its name to Unimed United Clinics.
More About Triin
Elysa Kliman, Secretary
Dr. Kliman is a general dentist working in Toronto, Canada. Since graduating from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC, she has completed extensive continuing education focused on craniofacial pain and dental sleep medicine. She is passionate about the whole-body health of patients, and committed to discovering better ways to guide and support healthy orofacial development and function. She is an active fellow and diplomate in several organizations, including the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. Currently, Dr. Kliman is the secretary of the AAMS and a Visiting Research Scholar at Stanford University, investigating the role of OMT in sleep surgeries. Dr. Kliman is very lucky to work in an incredible family practice, and loves providing holistic multidisciplinary care to her patients and community.
More About Elysa
Kirk Kollmann, Treasurer
Dr. Kirk Kollmann graduated from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and received his pediatric dental degree from Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. Keeping with his hospital background, he is a clinical instructor and volunteers his time working with the Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Team at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Dr. Kollmann has taken extensive continuing education in the field of Orafacial Myofunctional Therapist by the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. He serves as a spokesperson for the Chicago Dental Society and is involved in various aspects of organized dentistry. He loves to be the do-it-yourself craftsman, being proficient in electricity, carpentry, woodworking, plumbing, etc. Computers and gadgets are another one of his hobbies. He holds great respect for his partner Dr. Furusho.
More About Kollman
At Large Board Members
Zaghi Soroush, MD
Miho Imamura, PhD, DDS
Dr. Zaghi is a graduate of Harvard Medical School, UCLA Otolaryngology (ENT) residency, and Stanford Sleep Surgery Fellowship. He is very active in clinical research with over 60+ peer-reviewed research journal publications and is a recognized leader on advancing standards of care for tongue-tie surgery. He is now in practice in Los Angeles, CA in the United States through The Breathe Institute where the focus of his clinical practice and research efforts is now on understanding the impact of tethered oral tissues on sleep-disordered breathing and maxillofacial development in children and as a risk factor for upper airway resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea in adults.
More About Soroush
Miho Imamura, DDS, PhD is a 1986 graduate of the Nippon dental school in Tokyo, Japan. She’s a graduate of the Japan University orthodontic course (1986-1988). In 1988 to 2002 she studied preventive dentistry research at the DesMoines Collage in Iowa, USA. In 2003 she opened the M.I.H.O.orthodontic clinic (private clinic in Kofu Japan) where she currently works. She is a professional certificated board member of the Japan orthodontic association and the Japan adult orthodontic association. Dr. Imamura is a founder and board member of the Japanese Society for Oral Myofunctional Therapy.
More About Imamura
Esther Bianchini, PhD
Diana Grandi, MS, SLP
Dr. Bianchini is a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), Master in Communication Disorders (PUC-SP), Ph.D. in Science, Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (FMUSP), President of the SLP Department of the Brazilian Society of Sleep (ABSono), Professor at the Post Graduation Program in SLP at the Pontíficia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), Professor at CEFAC – Health and Education, Director of the SLP Rehabilitation Clinic in São Paulo, Brazil, author of scientific articles, books, and book chapters.
More About Bianchini
Diana Grandi has a Master’s Degree in Bioethics and Law, and a BA in Speech Language Therapy. She has been the Vice Dean of the Collegi de Logopedes de Catalunya from 2001 to 2015, and its Technical Director from 2007 to 2013. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Orofacial Motricity-Univ. Central de Catalunya. She has been a Member of the Executive Committee for the I Symposium on Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (SIAMO) in Portugal, 2015, and will be the same for the 2nd Symposium (II SIAMO) in Spain, 2017. She is a Member of the International Committee of the World Orofacial Motricity Day in representation of Spain. She’s the author of articles and chapters of books and co-author of various orofacial interdisciplinary evaluation protocols.
More About Grandi
Sharon Keenan, PhD
Dr. Keenan is the founder, director and one of the principal lecturers at The School of Sleep Medicine, Inc. in Palo Alto, CA. She also served as principal lecturer at the University of Sydney Department of Medicine in Sydney, Australia from 1986 to2010. She has been an invited speaker throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. She has contributed chapters to numerous books and has presented papers and abstracts on polysomnography both nationally and internationally. She served as president of the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists from 1983 to 1991 and is the recipient of the Weitzman Award for Outstanding Contributions
and Dedication to the Association of Polysomnographic Technologists and the William C. Dement award for outstanding leadership at Stanford University Sleep Disorders Research Center.
More About Keenan