Georgia School of Orthodontics

Sharing additional highlights from the inaugural Dr. Gasper Lazzara Orthodontic Symposium.

Held as part of Georgia School of Orthodontics’ 10-year anniversary celebration, the symposium brought together orthodontists and dental professionals for a day of continuing education, collaboration and clinical insight.

We were honored to welcome distinguished speakers Ravindra Nanda, BDS, MDS, PhD, PhD (Hon.), and L. Douglas Knight, DMD, whose presentations offered valuable perspectives on contemporary orthodontic treatment, innovation and evidence-based practice.

Thank you to our speakers, attendees and GSO team members who contributed to the success of this inaugural event. We are proud to continue advancing orthodontic education and look forward to welcoming future symposium participants in the years ahead.

Last week, Georgia School of Orthodontics welcomed a group of Brazilian dentists to its Atlanta campus through .tech_ , a career-transition organization that supports internationally trained healthcare professionals as they pursue opportunities to practice in the United States.

During the preceptorship experience, participants received hands-on orthodontic training led by Chief Academic Officer and Dean, Dr. Nandakumar Janakiraman; observed patient care alongside GSO resident dentists in our state-of-the-art clinic; and attended the inaugural Dr. Gasper Lazzara Orthodontic Symposium.

The program offered visiting doctors a meaningful opportunity to expand their clinical knowledge, gain insight into orthodontic education and patient care in the U.S., and engage with GSO faculty and residents. The experience concluded with Dr. Janakiraman and Clinical Director, Dr. Keith Blankenship presenting certificates to each participant in recognition of their successful completion of the preceptorship.

Special thank thanks to Dr. Fernanda Libanore, Teaching Assistant, Class of 2026, for her dedication and service as clinical ambassador for the group throughout the preceptorship experience.

GSO is proud to support educational experiences that foster global collaboration, professional growth, and the advancement of orthodontic care.

Photos courtesy .tech_

Georgia School of Orthodontics was honored to welcome Ravindra Nanda, BDS, MDS, PhD, PhD (Hon.), , and L. Douglas Knight, DMD, , for the inaugural Dr. Gasper Lazzara Orthodontic Symposium.

Presented in recognition of GSO’s 10-year anniversary, the symposium reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to advancing orthodontic education through academically rigorous and clinically relevant continuing education. Established as the first annual specialist-focused symposium of its kind at GSO, the program honors Dr. Gasper Lazzara’s enduring influence on the institution and his vision for innovation, academic excellence and evidence-based orthodontic practice.

The program examined contemporary orthodontic strategies for predictable clinical outcomes, including biomechanics and clinical applications of shape-memory aligners, facially driven treatment planning and interceptive orthodontics. Additional discussions focused on airway-centered care and interdisciplinary restorative considerations.

As a nationally approved AGD PACE Program Provider, GSO is proud to convene distinguished leaders in orthodontics for discussions that contribute to the advancement of the profession.
Additional symposium highlights to follow.

GSO clinics will be closed Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, May 26. Team members will be available on Friday, May 22 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist with account inquiries and scheduling needs. If you experience an orthodontic emergency while the office is closed, please call us at 770-351-7737 and press 9 to contact the doctor on call for immediate assistance. Calls received after 7 p.m. will be returned the following morning after 7 a.m.

Congratulations to the following residents who completed the first three GSO Research Day presentations of the year.

Group 1: Dr. Maedeh Dargahi, Dr. Alex Macdonald and Dr. Husein Aseeri presented “Assessing the Curriculum of the Georgia School of Orthodontics on Postgraduate Training.”

Group 2: Dr. Manaf Babbeely, Dr. Jane Choi and Dr. Ryan Jones presented “A Survey of Orthodontic Residents at Georgia School of Orthodontics to Evaluate Preferences Toward Treatment Following Residency.”

Group 3: Dr. Irvin Singh, Dr. Hebba Shamia and Dr. Ricardo Tomei presented “A Retrospective Pilot Study to Determine the Skeletal and Dental Changes With Invisalign Mandibular Advancement Appliance.”

Georgia School of Orthodontics is proud to recognize Class of 2026 residents Dr. Monnik Melcos and Dr. Hebba Shamia for presenting their case displays at the 2026 AAO Conference in Orlando.

Dr. Melcos presented Case II/DI-24, featuring the comprehensive orthodontic treatment of a growing Class II patient treated with fixed appliances and Herbst therapy for growth modification, alongside supervising faculty member Dr. Sergio Real. Dr. Shamia presented a case on Non-Extraction Class III + Surgical DI-26, alongside supervising faculty members Dr. Sergio Real and Dr. Mohamed El Nasr.

Their presentations reflected a strong commitment to clinical excellence, interdisciplinary and evidence-based treatment planning, patient-centered care, and the advancement of the orthodontic profession through academic and clinical achievement. We commend Dr. Shamia, Dr. Melcos, and their supervising faculty for their professionalism, collaboration, and dedication, and thank them for representing Georgia School of Orthodontics with distinction.

May is Military Appreciation Month — and at GSO, our appreciation for military families extends all year long. GSO is proud to offer a $300 Military Discount on braces or Invisalign® treatment for active and retired military personnel, their spouses, and now dependent children up to age 26 living in the same household.* We’re honored to make orthodontic care more accessible to even more military families in our community.

Know a military family who could benefit? Tag them below or call 770-618-2176 to schedule a free consultation.

The Georgia School of Orthodontics clinics will be closed from Thursday, April 30, through Monday, May 4, for an educational conference. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, May 5. Although our clinics will be closed, team members will be available on Thursday, Friday, and Monday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist with account inquiries and scheduling needs.

It was a privilege for GSO to host Dr. Prasad Nalabothu from the Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, as a guest lecturer. He provided an insightful overview of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery and highlighted its important role in orthodontic treatment planning. We are sincerely grateful to Dr. Nalabothu for contributing his expertise and perspective to our academic community.