OF board slate set for 2025-2026
Above: OF Board officers and directors (front row, from left): Drs. Tanna, Favagehi, Weber and Sones. Standing (from left): Drs. Leblebicioglu, Miller, Ratliff and Mertens
The officers and directors for the Osseointegration Foundation (OF) have been selected, as approved by the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) Board of Directors at its March 2025 meeting.
The OF’s slate also includes the addition of two new directors, AO Fellow Christian Mertens, DDS, PhD and Megan A. Ratliff, DDS, MS, with AO Fellow and Diplomate Mehrdad Favagehi, DDS, MS elected as president.
“It’s an honor to become the OF president. I would like to thank the past OF Board of Directors, and especially our individual and corporate sponsors who have enabled us to follow our mission of supporting education, clinical and research,” said Dr. Favagehi.
He continued, “Our community has developed the Foundation so that it’s ready to meet its future mission goals. I’m very honored to have the opportunity to use the Foundation to help researchers in implant dentistry students, residents, and also patients who need implant services and can’t afford it.”
In sharing one of his goals and his vision for the year ahead, Dr. Favagehi said, “The Academy of Osseointegration just recently developed a strategic plan. We will follow their lead and develop a strategic plan.”
With the generous support of its extensive community of donors, the Foundation in 2024 was able to provide:
- A cumulative total of nearly $150,000 in Basic; Translational and Clinical; and Restorative Science Grants to dental academic faculty and students pursuing groundbreaking implant research.
- $40,000 in named Research and Education funds to sponsor the Opening Symposium, Closing Session and Young Clinicians’ Luncheon at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
- $25,000 in Travel Grants to students from around the globe a cornerstone opportunity to present their research at the Academy’s Annual Meeting.
- $25,000 to bestow the 16th annual Nobel Biocare Brånemark Osseointegration Award to honor an individual’s impact on, and leadership in, the field of implant dentistry in any or all of the Foundation’s mission categories.
The 2025-2026 OF Board of Directors includes:
Officers
President
AO Fellow and Diplomate Mehrdad Favagehi, DDS, MS
Vice President
Nipul K. Tanna, DMD, MS
Secretary/Treasurer
Binnaz Leblebicioglu, DDS, MS, PhD
Past President
Hans-Peter Weber, DMD
Directors
AO Life Fellow and Diplomate Joerg Neugebauer, DDS, PhD (one year term)
AO Life Fellow and Diplomate Amerian D. Sones, DMD, MS
AO Fellow and Diplomate Robert J. Miller, DDS
AO Fellow and Diplomate Christian Mertens, DDS, PhD
Megan A. Ratliff, DDS, MS
