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UW School of Dentistry

Department: Oral Medicine

Victor Vinh

Vinh

Dr. Victor Vinh is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and the Radiology Clinic Director. He earned his DDS from UTHealth Houston and completed two postgraduate residencies: an Advanced Education in General Dentistry through NYU Langone Health at Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, a federally qualified health center in Honolulu, Hawai’i, before pursuing specialty training in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at the University of Washington.

Prior to joining the University of Washington as faculty, Dr. Vinh served as Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine and currently holds an Honorary Assistant Professor appointment at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Dentistry.

His scholarly work and student mentorship focuses on improving diagnostic imaging quality and interpretation, with particular interests in image quality assessment, clinical decision-making, and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in dental education and practice. He has served as principal investigator and collaborator on grant-funded research, and his work has been presented nationally and internationally at meetings of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and the Asian Congress of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.

Dr. Vinh is actively involved in predoctoral and postdoctoral teaching, with educational interests including clinical reasoning in image interpretation, reduction of diagnostic error, mentorship in radiographic interpretation, and the integration of emerging technologies into dental education.

Innovation in Education Award (2025)
Awarded by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of New England in recognition of implementing a structured mentorship program in radiographic interpretation.

Ohood Mohammed

Background

Dr. Ohood Mohammed is a clinical instructor at the University of Washington and a compassionate oral medicine specialist dedicated to providing superior patient care. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in 2013. Dr. Mohammed completed her Master’s in Dental Science and postdoctoral residency training in Oral Medicine at the University of Washington in 2022.

Dr. Mohammed teaches predoctoral and postdoctoral students clinically in the oral medicine clinic and the Dental Urgent Care Clinic. She builds genuine connections with her patients while delivering exceptional clinical care. Dr. Mohammed stays current with the latest developments in her field and is committed to continuous professional growth.

Beyond her practice and teaching, Dr. Mohammed is actively involved in community development.

Nicholas Sotak

Education

  • BS, Biomedical Engineering, Bucknell University, 2007
  • DMD, Tufts University, 2011
  • Fellowship and MSD in Oral Medicine, University of Washington, 2018

Background

Dr. Nicholas Sotak is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry within the department of Oral Medicine.

He obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Tufts University through a U.S. Amy Health Profession Scholarship Program scholarship. After 4 years of active military service he completed his postdoctoral fellowship training in Oral Medicine at the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry where he was Chief Resident his second year.

Dr. Sotak currently teaches predoctoral and postdoctoral students clinically in oral medicine clinic and lectures didactically on topics within oral medicine, orofacial pain, and dental sleep medicine. He continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and an active member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine.

Milda Chmieliauskaite

Chmieliauskaite

Dr. Milda Chmieliauskaite is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and the Graduate Program director in the Oral Medicine MSD/residency program.

She obtained both her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her postdoctoral residency training in Oral Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as Chief Resident her second year.

Dr. Chmieliauskaite currently teaches predoctoral and postdoctoral students clinically in the Oral Medicine clinical services and lectures didactically on topics within oral medicine, and orofacial pain. Her scholarly work focuses on oral medicine, orofacial pain and public health. In addition, Dr. Chmieliauskaite is an Attending at the University of Washington Medical Center.

She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and an active member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine chairing a committee and serving as a board member.

  • Residency in Oral Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania/University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, 2016
  • M.P.H., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 2014
  • D.M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, 2014
  • B.S., Biology, The Ohio State University, 2009
  • Certificates of merit from the American Academy of Oral Medicine (2021, 2019)
  • World Workshop of Oral Medicine, Göthenburg, Sweden (2018)
  • ADEA Emerging Leaders, Washington DC (2018)
  • Oral Medicine Resident Award, University of Pennsylvania (2016)
  • Dr. Earle Bank Hoyt Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
  • Certificate of Merit and Award in Oral Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
  • Honors in Community Service, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
  • Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health Award, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
  • Matthew Cryer Honor Society, University of Pennsylvania (2014)
  • Kristeller Radiology Award, University of Pennsylvania (2013)

David Dean

Dean

Dr. David Dean is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and the Director of the Oral Medicine service at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. A lifelong Husky, he completed his BS, DDS, and MSD in Oral Medicine at UW. His current clinical practice is split between the oral medicine services at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington.

He is a diplomat of the American Board of Oral Medicine, a fellow in the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, a fellow in the American College of Dentists, and a Seattle Met “Top Dentist” in the field of Oral Medicine. Academic honors include the Bruce R. Rothwell distinguished teaching award (UWSOD’s highest teaching honor), the UWSOD Dental Alumni Faculty award, and participation in SCCA Medical Leadership Development’s High Potentials program. Scholarship activity includes an NIDCR funded R01 assessing the oral impacts of chronic Graft-versus-Host disease and participation in expert panels through the American Society of Transplant & Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), and the 7th World Workshop of Oral Medicine. He served as graduate program director in the Oral Medicine MSD program from 2016-2022 and was honored to be chosen as the Commencement Speaker and Guest of Honor for the UWSOD class of 2016.

In his time at UW, Dr. Dean has served as a Foundations Pioneer, helping to create the UWSOD’s award-winning scientific curriculum. He currently directs the Blood, Autoimmunity, and Neoplasia course while teaching regularly at both the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels. Outside of UW he is active in local and national continuing dental and medical education and currently serves the chair of the scientific sessions committee for the American Academy of Oral Medicine.

Oral complications of cancer, cancer therapy, and hematopoietic cell transplantation; Oral mucosal disorders including Graft-versus-Host-Disease; Temporomandibular disorders; Burning mouth syndrome; Neuropathic orofacial pain.

  • BS: University of Washington (Cellular, Molecular, & Developmental Biology), 2006
  • DDS: University of Washington, 2010
  • MSD (Oral Medicine): University of Washington, 2014
  • Diplomate, American Board of Oral Medicine
  • Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh

Kimberly Espinoza

Dr. Espinoza received her bachelor’s degree in biology and physics from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, in 2000, her DDS from the University of Southern California in 2004, her Advanced Education in General Dentistry certificate from the University of New Mexico in 2006 and a master’s degree in public health from UNM in 2011. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Special Care Dentistry and received fellowship recognition with the American College of Dentists, National Academies of Practice, and the Academy of Dentistry for People with Disabilities.

Dr. Espinoza was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program for 8 years before joining the UW School of Dentistry. She has served in leadership roles in several national organizations, including Special Care Advocates in Dentistry, the Special Care Dentistry Association, and the American Board of Special Care Dentistry. At the UW School of Dentistry she serves as Director of the DECOD Program and Thread Champion for the Care of Diverse Populations in the predoctoral curriculum.

Mark Drangsholt

Drangsholt
Dr. Drangsholt received his DDS degree from the University of Washington in 1984 and completed a general practice residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago in 1985. He began a general dental practice in Kent, Washington, in 1985 where he continued to practice from half to full time until 1995. He returned to the University of Washington and earned his M.P.H. in Epidemiology in 1992, a certificate in Oral Medicine in 1995 and completed his PhD in Epidemiology in 2004. He was appointed as a tenure-track assistant professor in 2006 , was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2009, and full professor in 2012. He was appointed Chair of the Department of Oral Medicine in 2010, and continues in that role. He served on the American Board of Oral Medicine from 2012 to 2021, serving in multiple roles including president. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 2019.
Dr. Drangsholt currently teaches in multiple medical/dental school and oral medicine graduate courses. He mentors Oral Medicine graduate students in various research projects. He has given over 150 presentations, including invited research presentations in Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Thailand, and Australia, besides multiple universities across the US. He is the past president of the Neuroscience Section of the International Association for Dental Research, and past president of the University of Washington Dental Alumni Association.
Dr. Drangsholt provides patient care in the Oral Medicine Clinical Service department at the University of Washington, where his clinical practice is limited to the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders, oral-facial pain, oral mucosal lesions, and other oral-facial diseases. He also provides care at the Center for Pain Relief, University of Washington Medical Center since 2011.
His current research projects include finding better ways to diagnose orofacial pains, investigating the causes of orofacial pain conditions, rethinking the classification of orofacial pains, and generally applying epidemiologic methods to major orofacial health problems. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, reviews and letters to the editor.