Purpose in Practice

This story appears in the UCLA School of Dentistry's 2026 magazine
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Orthodontist. Entrepreneur. Author. Speaker. Board Member. Mentor. Kami Hoss, D.D.S. ’93, holds many titles. In health care and in business, he remains grounded by a sense of purpose bigger than himself.

Hoss’ guiding belief is that dentistry doesn’t have a talent problem but a systems problem, and this drive to effect change has shaped his career.

He began with The Super Dentists, a San Diego-based multi-specialty practice grounded in prevention and expanded access to care, later extending that mission with SuperMouth, a science-driven oral care company focused on simplifying prevention. A bestselling author and nationally recognized speaker, Dr. Hoss champions the oral-systemic health connection and reimagines dentistry’s role in whole-person care.

At UCLA, Dr. Hoss’ impact is both personal and enduring. In addition to being a major financial benefactor, he mentors D.D.S. students through the Board of Counselors’ Leadership Institute (BOCLI), where his entrepreneurship session is consistently ranked among the most engaging.

His message to students reflects the principles guiding his many endeavors: “Don’t think of yourself as a tooth doctor. Think of yourself as a physician of the whole person.”

A four-decade career for Oariona Lowe, D.D.S., P.D. ’84, M.P.H. ’16, has taken her well beyond the clinic … both physically and philosophically.

Whether treating young patients, mentoring oral health trainees, or engaging policymakers, Dr. Lowe has long viewed dentistry through a broader lens, one that includes access, equity, and the power of collective action.Dr. 

That commitment is especially visible in her organized dentistry efforts. Through national forums like the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s annual advocacy conference in Washington, D.C., Dr. Lowe works alongside UCLA’s first-year pediatric dentistry resident cohort and colleagues to advance policies that support children and families, translating clinical experience into meaningful change.

Dr. Lowe brings that same perspective to chairing the School of Dentistry’s Board of Counselors and with BOCLI, where she encourages students to lead with clarity and collaboration.

Her advice is direct: “Don’t give up. Know what you want. Be focused. Teamwork is essential. Build together and achieve.”

Across every setting, her message is consistent: lasting progress depends on the collective will of oral health practitioners and others outside the field, working together to move it forward.
 

These nine alumni at diverse career stages embody the University of California’s Fiat Lux motto

– Distinguished and Dedicated (pre-1990) –

Mark Lisagor ’73, P.D. ’77
A driving force behind UCLA Friends of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Lisagor has chaired major fundraising efforts, including the 2019 Westwood clinic remodel and an endowed chair position. For five decades, he’s focused on mobilizing peers to give back and expand opportunities, whether at UCLA, with CDA, on service trips, or through civic engagement outside the field.
 

Manuel “Chip” Carin ’89, G.P.R. ’91
Dr. Carin has delivered care in some of the world’s most challenging environments – from the Amazon jungle to Syrian refugee camps – through an international NGO. Across eight missions, he has relieved pain for more than 1,000 patients. Now joined by his son, Jon ’18, these global experiences reinforce a longstanding personal north star: “There is no greater feeling than giving and receiving compassion.”

Toni Carfino ’84
Following in her father’s footsteps and inspiring her daughter, Jordan ’24, to pursue dentistry as well, Dr. Carfino has built a practice grounded in continuity of care and deep patient relationships. Beyond the operatory, she actively mentors aspiring Black dentists – often inviting them to shadow – and advocates through organized dentistry, championing representation with her guiding belief: “If you can see it, you can be it.” 

– Mid-Career Catalysts (1991-2009) –
 

Hedi Kermani ’95
A board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Kermani directs a thriving Orange County multi-specialty practice known for its school partnerships and community engagement. Through service on UCLA Dentistry’s Board of Counselors and professional organizations, she mentors future clinicians while advancing her specialty through research and leadership roles.

 

Katherine Ahn ’93, P.D. ’95
A pioneer in airway-focused, holistic dentistry, Dr. Ahn is the founder of Aviara Integrative Centers and creator of the Aviara Method, bridging oral health, lifestyle medicine, and aesthetics. From developing Oxygen Lip Tape to launching a Beverly Hills MedSpa and founding a nonprofit empowering high school students to be social entrepreneurs, she personifies the modern practitioner.
 

Chalise Morgan ’07
As Dental Director at Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Morgan expands access to care for a community where nearly 60% of patients live below the poverty line. Leading an Advanced Education on General Dentistry residency program as well as statewide advocacy, she aims to “shine a light” beyond dentistry: through mentorship, prevention, and compassionate care.

– Next-Gen Changemakers (2010-present) –
 

Ariana Kermani ’25, O. ’28
A triple Bruin and chief resident of her cohort, Dr. Kermani is already emerging as a leader in orthodontics. She treats complex cases in UCLA’s Thomas R. Bales Orthodontic Clinic while serving as the only resident on the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Women’s Committee. Also a contributing author to the West LA Dental Society’s Westviews journal, Dr. Kermani is continuing her mother’s legacy of service to the profession.

Joshua Vert ’17
From clinics in underserved communities across the Western U.S. to Harvard University, Dr. Vert has built a career defined by service. As a National Health Service Corps scholar, he spent five years expanding access to care before completing his pediatric dentistry residency at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he is now a faculty member.

Kishen Godhia ’21
Blending clinical expertise with tech savvy, Dr. Godhia has built a following of almost 800,000 on TikTok (@kishengodhia), where he translates complex dental topics into accessible, engaging content. This approach is redefining how dental knowledge reaches a younger, digital-native audience