Faculty
Carlo Ercoli, CDT, DDS, FACP, MBA
Professor, Chairman
Dr. Carlo Ercoli graduated from the “Enrico Berlinguer” Dental Technology Institute in Rome in 1987 and obtained his dental degree from the University of Siena, Italy in 1993. He specialized in Prosthodontics in 1996 at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, where he also completed a one-year training in Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in 1997.
In 2012, he achieved specialty certification in Periodontology at the University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health. In 2019, he obtained his MBA from the Simon Business School of the University of Rochester. He is currently Professor and Chairman of the Prosthodontic Specialty Training Program at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health and a faculty member of the Periodontology Program.
Dr. Ercoli is a diplomate of the American Boards of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, an ITI Fellow and holds memberships in several dental organizations including the American Academy of Periodontology, the American College of Prosthodontists, Academy of Osseointegration, American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics and American Prosthodontic Society. He is a Past President of the American Prosthodontic Society, Executive Council Member of the Academy of Prosthodontics, American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics and a Honorary Member of the Italian Academy of Prosthodontics.
Konstantinos Chochlidakis, DDS, MS, FACP
Professor, Program Director
Dr. Konstantinos Chochlidakis is a Professor and the Program Director of the Prosthodontics Postgraduate Training Program at Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Dr. Chochlidakis received his dental degree from the University of Athens, Greece in 2008 and then joined the Greek Army as a soldier dentist for one year. Following the military, Dr. Chochlidakis moved to the United Kingdom and worked as a general dentist, serving in the National Health Service and private practice. After completing the Prosthodontics residency at Eastman Institute for Oral Health in 2013, he joined Temple University for two years as a full-time Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Clinical Fixed Prosthodontics in the Restorative Department, Kornberg School of Dentistry.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontists (FACP), Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI), Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics (AP) and holds several memberships in other dental organizations. Dr. Chochlidakis is the Secretary of the American Prosthodontic Society (APS), a Director of the Education Foundation of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACPEF) and the Vice President of the American College of Prosthodontists Western NY section.
Dr. Chochlidakis has received the Glen P. McGivney Scientific Writing Award for Systematic Review, the Iranpour Award for Excellence in Clinical Education in 2022 and the ACP Distinguished Researcher Award in 2023. Dr. Chochlidakis is a Director of the Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and has authored more than 70 scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.
Dr. Chochlidakis is focused on clinical research conducting clinical trials on full-arch implant prostheses, digital dental technology and dental ceramic materials. He maintains a practice within the University Dental Faculty Group limited to Prosthodontics. He has lectured nationally and internationally on several topics related to clinical prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Assery was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. He received his dental degree (BDS) from Riyadh Elm University, Saudi Arabia, in 2017; he also received the Dean’s List award that same year. He later underwent a 1-year training in general dentistry at the same University. Afterward, he obtained a certificate of specialty training in Periodontology and a Master of Science in clinical and translational sciences from the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) in 2022. Dr. Assery later on became board-certified in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry.
Dr. Assery is a member of multiple scientific organizations, including the American Academy of Periodontology, the Saudi Society of Periodontology, and the International Association for Dental Research. His research focuses on the effect of laser treatment on dental implants and the biofilm changes associated with it. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Clinic Director in the Department of Periodontology at EIOH.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Gabriela Carranza obtained her DDS from the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala. Upon completing her degree in dentistry, she attended New York University for a one year International Prosthodontics Program. This led to being offered a fellowship position in the international program where she taught third-year dental residents as well as dentists in the international program.
Following her fellowship she also completed a 3-year residency in Prosthodontics at New York University. After completing five years of postgraduate study, she moved to Rochester to complete a one year Implant Surgical Fellowship in Prosthodontics at the Eastman Institute of Oral Health, studying under Dr. Carlo Ercoli.
Most recently she completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at Eastman, and serves as a clinical instructor in the Prosthodontics and General Dentistry Department. She has a passion for teaching dentistry, especially prosthodontics and takes great pride in providing exceptional patient care.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Vladimir Frias received his Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Science in Prosthodontics from Columbia University in New York City in 2003. He completed his residency in Prosthodontics at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center followed by a Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Oncologic Dentistry Fellowship at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center/Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Nobel Biocare Implant fellowship at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Dr. Frias is the recipient of the Joseph Barron award for excellence in maxillofacial prosthetics from the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and the ESPE research fellowship in geriatric prosthodontics from the American College of Prosthodontists. He has lectured and been published extensively in the fields of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Implant Dentistry. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the attending Maxillofacial Prosthodontist at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health and Strong Memorial Hospital. He also maintains a private prosthodontic practice in Batavia, NY where he runs the New York Maxillofacial Foundation which helps uninsured patients afford Maxillofacial Prosthetic treatment.
Alessandro Geminiani, DDS, MSc, MS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Geminiani received his DDS degree from the University of Siena (Italy) in 2004, summa cum laude. He then pursued a Master of Science in Fixed Prosthodontics and Prosthetic Dental Materials, graduating in 2006 with highest honors. He continued his education in the USA pursuing a 2-year Certificate in Advanced General Dentistry (2009), a Certificate in Periodontology (2012), and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (2012), at Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Dr Geminiani is a member of numerous scientific organizations. He participated in several clinical research projects investigating advanced treatment options for the patients who have lost their teeth due to periodontal disease or caries. His research has been published in the several dental scientific journals. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. Dr. Geminiani enjoys spending time with his family. During his free time he likes to bike in the parks of Pittsford NY, and to train in martial arts.
Educational and Career Highlights
- Research Fellowship Prosthodontics Department, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (2006-2007).
- Honored with Basil G. Bibby Research Fellowship (2010)
- Recipient of Granger-Pruden Memorial Award (2011).
- Presented his clinical and research work in national and international forums. Published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Trained in the use of oral and IV sedation techniques. Board-certified periodontist by the American Board of Periodontology
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Julian Kahn obtained his dental degree at Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University in 1992. He completed specialized training in both general dentistry in 1997, and Prosthodontics in 2003 at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Eastman Institute for Oral Health. He received the Basil Bibby award for research and the Part Time Faculty Clinical Award at the University of Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health.
Dr. Kahn is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists, Academy of Osseointegration, American Prosthodontic Society and American Dental Association.
He maintains a private practice limited to Prosthodontics and Restoration of dental implants in Rochester, New York.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kanikicharla is a full-time faculty member in the Prosthodontics Postgraduate Training Program at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. A native of India, she received her dental degree there and worked in private practice before starting her Postgraduate Prosthodontics Program in the US. After completing her Prosthodontics residency, she taught and practiced at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Dr. Kanikicharla is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontists and a fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics and the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics. She maintains a practice in Prosthodontics and is passionate about restoring aesthetics, comfort, and function for her patients. Dr. Kanikicharla believes that each patient is unique and takes the time to listen, understand, and develop customized treatment plans that align with individual goals and lifestyles. Patients can expect a warm, welcoming environment where their concerns are heard, and their health is the top priority.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Elli Anna Kotsailidi received her dental degree (DDS) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Dentistry in 2015. Afterward, she specialized in Periodontology at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH), University of Rochester, New York, in 2019. She enrolled in the Graser Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at EIOH and the Masters in Health Professions Education at the Warner School of Education, University of Rochester, New York, and graduated from both in 2020.
Dr. Kotsailidi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and is a member of several dental organizations, including the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, and the International Team of Implantology. She is actively involved in academia, teaching postgraduate students in clinics and didactics. Her research is focused on soft tissue grafting procedures around dental implants and implant treatment-related clinical and radiographic outcomes through clinical trials. Additionally, she is engaged in translational research to identify systemic conditions and medications affecting peri-implant health. She has contributed several publications in peer-reviewed dental journals. Dr. Kotsailidi currently serves full-time as an Assistant Professor and Program Director at the Eastman Institute’s Department of Periodontology.
Associate Professor
Dr. Tsigarida was born and raised in Greece, where she completed her dental education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, earning her Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2008. After finishing her training, she moved to the United Kingdom to gain experience as a general dentist. A year later, she advanced her career by enrolling in the Periodontology program at The Ohio State University, where she was appointed Chief Resident. In 2013, she obtained both a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science degree.
Throughout her training and professional journey, Dr. Tsigarida has been dedicated to advancing the field of dentistry, particularly through her research on the microbiology of peri-implantitis. Her findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has received multiple accolades at international research conferences. Dr. Tsigarida is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and actively participates in various national dental organizations, including the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, the International Team for Implantology (ITI), and the International Association for Dental Research. She currently serves as a Board Trustee for the American Academy of Periodontology in its 7th District.
From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Tsigarida served as an Assistant Professor at the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. From 2019 to 2025, she has held the position of Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontology at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, where she currently serves as Chair. In addition to her administrative and teaching responsibilities, she maintains a faculty practice that focuses on Periodontics and Dental Implants.