Little Teeth, BIG Smiles

Host Dr. Joel Berg is joined by American Dental Association (ADA) President Dr. Thomas Paumier for a conversation focused on the work of the ADA and how specialty practitioners can benefit from maintaining a connection with the organization. Speaking to the importance of that connection and teamwork from the AAPD 2026 Annual Session Exhibit Hall Floor, Dr. Paumier shares details of the cohesion between the ADA President and President-Elect as well as his goals for the ADA and its partnership with the AAPD as he ascends to the President role in October 2026.

Guest Bio:
Thomas M. Paumier, D.D.S. is the President-Elect of the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr.
Paumier is a general dentist in private practice in Canton, Ohio.

Dr. Paumier has served the ADA in multiple leadership roles throughout his 35 years of service to the
ADA, most recently as Vice-chair for the Strategic Forecasting Committee and as an Advisor to the ADA
Budget Committee of the Board of Trustees. Previously, he also served as Chair of the Council on
Members Insurance and Retirement Programs, and the Board of Trustees Committee on Budget and
Finance. He was on the ADA Covid Recovery Task Force and has served on two Council on Scientific
Affairs expert panels which developed clinical practice guidelines related to antibiotic use.

Within the Ohio Dental Association, Dr. Paumier has held several key positions, including Treasurer and
President. He served as Chair of the Annual Sessions Committee and as Chair of the ODA Services
Corporation and as the current Chair of the Ohio Dental Association Wellness Trust. He is a past president of the Stark County Dental Society in Ohio.

Dr. Paumier is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the
Pierre Fauchard Academy and involved in numerous organizations. He is the Chair of the Cleveland
Clinic Mercy Hospital Board of Trustees, and a past Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital
Development Foundation. He is on the faculty of the “Thomas M. Paumier DDS General Practice
Residency” at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital and also lectures at Case Western School of Dental
Medicine and the NEOMED Bitonte College of Dentistry in Ohio.

Dr. Paumier earned his D.D.S. from Ohio State University College of Dentistry and resides in Canton with
his wife Christy.
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In this episode of little teeth BIG Smiles, Dr. Joel Berg sits down with Dr. Ann Bynum to explore what it takes to build a strong, thriving pediatric dental practice. From the power of language and creating a true team culture to transparency, mentorship, shared decision-making and fostering a growth mindset, Dr. Bynum shares practical insights from her years of experience as a practice owner, mentor and leader. The conversation offers valuable advice for pediatric dentists at every stage of their careers, discussing how to bring new doctors and team members into the culture, create clear expectations and build systems that support long-term success.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Ann Bynum is a board-certified pediatric dentist originally from Ocala, Florida. She completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University before earning her dental degree from the University of Iowa, where she met her husband, Dr. Matt Bynum. She went on to complete her specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
In 1997, Dr. Bynum moved to Greenville, South Carolina, and opened her pediatric dental practice in Simpsonville. As a mother of three boys, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her care—deeply understanding the art and science of pediatric dentistry and parenting.
Dr. Bynum is a Diplomate and examiner of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) and an active member of several professional organizations, including the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the American Dental Association (ADA). She currently serves as the Southeastern Trustee for the AAPD.
A passionate educator and leader, Dr. Bynum has lectured nationally and authored numerous articles on topics such as customer service, marketing, leadership, teamwork, burnout, financial wellness, and pediatric airway health—including tethered oral tissues and sleep-disordered breathing.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Bynum enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband. She is especially passionate about working on her practice—focusing on growth, systems, and team development.
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Dr. Bobby Elliott returns to the podcast to chat about burnout as it relates to patient and practice management and education. He and Dr. Berg talk through solutions focused on his mantra – “Educate, don’t convince.” – that support office culture and patient/family satisfaction and trust. Dr. Elliott shares his tools for identifying work/life imbalance and building connection and investment in one another.

Guest Bio:
Dr. Bobby Elliott is from Louisville, Kentucky where he graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. His pediatric dental residency was completed at the UNC School of Dentistry and UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill. Dr. Elliott is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and was an Adjunct Clinical Professor at both the University of North Carolina and University of Louisville Schools of Dentistry. 
Dr. Elliott lectures throughout the year to other dentists, specialists, dental team members and residents about positive office culture. In his “not so much free time”, he has founded his own pediatric dental consulting business, Pedo Springboard, Inc. to help residents and pediatric dentists successfully start their own practice. He also has co-founded a second consulting business, Pediatric Dental Directions, to help private practitioners establish legacy leadership and a positive work culture. 
 Dr. Elliott is a recognized authority on the development of creative and innovative office designs for pediatric dental practices and is often called upon to consult with new office construction as well as dental team development and practice. He works with his best friend & partner and 14 rockstar TEAM members and has been in private practice for 28 years in Cary, NC. 
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Host Dr. Joel Berg speaks with Dr. Chelsea Fosse, Vice President of the AAPD Research & Policy Center (RPC) on the current hot topics in public health and how the RPC is working to make an impact. Dr. Fosse delves into the impacts of federal updates on pediatric dentistry and the organizations advocating for the health of children. She shares a timeline for the anticipated impacts of H.R. 1 to families and how AAPD members and other healthcare professionals can turn to the RPC for support with state-specific questions relating to Medicaid or other legislation.

Guest Bio:
Chelsea Fosse, DMD, MPH is the Vice President, Research & Policy Center at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). She is boarded in dental public health. Before shifting her career to work in oral health policy research, she worked as a general dentist treating adults with disabilities.
 
At AAPD, Chelsea leads a team focused on Medicaid policy and program administration, evidence-based dental care, access to high quality and safe dental care, the pediatric dental workforce, and other contemporary issues in oral health, public health, and health policy. She was previously at the American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI) where she led policy analysis for issues related to Medicaid and studied the oral health workforce and the industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before dental school, she worked in the Division of Children with Special Needs at the American Academy of Pediatrics. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors at Well Child Center, a community-based organization offering WIC, dental, and other social and health services in Elgin, IL.
 
Chelsea received her bachelor's from The University of Texas in 2009, DMD from Rutgers in 2017, and MPH from Columbia University in 2019. She completed a general practice residency at Helen Hayes Hospital in 2018 and a dental public health residency at Jacobi Medical Center in 2020. 

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Incoming AAPD CEO Dr. Jessica Y. Lee joins host Dr. Joel Berg for an engaging discussion of her goals and vision for the Academy’s future. She shares her journey through pediatric dentistry, delving into what excites her most as she shifts from academia to leader of the AAPD. In this heartfelt and genuine conversation, Dr. Lee compares taking on the CEO role to “coming home” and hopes to bring that sense of belonging to the newest generations of pediatric dentists as she takes the helm.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Jessica Y. Lee is Chief Executive Officer of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentist. Prior to taking on this role in June 2026, she was the Demeritt Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development at the University of North Carolina, as well as a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Dr Lee received her MPH and DDS degrees from Columbia University and her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and PhD in Health Policy and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was also a NIDCR National Research Service Award recipient. She is a board-certified pediatric dentist and an active member of the medical staff at UNC Hospitals and practices in the Dental Faculty Practice in the School of Dentistry. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is a renowned expert in health literacy and health disparities. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between medical knowledge and patient understanding and reducing health disparities. She has led projects funded by the NIH and HRSA. Dr Lee is involved in teaching, clinical practice, and research.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Lee is actively involved in leadership, community outreach and education initiatives. She collaborates with healthcare providers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. She served as the President for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 2020-2021. She is the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards including the 2008 AAPD Jerome Miller “For the Kids” Award. In 2010, she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers from President Barack Obama. In 2011, Dr Lee was named the ‘Pediatric Dentist of the Year” by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and in 2021 she received the AAPD Merle C Hunter Leadership Award.
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