Our Board of Directors
To reach any of our Board members please use our contact form.
Doctors names and board of directors position titles are found below.
Alan Taylor, DDS
President
Foundation Committee
Financial Committee
Dr. Alan B. Taylor graduated from UCLA school of dentistry in 1982. For the last 39 years, he has had a private practice in General Dentistry in Los Angeles, Culver City and now in the city of Palmdale. Dr Taylor’s hobbies are Bicycle Riding, Foreign Language and tutoring Mathematics to high school students. He and his wife Mary has resided in the Santa Clarita Valley for the last 24 years.
Irubiel Barbosa, DDS
Immediate Past President
Employee Oversight Committee
Screening Committee
Dr. Barbosa graduated from the National University of Mexico and received a scholarship from the Education Department in Japan to study dentistry for 2 years. He also worked at the Children’s Hospital in the Cranofacial- Ortho-Dental Department for 5 years. He is the Founder of the Professional chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association in Los Angeles and the former treasure at the national level. He is the Former President of Latinos for Dental Careers. Former Director of dental community clinic El Proyecto del Barrio. Member ADA, CDA, SFVDS and volunteer in many non-profit organizations. President of Los Angeles Dental Meeting.
Shukan Kanuga, DDS, MSD
President-Elect
Shukan Kanuga DDS, MSD is a board-certified pediatric dentist with practices in Santa Clarita and Porter Ranch. Originally from India, she lives in Porter Ranch with her husband and her 2 kids- Kahan and Parishi. Shukan enjoys hiking, fitness activities, cooking, entertaining, reading, writing, and planning the next family travel experience in her down time!
Nova Aghbashian, BDS, MSc, DDS
Treasurer
Media Relations
Dr. Aghbashian started his career as an international dentist in 1997. After performing a wide range of dental services in different countries and to further fulfill his passion toward challenges; Nova pursued his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (D.D.S.) at University of Californian, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry and graduated with honors and was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award in Oral Surgery and Endodontology.
Marilyn Hopkins, D.D.S.
Secretary
Dr. Hopkins graduated in 1991 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She was a previous president of the Glendale Academy and was Glendale liaison for SFVDS. Since 1991, Dr. Hopkins had a general practice in Glendale with an emphasis in Cosmetic Dentistry. She has since retired and is happily involved in volunteer leadership roles in the community and in the field of Dentistry.
Elbert Tom, M.P.H., D.D.S
Editor in Chief
Dental Health Co-Chair
Elbert Tom, M.P.H., D.D.S. is a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor, Group Practice Director and axiUm Coordinator at the UCLA School of Dentistry. He joined the dental school faculty in 1988. He has extensive experience in academia, in the private sector as a practicing dentist as well as vast volunteer experience in local and global communities.
Mahfouz Gereis, DDS
Board Component Representative
Dr Gereis has been a member of CDA since 1980, got involved in organized dentistry and served in different roles as past president of SFVDS and Foundation, past Chair CDA Dental Forum, invited guest to Board of Trustees meetings, AD-PAC team leader, assistant to CDA Board of Managers, presenter for Judicial Council at CDAS presents. He served as a delegate for SFVDS at CDA HOD as well as CDA delegate to ADA HOD. Dr Gereis has a private practice in San Fernando Valley. He strongly believes in the role of organized dentistry in serving our community.
Mark Amundsen, DDS
By-Laws Committee
Dr. Mark Amundsen graduated from University of Southern California Dental School in 1982. He is a Former President of the SFVDS in 2010, and the current Chair of the Bylaws Committee. Dr. Amundsen is a General Dentist practicing in Woodland Hills, CA, and enjoys lots of outdoor activities.
Maryet "Nikkie" Babrood, DDS
Committee on the New Dentist
Dr. Maryet Nikkie Babrood is a cosmetic and restorative dentist in Valley Village who is passionate about creating happier, healthier and shinier smiles for patients. Dr. Babrood earned her first bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology and then was accepted in one of the most prestigious and competitive programs Dental Hygiene/Doctor of Dental Surgery Pathway Program at University of Southern California where she became a competent dental hygienist and a dentist consecutively.
Gilbert H. Snow, DDS
Legislation Committee
Dental Practice Co-Chair
Dr. Gilbert Snow has been creating beautiful, healthy smiles since 1971, and he has gained a reputation for providing the highest quality and most modern orthodontic treatment available. Dr. Snow is a graduate of USC School of Dentistry with a post graduate specialty degree from Loyola University in Chicago.
Mahrouz Cohen, DDS
Programs Committee
Dr. Cohen received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA following which entered into the USC School of Dentistry. She then went on to do her residency in Endodontics where she received high honors from the USC School of Dentistry in Advanced Endodontics in 1995. She then became a diplomate of the Board of Endodontics in 2004. Dr. Cohen has taught at USC Advanced Endodontics from 1993-2010. She has been in private practice since 1995. Dr. Cohen has served at the SFVDS board for over 15 years. She has been a delegate to the House of Delegates since 2009. She is credited by her peers to have introduced and subsequently passing the bills which allowed dentists to be able to apply cosmetic botox. She has served as the president of the SFVDS and the foundation in 2014. She is a firm believer of organized dentistry.
Anette Masters, DDS
Interim Executive Director
Membership Committee
Dr. Anette Masters has served Organized Dentistry since 1998 where she lobbied for children’s access to dental care through “Healthy Families Plan.” She later became the 3rd youngest female President of San Fernando Valley Dental Society. She has been involved in various volunteer capacities with both the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association. She helps keep the membership engaged by organizing educational and informative continuing education, social, and community service events.
Mehran Abbassian, DDS
Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley Liaison - Membership
Dr. Mehran Abbassian is a general dentist In Valencia, CA. His is a past president of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society and has been on the SFVDS board since 2008.
Emad Bassali, DDS
Ethics Committee
Dr. Emad Bassali is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry, Herman Ostrow Schools of Dentistry at USC. His Practice is limited to Endodontics in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Philomena Oboh, DDS
Leadership Development Committee
Dr. Philomena Oboh became an active member of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society in 2016. Among many other positions that she has held was Chair of the Council on Dental Health for her first two years on the board. She has been in Private practice since 1996. She has also worked in public and cooperate dentistry. She is currently the President of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society.
Afshin Mazdey, DDS
Council on Dental Practice
Delegation Chair
Dr. Afshin Mazdey is a Board-certified Endodontist. His Practice is limited to Endodontics and Microsurgery, in Northridge, CA. He is also on the Adjunct Faculty staff, Department of Graduate Endodontics, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC.
Bryanna Hubbard, DDS
Glendale Area Liason - Membership
Dr. Bryanna Hubbard was born in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where she practiced Periodontics for over 9 years. Dr. Bryanna Hubbard is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Moving to the United States she graduated from UCLA School of Dentistry, along with performing a residency in Special Patient Care (Hospital Dentistry).
At UCLA, Dr. Bryanna Hubbard specialized in general dentistry for adult patients with complex medical conditions and physical, emotional, and mental disabilities. This includes patients with medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and severe autism.
Sean Sakhai, DDS
Digital Media Committee
Dr. Sean Sakhai received his dental degree, with a specialization in Periodontics from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). While there, he also earned a Master's Degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. Dr. Sakhai is board certified and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
When he is not fighting periodontal disease, you can find Dr. Sakhai spending time with his family and friends, hiking, fishing, and tuning his culinary skills.
Jorge A. Alvarez, DDS
Dental Health
Dr. Jorge Alvarez is a dentist in Tarzana
Chi Leung, DDS
Member at Large
Dr. Chi Leung graduated from USC with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical engineering, and then graduated from USC dental school in 1996. Dr. Leung is a member of the Pinhole Academy faculty staff. She is currently President, Southern California Academy of General Dentistry, and immediate past president of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society. She has a dental Practice in Glendale and has been a General dentist since 1996. Dr. Leung is Married with 2 wonderful sons, and enjoys dancing, cooking, sculpture making, and traveling.
Martin C. Courtney, DDS
Member At Large
Delegation Co-Chair
Dr. Martin C. Courtney received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from USC School of Dentistry in 1983. He has been providing excellent, gentle dental care to his patients for over 32 years. Dr. Courtney stays current with the latest advancements in the dental field by taking twice as many education courses as required by state law.
Michael S. Simmons, DDS, MSc, MPH
Member at Large
Michael Simmons has been serving on the SFVDS Board for about 15 years. He is past president of the SFVDS, SFVDS Foundation, Dental Foundation of California and has also served on several sleep medicine boards including the AADSM, California Sleep Society and the ASAA. Dr. Simmons is board credentialed in Sleep, TMJ and Orofacial Pain Disorders and was part time faculty at UCLA's dental school for 31 years having also taught at UCLA's medical school pain management center and as a dental school pain clinic director. Dr. Simmons continues to publish original research, lecture, and advocate for more dentist involvement in sleep health having written multiple resolutions discussed at the CDA House of Delegates over the past 10+ years. Dr. Simmons has a master’s in sleep medicine, a master’s in public health in community health services and is now working on a masters in Laser dentistry.
James P. Jensvold, DDS
Political Action Committee
James P. Jensvold, D.D.S. completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California Berkeley where he was a Regents Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UCLA, where was also a Regents Scholar, and his Postdoctoral Certification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of California San Francisco.
