GDR Team

We’re proud of our experienced, passionate, and approachable team.

Dr Alexander Khominsky

Founder
BDS, BScDent (Hons), DClinDent(Perio), MRACDS(Perio)

Dr Alex Khominsky graduated from the University of Adelaide as Dux he went onto work at Alfred Hospital and afterwards private practice in the Melbourne area. Always involved in the profession through ADA and Societies, he is a firm believer in the power of a community and supporting other early-career dentists in their pursuit to be amazing clinicians. In light of his experience as a graduate he cofounded an education institution dedicated to the success of general dentists across Australia, General Dental Residency. GDR focuses on comprehensive education through a unique program supported by ongoing mentorship. He has been a Clinical Demonstrator at the University of Melbourne and has completed his Specialisation in Periodontics back in Melbourne, and now balances his time between Specialist private practice in the SE suburbs of Melbourne, Wodonga and education.

Dr 'Tiv' Thivagar Nirmalann

General Dentist

Communication Expert

BDSc, Principal at Balnarring Dental Centre

Dr Tiv Nirmalann graduated from the University of Melbourne more than a decade ago. After opening his own successful clinic in Balnarring (Victoria), he has since channelled his love for teaching into his social media accounts on YouTube and Facebook. There you’ll find videos on everything from his camera settings, through to his patient workflow. His regular contributions have helped inspire may dentists to improve their clinical practice, photography, and communication skills. As a self-professed CPD junkie, Dr Tiv knows the value of continuing education and his passion for making the patient experience a great one really shows.

Dr Carolina Perez-Rodriguez

Prosthodontist

Restorative Expert

BDS, MJDF RCS, GDip(Dental Implants), DClinDent (Prosthodontics)

Dr Carolina Perez-Rodriguez is a Specialist Prosthodontist, having graduated from the University Complutense of Madrid, one of the oldest in the world. Being a clinical demonstrator at Melbourne University and lecturer with the ADA, Carolina loves sharing the wealth of knowledge she accumulated from her vast experience working in Spain, England, and Australia. Before her doctorate in prosthodontics, Carolina also completed a two-year training program with the Oxford Society of Oral Implantology, as well as a two-year Advanced Restorative Residency at the British Academy of Restorative Dentistry (BARD), and even a Post-Graduate Diploma in Implants here at Melbourne University. Carolina’s extensive education taught her not only how to be an excellent prosthodontist, but also how to teach dentists to excel in her field.

Dr Mark Johnstone

Endodontist

Root Canal Expert

BDSc(Hons), DClinDent (Endodontics), MHlth&MedLaw

Mark graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours in 2008, winning the Ernest Joske Prize, and was on the Dean’s Honours List in his final year. In 2014, he completed his Doctor of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Melbourne and was awarded the Ephraim Ehrmann Memorial Prize. Mark completed a Masters of Health and Medical Law at the University of Melbourne in 2019 and is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Charles Sturt University. Mark is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

Dr Sophia Richardson

Maxillofacial Surgeon

BDSc(Hons), MBBS, FRACDS(OMS)

Sophia obtained her Dental and Medical degrees from The University of Melbourne. She has been appointed as an Oral and Maxillofacial Consultant at Monash Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital where she plays an active role in teaching and examining Oral and Maxillofacial registrars, Medical, Dental, and Nursing students. Sophia has a keen interest in orthognathic surgery and oral surgery including surgical extractions and dental implants.

Sophia thrives on the challenge and stimulation of being a working mother. Outside of work, Sophia prioritises family time with her husband and two children. She also loves travel, photography, architecture, and music, and has even completed a Diploma of Music in her spare time.

Dr Hossam El Haddad

BDS, FRACDS, MDS (Prosthodontics)

Dr. Hossam graduated from Ain Shams University (Cairo, Egypt) in 2006, and worked before relocating to Australia in 2010. Hossam obtained a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in 2015, and graduated with a Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics from the University of Melbourne in 2018.

Hossam now works at Prosthodontics Plus – a private specialist practice in Moonee Ponds (VIC). He enjoys ongoing involvement within the academic field as a lecturer and implant clinical coordinator at the University of Melbourne.

He is an active member and speaker for ITI, the Australian Dental Association (ADA), and the Australian Osseointegration Society (AOS).

Dr Bez Shokouhi

BDS (London), PgDip (Implants), PgDip (Aesthetic Dentistry)

Dr Bez Shokouhi is originally from the UK (London) and is a highly experienced and qualified dentist having graduated with honours from the prestigious King’s College London. Dr Bez completed a two-year degree in Aesthetic Dentistry from Kings College London and holds a diploma degree in Dental Implants from the University of Sydney. His clinical interests include dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and orthodontics. His dedication to the craft of dentistry, restorative skills and experience in professional development make him an exceptional restorative educator.

Dr James Tran

Clinical Coordinator

BCompSci (Usyd), BDent (USyd), FICOI

James graduated in 2014 and first worked in rural Queensland before moving back to Sydney. He currently works at the Central Coast NSW. Since 2019, he has embarked on over 100 hours of CPD a year in all areas of dentistry including digital smile design, orthodontics and implants. James enjoys working with digital workflows, clear aligners, aesthetic dentistry. He previously tutored for CSU final year students before joining GDR.

Dr Varun Garg

Prosthodontist

Restorative Expert

BDS, DClinDent (Prosthodontics)

Dr Varun Garg is a Specialist Prosthodontist with interests in aesthetic, reconstructive, and implant dentistry. He continues to be involved with his alma mater as a clinical supervisor at the University of Melbourne. His passion for the art of dentistry is evident through his commitment to documentation and incredible hand skills showcased on his Instagram page. Dr Varun is a firm believer of in natural aesthetics and has dedicated his life’s work to re-establishing function and beauty in the debilitated dentition. A world-class clinician who has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, and whose passion invigorates those around him.

Dr Jack Yang

BSc, BDSc

Dr Jack Yang is a general dentist who is skilled in all areas of family and cosmetic dentistry. Jack has a firm belief in continuing his education, pursuing hundreds of courses nationally and internationally. He has completed a Graduate Diploma in Orthodontics and Implant Dentistry. He provides the full gambit of dental care from Orthodontics to Implant Dentistry and Restorative Cosmetics. Given his expertise in multiple disciplines of dentistry, his background and enthusiasm provide the right recipe for excellence in treatment planning.

Dr Geoff Hall

BDS, MDS (Orthodontics). OrthoEd Founder

Dr Hall is an Orthodontic Specialist and has an extreme passion for clinical orthodontics and orthodontic training for Dentists, specialising in adult and children treatments including early treatment, conventional adolescent therapy, short-term orthodontics (Smilefast) and cosmetic treatment options including lingual braces, Invisalign and other aligner systems, and a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary treatment, including orthognathic surgical cases.

Dr Hall has been a pioneer in modern day orthodontics and education and all backed by 27 years and over 10,000 cases of orthodontic experience. In addition, he runs an extensive orthodontic education program through OrthoEd.

Dr Jesse Green

BDSc, FRACDS, Business Coach, Savvy Dentist Consulting & Podcast

Dr Jesse Green is a dentist, business coach, founder of Practice Max Mastermind, host of Savvy Dentist podcast & author of Amazon bestseller ‘Retention- How to Plug the #1 Profit Leak in Your Dental Practice’.

In 25+ years of dentistry he has owned several practices & have coached, consulted to or trained in excess of 195 more. He understands the key to practice success and all the elements required for a successful business.

A/Prof Michael Stubbs

BDS, MDS (Oral Pathology), FRACDS, MDSc (Oral Medicine & Pathology), MRACDS (Oral Medicine)

Dr Stubbs is a dental specialist with degrees in both Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology. He has been actively involved in the teaching of Oral Medicine since completing his training in 2002, which has involved speaking at numerous state & national dental meetings. Michael specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with facial or jaw pain that is not derived from the teeth. He also diagnoses and manages any disorder or disease involving the mouth or jaws including sleep apnoea & snoring disorders with the use of custom made dental devices.

Dr Deborah Wong

BDS, DClinDent (Paedodontics), MRACDS (Paedodontics)

Originally from Wollongong, New South Wales, Deb completed her undergraduate dental studies at the University of Adelaide, receiving the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award and Malcolm Joyner Prize.

After working as a general dentist in private practice in Newcastle, New South Wales, Deb and her husband moved to Melbourne and completed specialist paediatric dentistry training at the University of Melbourne, obtaining a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Paediatrics). Deb has worked in multidisciplinary teams at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.

Dr Deb believes, like gDR, that paediatric care is sometimes an overlooked discipline in dentistry and wants to help residents learn the fundamentals to excellent care to set children up for life.