Meet Dr. Zarzar
DDS, MS, FAAID, MAAID
Alan Arturo Zarzar is a distinguished dental professional, academic leader, and community health advocate, renowned for his significant contributions to dental education, clinical practice, and public health initiatives. His career stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to innovation, education, and the advancement of academic excellence and dental access for all.
From the outset of his dental career, Zarzar has been driven by a deep-seated passion for creating meaningful change in the field of dentistry. He is dedicated to fostering environments that embrace competent diversity, uphold the highest standards of dental education, and engage in impactful community service. His journey reflects a rich tapestry of experience, leading dental programs and departments while excelling in a range of specialties including oral surgery, implantology, and periodontics.
As an Oral Surgeon, Implant Specialist, and Periodontist, Zarzar has also made significant strides as a Faculty Dental Educator, Continuing Education Program Director, and leader in Residency and Community Dentistry programs. Renowned for his patient-centered approach, meticulous surgical practices, and exceptional organizational skills, he manages and executes complex dental healthcare projects with remarkable precision and effectiveness.
Key Contributions and Expertise
Oral Surgeon, Implant Specialist, and Periodontist:
Renowned for his expertise in oral surgery and advanced dental implant procedures and treatments.
Faculty Dental Educator:
Passionately dedicated to mentoring the next generation of dental professionals, fostering a learning environment that encourages growth and excellence.
Continuing Education Program Director:
Focused on developing and delivering high-quality clinical educational programs, ensuring that dental professionals are equipped with vanguard knowledge, skills, criteria, and common sense.
Leader in Residency and Community Dentistry:
Committed to enhancing dental care and accessibility through various leadership roles, making significant strides in community dentistry programs.
Zarzar’s career is characterized by his relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering dedication to improving dental healthcare access for all across the United States.
Early Life and Education
Alan Arturo Zarzar was born in September 1971 in La Paz, Bolivia, a high-altitude city nestled in the Andes. He is the only child of Frank Edward Zarzar and Ruth Saba, both of Middle Eastern descent. Raised in Bolivia’s rich, multicultural heart, his journey has been a testament to resilience, ambition, and the transformative power of community dentistry.
Growing up in the tropical city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Zarzar learned to value opportunities as precious as gold, using each as a stepping-stone toward a future where innovation springs from hardship. His Hispanic heritage, unwavering family love, and a culture that embraces adversity have profoundly shaped his life.
As a high school senior, Zarzar moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he completed his high school education at Mountainview High School in 1988. He then advanced his studies at Arizona State University, completing two years of college before returning to Bolivia due to his father’s abrupt illness. In Cochabamba, he pursued his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree at Univalle Private University. Despite the setback of his father’s passing in 1995, which caused him to temporarily leave dental school, Zarzar returned two years later and graduated in 1999, receiving his degree in June 2000.
Throughout his educational journey, Zarzar remained anchored in the values and lessons of his homeland, with his eyes set on a horizon where technology serves humanity, fostering equality and kindness. In 2004, he studied Dental Implants at Ace Surgical Supply Institute in Brockton, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Dr. Edward Carchidi.
Zarzar further advanced his education with dual master’s degrees in Periodontics and Prosthodontics from Maimonides University and Loma Linda University in Barcelona, Spain, in September 2012, and a master’s degree in Implant Dentistry from Juan Misael Saracho State University in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2013.
In 2016, due to heavy social unrest and turmoil under President Evo Morales’ socialist regime, Zarzar fled Bolivia for the United States, seeking a new beginning. The transition was challenging, marked by struggle and disappointment, common to many who seek asylum in a new land after their 40s. However, with perseverance and the mentorship of Dr. Sheldon Winkler, Zarzar pursued and achieved the Fellowship of The American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics in 2019 and later the Mastership in the same field.
Zarzar’s story is a testament to hope, resilience, and a belief in collective progress. Guided by the conviction that true innovation blooms from both the heart and mind, he stands ready to contribute his verse to the endless poem of progress. Together, let us march toward a future where technology and humanity dance in harmony, illuminated by the wisdom of our past and the bright promise of tomorrow.
Career
Certifications
- DDS active Dental License (No. Z-119) from Bolivia, South America – 2002 – present
- Fellowship of The American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics – 2019
- Mastership of The American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics – 2019
- HIPAA Awareness Certification – 2023
- Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Certification – 2023
- CPR Certification – 2024
Professional Organizations and Committees
- Bolivian College of Dentists (2002 – 2015)
- Bolivian College of Implant Dentistry (2005 – 2015)
- Member, AO – Academy of Osseointegration (2007 – 2015)
- Fellow, Pierre Fauchard Academy (2008 – 2015)
- Scientific State Director, Bolivian College of Implant Dentistry (2009 – 2011)
- National Vice-President, Bolivian College of Implant Dentistry (2002 – 2011)
- Member, ICOI – International Congress of Oral Implantologists (2011 – 2015)
- Member, AAIP – The American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics (2019 – present)
- Board Member, The Community Dental Center of Greater Los Angeles (TCDC)
- Chair, Clinical Fund Development & Special Programs, Live Patient Implant Training (2019 – present)
- Member, AGD – Academy of General Dentistry (2020 – present)
Contributions to Dental Education
Alan Arturo Zarzar is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to developing educational frameworks that not only meet stringent accreditation standards but also promote continuous improvement and innovation. His interactive and hands-on teaching style has profoundly influenced students and professionals across multiple countries, including the United States, Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. Zarzar’s dedication to fostering an engaging and practical learning environment ensures that his students are well-prepared to excel in their dental careers and contribute to the advancement of the field.
Community Service and Advocacy
Alan Arturo Zarzar’s leadership in the Tribal Health IPENO Coalition and the IPENO Foundation underscores his unwavering dedication to improving dental healthcare accessibility and quality for underserved populations. Through his visionary efforts, Zarzar has worked tirelessly to ensure that comprehensive, culturally sensitive dental services are available to those who need them most. His commitment to community service has not only enhanced the health and well-being of countless individuals but has also earned him widespread recognition for his humanitarian contributions. Zarzar’s work exemplifies the profound impact that dedicated healthcare professionals can have on fostering equitable and inclusive healthcare environments.
Publications
Immunologically Neutral Dental Implants: Ceramic (Zirconia) Implants (2022)
Co-authored with Dr. Popp. Published in the Journal of Dental and Oral Sciences,
Volume 4, Issue 3. Citation: Popp C, Zarzar AA. J Dent Oral Sci. 2022;4(3):1-22.
CLINICAL REPORT (JULY 2021): POST EXTRACTION IMPLANT PLACEMENT
The International Journal of Biomaterials & Craniofacial Reconstruction
ISSN-INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER -1028-1250
CLINICAL REPORT (JANUARY 2020): POST-EXTRACTION IMPLANTS
The International Journal of Biomaterials & Craniofacial Reconstruction
ISSN-INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER -1028-1250
Dental Textbook Collaborator: IMPLANT DENTISTRY Regenerative Oral Surgery
(2020)
Bone Grafts – Basic Applicationsation:
Awards and Honors
Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) (2009)
Awarded by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) for Humanitarian and Voluntary Service. This prestigious program recognizes young individuals who excel in their fields and exemplify the best attributes of the world’s young leaders. Honorees are selected from ten categories, with up to ten recipients chosen from all nominations.
State Recognition by the Oral Health Department, Cochabamba State Health Services, and Cochabamba State Government (2010)
Recognized for cooperation in conducting the National Meeting of Public Health Dentistry, titled “Bicentennial Dentistry,” in commemoration of the State Anniversary of the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia.
International Academy of Integral Dentistry (AIOI) Quality Certificate (2011)
Received a quality certificate for excellence in dental health care and services.
Foundation for Human Development Manuscript Honor (2012)
Honored for building the best postgraduate dental school in Bolivia, utilizing Bolivian employees and resources.
100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know Cohort (2024)
Selected as part of an initiative by AmMore Consulting to highlight and celebrate Latino professionals in Greater Cleveland. This program aims to expand awareness of Latino contributions and provides a visibility platform for emerging talents in various fields, fostering career growth, civic engagement, and leadership development.
Career Goals
- Clinical Teaching: Engage in clinical teaching at pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels in a U.S. university or hospital, imparting advanced knowledge and skills to aspiring dental professionals.
- Building Strategic Relationships: Identify, target, and strategically build relationships with colleagues, prospects, donors, sponsors, dental manufacturers, residents, and volunteers to further promote and provide dental public health services to communities in need.
- Community Relations and Outreach: Spearhead community relations, social outreach, and partnership development to strengthen the impact of dental health initiatives.
- Community Dentistry Program: Implement a comprehensive Community Dentistry Program aimed at reaching diverse and underserved veteran, senior, and minority communities in need of accessible dental care for all.
- Advocacy for Equality: Continue to actively combat discrimination and segregation in healthcare by providing dental services to populations that have historically lacked access to equitable care.
- Policy Development: Create or participate in a state or federal ‘Change Movement’ policy advocating for ‘Dental Care Access Equality for All,’ ensuring that dental healthcare is recognized as a fundamental right.
Career Goals
- Clinical Teaching: Engage in clinical teaching at pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels in a U.S. university or hospital, imparting advanced knowledge and skills to aspiring dental professionals.
- Building Strategic Relationships: Identify, target, and strategically build relationships with colleagues, prospects, donors, sponsors, dental manufacturers, residents, and volunteers to further promote and provide dental public health services to communities in need.
- Community Relations and Outreach: Spearhead community relations, social outreach, and partnership development to strengthen the impact of dental health initiatives.
- Community Dentistry Program: Implement a comprehensive Community Dentistry Program aimed at reaching diverse and underserved veteran, senior, and minority communities in need of accessible dental care for all.
- Advocacy for Equality: Continue to actively combat discrimination and segregation in healthcare by providing dental services to populations that have historically lacked access to equitable care.
- Policy Development: Create or participate in a state or federal ‘Change Movement’ policy advocating for ‘Dental Care Access Equality for All,’ ensuring that dental healthcare is recognized as a fundamental right.
A Testament of Lifetime Dedication
The principle of ‘cura personalis’, rooted in Jesuit education, deeply inspires Alan Arturo Zarzar to provide holistic care to patients. This aligns perfectly with his belief in the urgent need to focus on dental patients, integrating comprehensive oral rehabilitation beyond mere ‘teeth-care’ to embrace ‘patient-care.’
Zarzar’s career is a testament to his dedication to administrative leadership, educational excellence, research innovation, and a heartfelt commitment to community service. He prides himself on crafting educational frameworks that not only adhere to stringent accreditation standards but also emphasize continuous improvement. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, he is well-positioned to foster a learning environment that celebrates multicultural competent diversity, innovation, and inclusion.
Leading the Tribal Health IPENO Coalition in Bolivia demonstrates Zarzar’s unwavering dedication to humanistic values and supportive communities. This role mirrors his goal to enhance dental institutions by fostering nurturing environments where students and faculty thrive.
Driven by the conviction that a culture of excellence and example is fundamental to inspiring the next generation of dental professionals to reach their highest potential, Zarzar focuses on contributing significantly to organizations within the United States that resonate with these values, aiming to further improve the caliber of dental education, elevate the quality of patient care, and ensure dental access across the nation.
We ought to pursue to be “like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is smaller than all seeds but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” [Mark 4:30–32]
