FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Shils Fund Great Oral Health Pitch Shines at the 2025 Greater New York Dental Meeting
New York, NY — December 3, 2025 — The Shils Fund is proud to announce the tremendous success of its 2025 Great Oral Health Pitch (GOHP), held on December 1, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during the Greater New York Dental Meeting.
“This year’s event was marked by outstanding participation, exceptional innovation, and one of the strongest cohorts of presenters and panelists the program has ever welcomed,” said Keith Drayer, Shils Fund President.
This year’s judging panel was anchored by the Shils Fund’s own Dr. Ashley Lerman, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, whose clinical expertise helped guide the program with clarity and insight. “The energy, creativity, and fresh ideas from this year’s innovators make me excited for where oral health is headed. It’s a privilege to support founders who are pushing the field forward,” said Dr. Lerman. She was joined by Dr. Jeremy Krell, Founder & Managing Partner, Revere Partners; Karson Carpenter, President, Compliance Training Partners; and renowned clinician and entrepreneur Dr. Gary Kaye, Founder, Kaye Dentistry PLLC. Together, the panel brought deep industry knowledge, clinical wisdom, and entrepreneurial experience, all of which played a critical role in evaluating such a competitive and impressive group of presenters.
“What impressed me most was how clinically grounded these innovations are. Every pitch addressed a real problem we see in practice. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking our profession needs,” said Karson Carpenter, President, Compliance Training Partners. “It was inspiring to be part of the Shils Fund Great Oral Health pitch panel.”
After an intense round of presentations and discussion, Dr. Khamir Patel was named the winner of the 2025 Great Oral Health Pitch for SmartChair.AI — Transforming Dental Chairs into Smart Infrastructure. Dr. Patel’s concept impressed the judges with its clinical utility, integration of smart technology, and potential to modernize workflows and patient care throughout dental practices.
“The Great Oral Health Pitch at GNYDM was an exceptional experience,” said Dr. Patel. “The energy, innovation, and support in the room were truly motivating. I’m grateful to the Shils Fund and the judges for recognizing the mission behind SmartChair.AI and for creating a platform that pushes our profession forward. It’s an exciting moment for our team, and we’re honored to be part of this journey.”
Two innovators were recognized as this year’s runners-up: Dr. Rajesh Lalla, for OraSpray, a long-acting topical anesthetic aimed at alleviating pain due to oral ulceration; and Lada McAleer, Co-Founder of Wise Floss, which is redefining the way individuals approach flossing and oral hygiene. All three honorees demonstrated exemplary innovation and impact potential.
The presenters represented an exceptionally diverse group, featuring Camille Zenobia Co-founder of Os Salutem, LLC, Carley Hart Creator of Brushing Buddies; David Singh, CEO of Y-Brush; Dr. Amy Dukoff, Founder of E Rinse Products; Dr. Jeffrey Glen Inventor of GoBrush; Roza Ghamari CEO at Healink.ai; and Spencer Price COO at Oraliva Inc. Together, their AI-driven diagnostics, preventive care solutions, consumer innovations, and smart clinical technologies showcased the remarkable creativity and momentum propelling the oral health industry forward.
Attendees of the event praised both the depth of innovation presented and the invaluable role of the panelists in asking the thoughtful, clinician-centered questions needed to narrow the field. The success of the 2025 GOHP underscores the Shils Fund’s commitment to supporting leaders and emerging entrepreneurs whose work advances the future of oral health. Be sure to watch out for the Shils Fund next as we head to the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting in February 2026—where even more innovation and inspiration await.
For more information about the Great Oral Health Pitch and the Shils Fund’s ongoing initiatives, visit www.shilsfund.org.
Shils Fund Celebrates Innovation and Leadership in Oral Health at NYU College of Dentistry