Staff

Leila Younger, DDS, MS

Executive Director
615-314-5647

Dr. Leila Younger is the Executive Director with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. 

Dr. Younger graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, where she was inducted into OKU National Dental Honor Society. She completed her residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and received a master’s degree from Northwestern University. She maintained a solo private practice in Algonquin, IL, for many years, followed by a group practice in the Chicago suburbs. She is a Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at The University of Southern California Ostrow School of Dentistry.

Dr. Younger has been Board Certified since 1998. She served as an examiner for the Oral Clinical Examination since its inception in 2005.  From 2005-2015, she served on the Advisory Committee and the Renewal of Certification Subcommittee. In addition, she served as a Director for ABPD from 2015-2021, having served as President of the Board of Directors from 2019-2020.

She has served on councils and committees for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 1992-2004, including the Scientific Program Committee and Clinical Affairs Committee. Most recently she served on the AAPD Safety Committee from 2018-2021 and the AAPD Nominations Committee in 2020. She was awarded a Master Clinician Certificate in 2013 by ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning. She is a member of the AAPD/AAPD Foundation Kellogg Leadership Cohort VI.

Dr. Younger has served the American Dental Association (ADA) on the ADAT Test Construction Committee in 2017 and 2018, and on the DLOSCE Test Construction Committee from 2019-2021. She became an ADA Evidence-Based Dentistry Champion in 2012 and is a member of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. She is an FBI Trained NCIC Dental Coder. 

Dr. Younger and her husband, Dr. Terry Younger, reside in Barrington, Illinois. They enjoy biking, hiking, and travel. They are frequent visitors to the Los Angeles area where their two adult children reside.

Laura Leigh Blair

Associate Executive Director

Laura Leigh Blair has taken the position of Volunteer and Project Manager with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Laura Leigh manages volunteer data and development, policies, procedures, and history documentation and the grantmaking program.  She also works with several ABPD committees and task forces.

Laura Leigh graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Public Relations degree. She has worked in event management since 2015 and completed her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program in 2019 and her Project Management Professional (PMP) program in 2020. She began her career working on large cheer and dance competitions all over the country and internationally. Most recently, Laura Leigh worked with a dental network company in Arizona putting on live continuing education events and membership meetings.

In her spare time outside of the office, Laura Leigh enjoys spending time with her husband, their sons, and their two dogs. 

Jasey Bratek

Certification Programs Director
 

Jasey Bratek is the Certification Programs Director with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Jasey oversees all aspects of ABPD’s examinations and assessment programs which includes the Qualifying Examination, Oral Clinical Examination, and the Renewal of Certification Examination and Process (ROC-P).

She has been working with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry since 2008. Jasey earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management from Hamilton Business College in 2003 and earned her certificate as a credentialing specialist from the Institute of Credentialing Excellence in 2020.

In her spare time, Jasey enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.

Dorie Bridgeman

Senior Certification Manager

Dorie manages the operations of ABPD examinations and assessment programs, which includes managing the Qualifying Examination, Oral Clinical Examination, Renewal of Certification Examination and Process (ROC-P).  She also works closely with residency program and their directors.

Dorie earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from Indiana University and a Master of Public Administration from DePaul University. Dorie has worked in credentialing and testing since 2007. Dorie’s prior experience includes working with certification programs in the medical and culinary industries.

In her spare time, Dorie enjoys listening to music, attending concerts and spending time with family and friends.