Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS

Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, FACD, APDC
Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgel is a graduate of California Sate University, Fresno 1972 (BA, Zoology), UCLA School of Dentistry 1976 (DDS), UCLA School of Public Health
1980 (MPH – Behavioral Sciences and Health Education), West Los Angeles VAMC General Practice Residency 1977 and Postdoctoral Periodontics Residency 1979.    She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the UCLA School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics (1980- ), faculty (1979- ) and chair of research at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care Center Dental Service (1990- ) and faculty at the WLA City College of Dental Hygiene Department (1990- ).    She has a private practice limited to Periodontics, oral medicine, and implantology in Los Angeles, California since 1981 with Dr. William Matoska.
Dr. Otomo-Corgel is the past president of the Western Society of Periodontology, National VA Periodontists, and the UCLA Chapter of OKU.    Joan is on the Board of …Directors of the California Society of Periodontists (current President), CDA Inderdisciplinary Council, UCLA School of Dentistry Board of Counselors (member of the Counselor Scholarship Committee), UCLA Periodontal Alumni Advisory Council, and is a consultant to the ADA Council on Dental Practice. She is a past member of the AAP Board of Trustees and AAP Foundation Board.    She is a member of the Academy of Osseointegration, LA Dental Society, Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontists, CDA, Southern California Academy of Oral Pathology, Japanese American Dental Society, ADA, IADR, AADR, ADEA and UCLA chapter of AAWD.    She is conscious sedation examiner for CALAOMS and is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and a CPR Instructor. She lectures extensively on periodontal medicine, medical emergencies, over-the-counter dental products, and clinical periodontal topics.    She has contributed to over 60+ journals and texts.
She was a Governor's appointee to the California State University Board of Trustees where she was elected to serve as Vice Chairman until termed out in May, 2000.    Other standing committee involvements include:    Governmental Relations (Chair), Education Policy (Vice-Chair), and Finance (Chair). Campus Planning, Buildings, and Grounds (Vice-Chair), and Audit Committee (Chair).    She has served on Presidential Selection and Review Committees and was on the Chancellor's Search Committee. Joan has served on the Fresno State University Alumni Board of Directors, and Governor's appointee to the School-to-Career Advisory Council.    She is currently a Trustee of Mount St. Mary's College where she is a member of the Education Committee and Student Life Committee. Joan is also a member of the Fresno State University National Board of Visitors where she is an advisor to the Colleges of Math and Science.
Dr. Otomo-Corgel was the 1997 UCLA School of Dentistry Alumnus of the Year,
1998 OKU Robert Wolcott Recipient (selected by the faculty for distinguished service), 1998 Fellow of the American College of Dentists,    1999 Japanese American Dental Society Honoree of the Year, Fresno State University 2007 “Top Dog” Alumnus of the Year for the School of Math and Science and 2007 AAP Specialty Citation recipient.
She and her husband, Rich Corgel have two children, “Bucky” John (23) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Stefanie (20) UC Santa Barbara (women's basketball team).  Rich is the United States Executive Director for Litigation and Consulting at Ernst & Young.   Joan is the past Vice President of the Robinson Elementary School PTSA where she founded their After School Enrichment Program.   She also chaired multiple committees for Manhattan Beach Middle School, Mira Costa High School, and Marlborough School.