Women in Dentistry - Women-in-dentistry-spear-retreat-2026

Dr. Varisha Parikh

Dr. Varisha Parikh is a private practice prosthodontist in Los Angeles, California. She completed her degree in dental medicine at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and obtained her specialty training in Prosthodontics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her practice primarily focuses on utilizing digital technology for complex rehabilitation cases. She enjoys sharing her clinical expertise and experience with colleagues as a speaker on the topics of digital technology, implant fixed and removable prosthodontics, and practice development.

Brittany

Brittany is an alumna of Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of Science in accounting.

Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City before moving to their Dallas office. There, as a senior associate, she worked extensively in tax compliance and consulting services in both the financial and private-company service industries. She joined the CWA team in 2013.

“The most rewarding aspect of what I do is that I can help clients feel secure in their financial future. Along the way, the invaluable relationships I create with clients makes it easy to guide them on their path toward achieving their personal, financial, and professional goals.” Brittany is a Certified Public Accountant and an Investment Advisor Representative. In addition to her role as a financial planner, she has donated her time for 10 years with the 3to1 Foundation, helping educate DISD students and the community on financial literacy topics, presenting her topics both in English and in Spanish. She’s passionate about empowering others to make smart financial decisions for themselves and making financial education accessible to everyone in the community.

Brittany founded the CWA Women in Financial Planning group, which has coordinated mentorship programs as well as productive meetings to discuss big ideas and offer support to the firm’s female advisors. In addition to her work at CWA, Brittany sits on two boards in Dallas. She joined the board for The Family Place and the SMU Cox School of Business Alumni Board.

In her spare time, she enjoys snow skiing and SoulCycle, as well as singing and musical theatre. She and her husband, James, have three young children.

Dr. Natalia Chalmers, DDS, MHSc, PhD

Visionary Oral Health Executive | Policy Leader | Healthcare Innovator

Dr. Natalia Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist and 2025 AAPD Pediatric Dentist of the Year, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate bringing over 20 years of clinical, research, and regulatory experience to the forefront of dental innovation. As the Chief Dental Officer and Head of Clinical Innovation at Overjet, she leverages data-driven insights to transform dental healthcare delivery and ensure access to high-quality, patient-centered care.

Previously, Dr. Chalmers made history as the first Chief Dental Officer in the Office of the Administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There, she led groundbreaking initiatives to expand dental coverage, established the first CMS dental claims processing system, and implemented new quality measurements that reshaped the national conversation on oral health. Her public sector leadership also includes tenure as a Dental Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A recognized expert in clinical analytics, Dr. Chalmers is dedicated to advocating for the role of health policy across the lifespan—viewing dental well-being as intrinsic to whole-person care.

Dr. Chalmers completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of Sofia, a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, and a Ph.D. in oral microbiology from the Graduate Partnerships Program of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, Post-doctoral Fellowship at the ADA Forsyth Institute, and Clinical Research Fellowship at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chalmers holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Research from Duke Medical University and a Certificate in Drug Development and Regulatory Science from the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Joyce Bassett

Joyce Bassett, DDS, FAACD, FAGD, practices comprehensive restorative and aesthetic dentistry in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is an Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and President 2015-2016. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry, an Associate member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, a KOIS Clinical Instructor, an active member in the Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, and a Fellow in the AGD. Dr. Bassett also has served as adjunct faculty, teaching the aesthetic continuum at the Arizona School of Dentistry. She was voted one of the top five female CE educators in America. Dr Bassett is an international lecturer, published author, and member of the editorial board of several peer-reviewed publications. She is a recipient of the Lucy Hobbs award for Clinical Expertise, the AACD Evy Award for Excellence in Teaching Cosmetic Dentistry Education, the Volunteer Dentist of the Year award for Arizona CASS dental clinic, and she has received the Give Back a Smile volunteer service award twice.