Oral Medicine Residency Faculty

David Ojeda, DDS, is a board-certified oral medicine specialist at Baptist Health Cancer Care. He diagnoses and manages diseases and disorders affecting the mouth, jaws and salivary glands. He also diagnoses and treats orofacial pain conditions, including temporomandibular joint disorders and neuropathic pain conditions affecting the head and neck. Collaborating with the cancer care team, he coordinates dental care for patients with complex medical conditions like cancer, ensuring their oral health is integrated with their overall medical care.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Ojeda served as an associate clinical professor at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry and a physician in the Department of Hospital Dentistry at University Health System, where he balanced teaching, patient care and clinical research.

Dr. Ojeda earned his doctor in dental surgery degree at Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. He completed an oral medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania, an oral medicine and orofacial pain advanced education program at New York University and an oral pathology and surgery residency at Xaverian University in Bogota, Colombia.

Dr. Ojeda is a recognized expert in his field. He is a member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine. He actively contributes to both scientific discussions and publications.

Dedicated to providing care that is patient-centered, compassionate and grounded in open communication, Dr. Ojeda creates a welcoming environment where patients feel heard and respected. He takes time to educate his patients about their diagnosis and treatment options, so they feel empowered to take an active role in their care. He strives to combine sound clinical judgment with genuine care.

Dr. Ojeda is fluent in English and Spanish. To maintain his health, he works out at the gym, does yoga and goes kayaking and paddleboarding. He also enjoys working on home projects, traveling and supporting his community by frequenting local events such as farmers' markets, art shows and music festivals.

Michele Lodolo, DDS, MS, is an oral medicine specialist at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute. His clinical and research interests include the diagnosis and management of oral mucosal diseases, particularly oral precancerous lesions, and oral complications of cancer therapy.

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Lodolo strives to generate research in oral medicine and oral oncology that improves patient care and outcomes and advances science.

Dr. Lodolo earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Trieste in Italy and a master’s degree in oral and craniofacial sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. His clinical training includes an oral medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco, where he served as chief resident during his final year.

Dr. Lodolo is a member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine and the International Society of Oral Oncology. He actively contributes to both scientific discussions and publications.

Since many oral mucosal conditions are chronic and require ongoing management, Dr. Lodolo focuses on educating his patients, establishing open communication, building trust and forging long-term relationships. He takes time to explain diagnoses and treatment options in a clear and straightforward way and empowers his patients to be actively involved in their care to achieve the best outcomes.

Dr. Lodolo is fluent in English and Italian. When he is not treating patients, he enjoys traveling, cooking dinner for friends and exploring cinema, art and design.

Alessandro Villa, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.P.H., is chief of oral medicine, oral oncology and dentistry at Miami Cancer Institute where he also serves as the Program Director of the Oral Oncology Fellowship. In addition, he is a Professor at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, FIU. Dr. Villa specializes in treating oral mucosal and salivary gland diseases, oral precancers and oral complications from cancer treatment. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute in 2022, Dr. Villa was an attending physician at the University of California San Francisco, Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of oral medicine and otolaryngology at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). He also directed the oral medicine residency programs at UCSF and Harvard.

Dr. Villa’s research focuses on oral dysplasia, oral complications from cancer therapy and prevention of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers. He is involved in several investigator initiated and sponsored clinical trials and has published more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts.