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.

Noah Kalman, M.D., MBA, is a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of gynecologic, head and neck, thoracic and pediatric cancers, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and sarcoma. He has special training and expertise in advanced radiation therapies such as stereotactic body radiation therapy, linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery, and proton therapy. Dr. Kalman is actively involved in clinical research to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. He has been recognized for his academic and clinical excellence. He serves as an editorial reviewer for several peer-reviewed scientific journals. He also is widely published in numerous medical journals and lectures at scientific symposiums.

Geoffrey D. Young, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S. specializes in the surgical treatment of cancers affecting the head and neck, including the mouth, throat, larynx, swallowing passages, thyroid, and salivary glands as well as skin cancers on the scalp, face, or neck. He has special expertise and experience in transoral robotic surgery and transoral laser microsurgery. These advanced procedures utilize a robotic system to make more-precise movements, often resulting in a quicker recovery and fewer complications for people with mouth and throat cancers. Dr. Young’s research efforts focus on cancer immunology and molecular biology to further the understanding of disease processes and improve methods for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease. He has presented his clinical findings at numerous national and international scientific conferences. Dr. Young serves on several editorial review boards. He has facilitated numerous courses on “Communication in Health Care” and “Cross-Cultural Communication”. His professional society memberships and committees include the American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society (research committee), Society of Surgical Oncology and American Thyroid Association (surgical affairs committee).

Ariel Perez Perez, M.D., is a hematologist and medical oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute. Dr. Perez Perez specializes in bone marrow transplant, cellular immunotherapy, and malignant hematology. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Perez Perez joined Miami Cancer Institute from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, where he completed a fellowship in bone marrow transplant and cellular immunotherapy. During his fellowship, he was involved in clinical research in CAR T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed refractory B-cell lymphomas. He served as chief resident and chief fellow during his residency and fellowship programs. Dr. Perez Perez earned several academic achievement awards, including the Internal Medicine and Hematology-Oncology Academic Achievement Awards at Orlando Health. He also graduated medical school with honors (Summa Cum Laude). Dr. Perez Perez’s research has been published in peer-reviewed publications, including the Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Journal, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Thoracic Oncology and Annals of Oncology. He has also presented his research at numerous research meetings, industry conferences and events. Dr. Perez Perez’s approach to patient care is to establish and maintain communication and trust with his patients while providing the highest level of evidence-based medical care. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Perez Perez enjoys spending time with his family, reading, playing soccer and watching movies.

Cesar Ochoa, M.D., is a medical oncologist at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health. Dr. Ochoa specializes in the treatment of lung, head and neck cancers. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute in 2021, Dr. Ochoa was on staff at the Billings Clinic Cancer Center, where he worked as a medical oncologist. Throughout his career, Dr. Ochoa has been involved in research focusing on the role of intrinsic and extrinsic airway inflammation in the development and growth of lung cancer. This work has had major implications in the improvement of currently available therapies to better understand lung cancer. Dr. Ochoa’s research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed publications, including Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Research, Molecular Cancer, Oncoimmunology, Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy and others. He has also presented his work at multiple national and international conferences. Dr. Ochoa believes that the needs of his patients always come first. He strives to help them understand their disease, prognosis and treatment options while learning about their personal goals and what matters most to them. This way, together, they can develop a management plan that aligns with the patient’s values. When he is not treating patients, Dr. Ochoa enjoys reading, music, exploring the outdoors and visiting new restaurants.

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.