BIOLASE, Inc., the global leader in dental lasers, announced on 9th October that Dr. Elaine C. Wagner, a retired Rear Admiral with 33 years of service in the United States Navy, has been appointed to its Board of Directors.
“Dr. Wagner is a renowned leader in the practice of paediatric dentistry, and her vast experience combined with strong management skills will be invaluable to BIOLASE and to our customers,” said Mr. Todd Norbe, president and chief executive officer. “We are excited to have her join our board and look forward to her contributions as we continue to focus on making lasers the standard of care in pediatric dentistry and advancing dentistry through laser technology.”
Dr. Wagner is the first female board-certified paediatric dentist to be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, upper-half, in the United States Navy Dental Corps. She completed residency at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis in 1982 and was certified by the American Board of Paediatric Dentistry in 1991. After 18 months in private practice, Dr. Wagner was commissioned in the US Navy in 1983. After distinguished tours in San Diego and the Philippines, she was assigned to the National Naval Medical Centre as the Dental Department’s first paediatric dentist in 1992. Following that assignment, her career carried her through many distinguished Navy dental positions, including a year as a Commanding Officer at the Navy’s Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in Kuwait. In 2009, Dr. Wagner assumed command of the Naval Health Clinic New England. The following year, she assumed the duties as the director, Medical Resources Plans and Policy Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations code N931 and chief, Navy Dental Corps. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the commander of Navy Medicine East and Naval Medical Centre Portsmouth, and as director of the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-Service Market. From 2014 until she retired in 2017, Dr. Wagner served at the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Falls Church, Virginia as the Director for Readiness and Health.
“I am delighted to be joining BIOLASE at this exciting time,” said Dr. Wagner. “I look forward to advancing dentistry through laser technology and believe by doing this, we can help raise an entire generation of people who are not afraid of going to the dentist.”
Dr. Wagner currently serves as the Registrar/Executive Director for the International College of Dentists USA Section. Her military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with three gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars.
With the appointment of Wagner, BIOLASE now has six board members, with three of the board members having combined dental industry experience of 90 years.
