C. Kumar N. Patel, PhD, MS, the Inventor of the CO₂ Laser Presenting “The Discovery and Science of the CO₂ Laser”

C. Kumar N. Patel was born in Baramati, India in 1938. He received his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from Poona University at the age of 19 (1958), then came to the US for graduate school. He earned an MS (1959) and PHD (1961) in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He spent more than 30 years at Bell Labs, starting in 1961.

Dr. Patel began doing fundamental research in laser action in the pure rare gases. This led him to discover laser action in carbon dioxide (CO₂) in 1963. He is the inventor of the carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and the Spin-Flip Raman lasers. He pioneered the use of these and other lasers to measure trace gases in difficult environments.

In February, 2000 he founded Pranalytica, Inc. in Santa Monica, CA. where he is CEO and Chairman of the Board. The company initially developed revolutionary ultra-sensitive trace gas detection instrumentation based on laser spectroscopy. Driven by advances in its laser sources, Pranalytica led the commercialization of revolutionary new infrared light sources – quantum cascade lasers.

Dr. Patel is a Professor of Physics with a joint appointment in Electrical Engineering at UCLA. He served as UCLA’s vice chancellor for research through 1999. Among his many awards, Patel was elected to the National Academy of Science in 1974 and the National Academy of Engineering in 1978. He received the National Medal of Science given by the President of the United States in 1996.

Scott Siegel, MD, DDS, The Laser Infant Frenectomy Pioneer, Presenting “Laser frenectomy: 18-year experience with CO₂ laser from infants through adults”

Dr. Scott A. Siegel is a Board Certified, Dual Degree Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a pioneer of Lip and Tongue-tie Laser Surgery. Dr. Siegel’s full-scope OMFS practice is located in New York City and Huntington, Long Island. He is also the Founder and Medical Director of the Center for Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs) dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of lip- and tongue-ties, in New York City. His groundbreaking research on the association of Aerophagia Induced Reflux (AIR) and Lip and Tongue-Tie in breastfeeding infants was recently published by the International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics.

Continuing his scholarly and surgical distinction in private practice, Dr. Siegel is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stony Brook Dental and Medical Schools. Dr. Siegel is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; he was also was accepted as a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons in 2011 and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Robert A. Strauss DDS, MD, FACS, World Renowned Educator in Laser Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Presenting “Ablational and incisional cosmetic facial surgery”

Robert A. Strauss, DDS, MD, FACS, Professor and Director of the Residency Training Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, and Past President of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Strauss is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is a former Chair of the Major Surgery Section of the Board. Over the last 30 years he has authored numerous publications and textbook chapters on the use of lasers in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Strauss received his dental degree from the University of Buffalo and his medical degree from the UHSA School of Medicine. He completed his internship at the Buffalo General Hospital and residencies in both Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and in Anesthesiology at the Michael Reese Medical Center in Chicago.

Dr. Strauss specializes in laser surgery of the head and neck, facial and jaw reconstructive surgery, cosmetic facial surgery, and sleep apnea surgery. His research interests include laser and cosmetic surgery, sleep apnea, anesthesia and orthognathic and reconstructive surgery.

Warren B. Seiler III, MD, Presenting “Review of Laser Wavelengths Utilized in Modern Day Cosmetic Surgery Practice”

Dr. Seiler is a board-certified cosmetic laser surgeon and the Owner and Medical Director at Seiler Skin Cosmetic Laser & Aesthetics Center in Birmingham, Alabama. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. He graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. After training in general surgery at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., Dr. Seiler, completed extensive further cosmetic specialty training, which extends well beyond any traditional residency or fellowship program. He is also a fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

As Executive Director, he currently serves as a trusted advisor and educator to ABLS members and non-members who seek expert training and higher education opportunities in the field. Dr. Seiler also works with state medical boards, health departments and laser safety societies in the U.S. and abroad to help create stronger safety and training regulations that govern practitioners who provide these procedures.