Meet Our Faculty

Dr. Athena Goodarzi

Dr. Sean is the founder of 4M Institute and is both a pioneer and a leading expert specializing in dental implant solutions. Dr. Sean owns and operates several practices and opened 4M Institute to offer a much needed dental training institute, dedicated to teaching dentists not only clinical and lab training, but also marketing, sales, and leadership. With extensive hands-on training of his own, Dr. Sean understands the power of postgraduate training to take a practice to the next level. He created the stateof-the-art facility with the most advanced technology and top-of-the-line equipment to ensure students have the most cutting edge tools at their fingertips. In addition to training at 4M Institute, Dr. Sean lectures around the globe and is currently working on a development deal for a reality based TV show with an established LA based entertainment company. 4M Institute’s World Headquarters is home to the Institute as well as one of Dr. Sean’s leading dental implant practices, 4M Dental Implant Center.

B.S. in chemistry from UCI, 1992 DDS from USC, 1996 Progressive orthodontics continuing education, 1998-2000 Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) graduate, 2001-2004 California Implant Institute, 2004-2005 Loma Linda Implant Speciality, 2005-2006 UCLA I.V. Sedation, 2007 Lotus Leadership Retreat for Dentists, 2018

• M.S. in Biology from California State University, Fresno, 2012
• D.D.S. From University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, 2017

HONORS/AWARDS:

• Advanced Posterior Aesthetic
• Practical Occlusion for the Progressive Practice
• Advanced Functional Aesthetic Dentistry
• Neuromuscular
• Comprehensive Aesthetics Reconstruction
• Coronoplasty and Case Finishes

Dr. Athena Goodarzi

Dr. Athena graduated from The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, long considered one of the top dental programs in the nation. She completed her residency at Columbia University New York City.

Dr. Athena’s expertise is blending art with function, but her attention to detail and gentle approach to dentistry is what stands out. Her ability to connect with her patients, create relationships, and design the best treatment possible makes her the perfect addition to our team. Dr. Athena has profoundly affected the smiles and lives of many of our patients, and would love to do that for you, too.

• M.S. in Biology from California State University, Fresno, 2012
• D.D.S. From University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, 2017

Post- Doctoral Training:

• General Practice Residency: NYC Health and Hospitals- Columbia University, 2018
• Invisalign Certified

• Teaching Associate: California State University, Fresno; Department of Biology, 2010- 2012
• Teaching Assistant: University at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine; Department of Prosthodontics, 2016- 2017

Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2018

• Co-Author
• Loss of Tooth Structure Associated with Preparation for CAD-CAM Full Coverage Restorations

Dr. Samira Houshiar

Dr. Samira Houshiar graduated UCI with honors receiving her bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1997. In 2001 she received her Doctoral in Dental Surgery (DDS) from UCLA school of dentistry and since she has continued her education in many different dental subspecialty programs.

Soon after receiving her DDS, she continued her education in cosmetic dentistry at LVI (Las Vegas Institute) and graduated in 2003. While practicing cosmetic and general dentistry, she completed her certification in Occlusion, Neuromuscular, and TMJ treatment concurrently. In order to bring more comfort for her most anxious patients, Dr. Samira completed the training necessary to be certified in Conscious Sedation (2004) and I.V. Sedation (2020).

Since completing her assistant fellowship in Implantology back in 2009, Dr. Samira has dedicated her career to full mouth reconstruction and designing beautiful and functional smiles for her patients. She is currently practicing at 4M Dental Implant Center at the Newport Beach location. Dr. Samira Houshiar is a firm believer that the road to quality has no finish line. She is dedicated to staying at the cutting edge of technology and all dentistry has to offer. She is determined to change lives one smile at a time.

Dr. Tira Emadi

Dr. Emadi is a specialized implant-prosthodontic surgeon practicing in Long Beach, Ca. He received his D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree in 2009 from Tehran Azad University of Dentistry, Tehran, IRAN. Dr. Emadi practiced general dentistry for several years. He was a prosthodontics preceptor at the University of California, San Francisco before he entered Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Ft Lauderdale, FL where he received his specialty certificate in Prosthodontics as well as Master of Science in Dentistry. Dr. Emadi was serving as a Chief Resident during his residency. He was honored with the dental implant surgery award at the end of his residency. Dr. Emadi completed the Maxicourse dental implant education in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He also excels in digital dentistry.

Dr. Emadi is very passionate in practicing and teaching on full mouth dental implant rehabilitation as well as doing research. He had more than twenty-five presentations in different dental meetings and he published several papers in peer-reviewed dental journals. His presentation in 70th AAID annual conference received first-place award. He also received a second-place award in 29th Academy of Osseointegration Annual Meeting.

• Post-graduate Prosthodontics, Chief resident, 2019
• Master of Science in Dentistry (MSCDM), 2019
• Prosthodontics Preceptor at UCSF, School of Dentistry, 2015
• Tehran Azad University of Dentistry, D.D.S in Dentistry, 2009

Todd Whitaker

Todd Whitaker is the owner and Marketing Architect of VT Wyatt. With over 15 years of brand and marketing experience, Todd has served as the "marketing guy" for rapidgrowth startups, worldwide technology corporations, politicians, fitness pros, travel companies, and financial services firms. His company's Compass Marketing Core is the turnkey, do-it-all marketing platform for many of America's most successful doctors and oral surgeons.

Julieanne O’Connor

Julieanne O’Connor helps dentists to leverage their influence because they are often overworked, overwhelmed and underappreciated. She helps them implement smart ways of up-leveling their practice so that they can have a better quality of life. Bottom line, O’Connor helps dentists save money, build a stellar reputation and focus on what really matters.

Julieanne O’Connor is an award winning published author, TEDx speaker, certified coach and social media strategist who is on the faculty of 4M Institute. She is the director of ZLinked Marketing & Advertising and a “QofL” coach for dentists. To discuss team training or in-person courses at 4M Institute, she can be reached directly at [email protected].

Steve Sperry

In 1987, Steve fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning his own company and founded Pinnacle Practices, Inc., which grew into the largest dental consulting firm in the South. Over 18 years, Steve developed in house programs, teaching strategies, and workshops for his dental clients and worked “hands on” with over thousands of practices, ensuring their success. In addition, Steve lectured regularly at dental schools, dental societies, universities, and study groups, and contributed several articles to dental journals and magazines.

In December 2004, Steve sold his company in Dallas, and moved West to Nevada, where he founded Inventive Dental Solutions, LLC. Steve has continued and expanded his work coaching clients in Nevada and Southern California, and has created the LOTUS leadership program for dental professionals. Steve has worked hands-on with thousands of practices, developing and implementing strategic business plans and models for growth.

Steve Sperry, owner of Inventive Dental Solutions. Steve has been a dental advisor providing dental specific coaching, consulting, practice management and marketing services for over 25 years.

Steve’s Specialties include dental practice management, dental marketing, positioning dental practices to add partners/associates, group practices, dental team building, and dental leadership.

Dr. Arshiya Sharafi

Dr. Sharafi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a member of the American Dental Association, California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, San Diego Dental Society, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and Academy of Osseointegration

Dr. Sharafi is one of a handful of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in California who holds the California Cosmetic Surgery License due to his comprehensive training in cosmetics and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Sharafi is the surgical instructor of the BioHorizons TeethXpress Full Arch Courses and has a fellowship program for full arch treatment in his office. His passion is full arch rehabilitation and All-on-X procedure of which he has done over 3,500 arches in his career. Dr. Sharafi has privileges at Sharp Memorial Hospital and Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego.

Dr. Sharafi obtained his dental degree at the University of Maryland Dental School. He went on to finish his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training at University of Maryland Medical Center and R. Adam Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Dr. Sharafi has trained extensively in dentoalveolar surgery, dental implants, orthognathic surgery, maxillofacial trauma surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and benign head and neck pathology and reconstructive dental implantology.