Faculty & Staff
Dental Residency Program – Faculty & Staff Bios
Sandra Halterman, DMD
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Halterman is a seventeen-year Board Certified Diplomate of The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. She earned her bachelor’s degree in science at Coastal Carolina, Myrtle Beach SC. She earned her doctorate at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston SC. MUSC staff selected her for the Implantology Award. She published an article in the Internation Journal of Oral Implantology.
She completed a General Practice Residency at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH and then was commissioned into the United States Navy.
Dr. Halterman completed a 4-year Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale Florida, and was the Chief Resident in her final year. Her training included extensive training in the surgical treatment of Dentofacial Deformities, Cleft Lip and Palate, Craniofacial Deformities, repair, and corrective jaw surgery. She gained comprehensive surgical expertise in dentoalveolar surgery, third molar extractions, bone grafting, and complex implant reconstructive procedures. She completed additional rotations in otolaryngology, endocrinology surgery, surgical critical care, general surgery, trauma surgery, neurosurgery, and surgical treatment of benign and malignant reconstruction of the head and neck. She was trained in both office-based anesthesia and in-patient hospital general anesthesia. She published an article in the Craniofacial and Cleft Lip Journal. She completed a Humanitarian Mission trip with The Smile Train to Ixmiquilpan, Mexico completing numerous surgical procedures of patients with Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, and or Cleft Lip and Palate.
While in the navy her surgical skills with facial cosmetic procedures advanced while at the Naval Hospital Portsmouth. She was a Portsmouth Naval Hospital Staff member of the 4-year Oral and Maxillofacial Residency Program. Her certifications included Advanced Trauma Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Basic Life Support. She is Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a member of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Her most significant and demanding tour was Kandahar, Afghanistan, at the Role Three, MMU-Multinational Medical Unit, where there were three OR’s with plywood floors and a tent overhead. Her surgical skills included but were not limited to head and neck, but also critical surgical procedures on all parts of the body due to the limited number of surgeons and endless complex war injuries to multinational soldiers, Afghan locals, prisoners, and persons of interest.
Dr. Halterman, retired from the United States Navy, as a decorated officer with the rank of Commander in 2020 with numerous awards and medals.
Dr. Halterman lives in Beaufort, SC and is currently working as the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Carolina Forest, Little River Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, SC. She maintains staff privileges at Conway Medical Center.
Dr. Halterman has two amazing children, Brian and Linda, four wonderful grandchildren, and are blessed with two incredible great-grandchildren. She enjoys swimming, going to the beach, watching two of the grandchildren playing softball, and especially spending time with family.
Melody Dawson Whitaker, DMD
General Dentistry
A native South Carolinian and proud Gamecock, Dr. Whitaker graduated summa cum laude with honors from the USC Honors College before earning her DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine. She went on to complete a Geriatric and Special Care Dentistry fellowship at the University of Iowa, where she received the Dr. Samuel Johnston Graduate Student Fellowship Award for her outstanding dedication to geriatric dentistry.
Dr. Whitaker subsequently taught clinical dentistry at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry while maintaining a private practice in Chicago. She now brings her passion for public health dentistry and her commitment to patients of all ages — from infants to seniors — to LRMC.
Pearce Ollar, DMD
General Dentistry
Dr. Ollar earned his DMD from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, along with a Certificate in Public Health. He has practiced in community health centers, DSO settings, corporate practices and private practice across Arizona, California and South Carolina — and has provided free dental care in multiple underserved communities in Mexico.
His continuing education and post-graduate training spans interceptive orthodontics, craniofacial sleep medicine, TMJ disorders, tethered tissue evaluation and release, implant placement and restoration, endodontics and dental esthetics. Dr. Ollar is a patient, compassionate provider who takes the time to address both oral health and overall well-being with every patient.
Vishali Aygari, DMD
Periodontics & Implant Dentistry
Dr. Vishali Aygari is a specialist in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at Little River Medical Center. She focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, as well as advanced implant procedures that restore function and confidence.
With specialized training in gum health and dental implants, Dr. Aygari provides comprehensive care for patients experiencing complex dental needs. Her expertise enables her to treat conditions affecting the teeth’s supporting structures while delivering long-term solutions through implant dentistry.
Mark Janosky, DMD
General Dentistry / Chief Dental Officer
Dr. Janosky has been passionate about public health dentistry throughout his career. He joined LRMC in 2018 as Chief Dental Officer, bringing more than 30 years of experience in preventive and comprehensive oral health care.
A graduate of Penn State University, Dr. Janosky earned his DMD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He began his career in a hospital-based setting in New York, went on to open a private practice in New Jersey, and later relocated to the Carolinas to work in public health, corporate and academic settings. He serves as Affiliate Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and has long enjoyed mentoring early-career dentists.
Jordan Hobel, DDS
General Dentistry
Dr. Hobel graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2016 and brings a grounded, compassionate approach to both patient care and resident mentorship. He is passionate about preventing dental disease and delivering high-quality restorative care. In addition to his work at LRMC, he teaches in the expanded duty dental assisting and dental hygiene programs at Horry Georgetown Technical College.
Christian 'Alex' Black, DMD
Endodontics
Dr. Black is an endodontist who specializes in complex endodontic procedures. He earned his DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Steven Chichetti, DDS
General Dentistry
“My goal is to help residents find their rhythm — so they walk into any room with confidence and clarity.”
Dr. Chichetti earned his Bachelor of Science with honors from St. Thomas Aquinas College and his DDS with honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where he served as Senior Class President. He completed a general practice residency at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo with additional training in oral surgery, anesthesiology and maxillofacial prosthodontics. His post-doctoral training spans oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, implant dentistry, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
Faculty Commitment
Our faculty bring together a broad range of specialties and care experiences, united by a shared mission: to guide the next generation of compassionate, community-driven dentists.
LRMC is a National Health Service Corps site. We are committed to serving all patients, offering discounted fees to those who qualify, and never denying services based on race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation or ability to pay.
