Meet the Team

Donna R. Williams, DDS

PERIODONTIST

“We are all connected,” is one of Dr. Williams’ views on life and dentistry. Her journey over the years—meeting different people, living in different cultures, working as a holistic dentist—has developed her understanding of the many commonalities and ties we have towards one another. Her undergraduate education was at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, she received her Doctor in Dental Surgery Degree from the first dental school in the world, the University of Maryland, in 1990.

Dental school was where she learned the basic skills to become a dentist. However, outside of dental school is where her world was able to expand even more. Growing up, Dr. Williams lived for some of her formative years in Tanzania, East Africa, and she was also an exchange student in Oaxaca, Mexico. In addition, Dr. Williams lived and traveled throughout the Caribbean, West and South Africa, and Europe. She opened her first dental office in Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, while also working in St. Croix and on the island of Anguilla. In the Caribbean is where she was able to hone her dental skills as a practitioner and learn how to run a dental office.

After leaving the Virgin Islands, Dr. Williams moved to Harlem, NY, in 1994, where she worked as a dentist at Harlem Dowling Foster Care Agency. Shortly afterwards, she opened a solo practice on 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue—Morningside Dental Care. Because the perception of the quality of dental care in Harlem was less than stellar, she was determined to change that view. Now, Morningside Dental Care is one of the finest dental clinics in all of New York City!

Our office specializes in the most up-to-date treatments available. Dr. Williams was one of the first dentists in New York City to offer LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure). This technique is the only FDA-approved treatment to help treat gum disease using lasers. The treatment has worked wonders for so many patients, allowing Dr. Williams to save teeth that otherwise would have been extracted. Her office is the only office above 79th Street in Manhattan to have the state-of-the-art CEREC machine, a computer and milling machine used to create all-porcelain crowns and bridges right in the office. She is certified by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), enabling her to treat patients who experience dental fear and anxiety they developed from childhood.

In 2003, Dr. Williams obtained a Fellowship in Natural Dentistry (FIND) from the institute of Natural Dentistry, where she learned about the interconnectivity between the mouth and the rest of the body. Problems in the mouth often generate health issues elsewhere in the body and vice versa. She is responsible for petitioning Governor Cuomo to recognize February as Gum Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York in 2014. Education is a continuous process, and providing the most current information in oral health care to her patients is her priority. To that end, Dr. Williams recently finished a mini-residency in Airway, TMJ and Sleep Apnea with NYU, because it is so prevalent and can have severe and debilitating health consequences.

Dr. Williams is on the board of directors of Adventures in Health, Education, and Agricultural Development, Inc. (AHEAD, Inc.)

She has a teenage son, Sadiki Emmanuel, and is very happily married to Apolinary “Yonga” Ngirwa. She is passionate about bringing people together, bridging different cultures, and showing how the body’s organs and systems are interconnected to each other. We are related to each other as human beings on Earth, truly, from the smallest tiny atom to the universe as a whole.

Dr. Williams at Morningside Dental Care

Cameron Lewis

Oral Surgeon

Dr. Cameron Lewis is an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon who graduated from New York Medical College. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2007 from Howard University College of Dentistry and went on to complete a GPR residency with UCLA Harbor Medical Center. He is a member of the American Dental Association, a Candidate for the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and a Candidate for the New York Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

As an oral surgeon, Dr. Lewis offers unparalleled education and experience in handling complex issues of the mouth, head, and neck. Some areas of focus and specialty are tooth extraction including wisdom teeth removal, dental sedation, dental implants, impacted canines, oral pathology diagnosis and surgery, pre-prosthetic surgery, bone grafting, and advanced sinus lift surgery.

Dr. Lewis an Oral Surgeon at Morningside dental care

Dr. Simone Gelman, DDS

Dr. Simone Gelman grew up in New York City. She attended the New York University School of Dentistry where she graduated with High Honors and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the prestigious National Dental Honor Society. After completing her training, she completed a residency at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn. In 2010, she was a participant in a dental outreach trip to Machias, Maine. This mission was created to provide access to dental care to the underserved population of Machias,Maine. She also participated in the College’s mobile dental care van, Smiling Faces, Going Places. It is a unique program that brings comprehensive dental care to underserved children in New York City at public schools and Head Start facilities. She adores seeing and treating children.

When she’s not in the office, Dr. Gelman enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, practicing yoga, and other various outdoor activities. She is committed to quality of patient care, comfort, and taking a gentle approach in order to make the appointment as pleasant as possible. Dr Gelman believes that there is nothing like the power of a healthy and great smile. Through education, prevention, and conservative care, it is achievable for all in an enjoyable environment.

Connect with Us Today

We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships with our patients. With empathetic communication and a genuine commitment to your well-being, our team strives to create an environment where you feel heard, cared for, and confident in your dental journey. Schedule a visit to meet the faces behind your oral health – the heart of our practice is here to serve you.