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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Copeland Ward Lachapelle, D.D.S. (expected 2027)

UNC Adams School of Dentistry. OMFS-focused research, four oral surgery externships, and service leadership across North Carolina and internationally.

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About

I am pursuing a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery with training at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry (D.D.S. expected 2027). My clinical exposure includes externships at UNC, Geisinger, the University of Florida, and Virginia Commonwealth University, spanning orthognathic surgery, TMJ arthroscopy, benign pathology, facial trauma, head and neck oncology, and advanced implant concepts.

In the UNC Department of OMFS I have contributed to clinical research on perioperative supplementation and inferior alveolar nerve recovery after BSSO, imaging-based analysis of pterygoid anatomy in cleft patients, and a coauthored program history article developed from interviews with UNC faculty. I cofounded the AMOR Volunteer Clinic to serve vulnerable youth and migrant communities in the Triangle, serve in OMFS club leadership, and support education through CBSE-focused resources and AI tools for learners.

Education

  1. Present — expected 2027

    Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)

    University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry — Chapel Hill, NC

    Comprehensive Care Program. CBSE: 78 (EPC).

  2. 2019 — 2023

    Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry

    North Carolina State University — Raleigh, NC

    3.71 GPA, Magna Cum Laude. DAT: 23 Academic Average.

Oral surgery externships & clinical experience

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, NC · 2024 & 2025

    Observed and/or assisted in orthognathic procedures, large benign pathology resections, and facial trauma.

  • Geisinger Health

    Danville, PA · 2024

    Exposure to head and neck oncologic surgery and inpatient management.

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, FL · 2025

    Observed and/or assisted with orthognathic procedures, TMJ arthroscopy, and benign pathology reconstruction.

  • Virginia Commonwealth University

    Richmond, VA · 2026

    Observed and/or assisted with orthognathic procedures, TMJ arthroscopy, benign pathology reconstruction, facial trauma reconstruction, and an IPS subperiosteal implant placement.

Research & scholarship

OMFS department research at UNC and undergraduate bench science at NC State. Expand each card for details on my role.

Clinical research · In progress

Lion's Mane supplementation for perioperative safety and IAN recovery after BSSO

UNC Department of OMFS · Research Assistant · Advisors: George Blakey, DDS and Ray White, DDS

Pilot prospective study of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) supplementation for perioperative safety and inferior alveolar nerve recovery after bilateral sagittal split osteotomies, investigating whether a favorable systemic environment supports nerve regeneration after orthognathic surgery.

Role & details
  • Contributed to seeking IND and IRB approval and to study design and data collection methods.
Clinical research

Anatomy of pterygoid plates in patients with cleft palate

UNC Department of OMFS · Research Assistant · Advisor: Ashley Manlove, MD, DDS

Built and analyzed a database of UNC orthognathic patients with and without cleft palate, with standardized measurements of pterygoid plate length and thickness.

Role & details
  • Helped form the patient database.
  • Contributed to standardized measurements of pterygoid plate length and thickness.
Scholarship · Coauthor

Foundations and Fixation: An Oral History of OMFS at UNC

Advisors: George Blakey, DDS; Ray White, DDS; Timothy Turvey, DDS · UNC Department of OMFS

Program history developed from structured interviews with UNC OMFS leadership, documenting the evolution of the department through the lens of its faculty.

Role & details
  • Conducted interviews with Drs. White, Turvey, and Blakey covering the complete history of the UNC OMFS program.
  • Coauthored the article presenting that institutional history.
Undergraduate research

Biochemistry & biophysics (NC State)

2021–2023 · Advisors: Colleen Doherty, PhD (Biochemistry); Mary Elting, PhD (Biophysics)

Bench science including plant cloning and gene editing (Biochemistry), and gene editing of E. coli and S. cerevisiae for cancer-related applications (Biophysics).

Role & details
  • Biochemistry (2022–2023): plant cloning and gene editing techniques.
  • Biophysics (2021–2023): microbial gene editing for applications in cancer research.

Coding & technical projects

Ventures and tools supporting OMFS applicants and medical education, plus student-facing AI initiatives at UNC.

  • CBSEReview

    Co-owner of a company focused on high-quality CBSE study questions and materials for oral and maxillofacial surgery applicants.

    • Medical education
    • CBSE

  • MedAI

    Co-owner — an AI engine designed to support board review courses across medical specialties.

    • AI
    • Board review

  • Clinic Companion & ASOD AI Committee

    Student Ambassador on the UNC Adams School of Dentistry AI Committee: attend monthly AI advancement meetings and helped develop a student-facing chatbot, Clinic Companion.

    • Higher education
    • Chatbot
    • Python

Full CV

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Education

  • University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill — D.D.S., expected 2027. CBSE: 78 (EPC).
  • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC — 2019–2023. B.S., Biochemistry. 3.71 GPA, Magna Cum Laude. DAT 23 AA.

Honors & awards

  • Claude Adams Jr. and Grace Phillips Adams Scholarship.
  • Boston Medical Center — Intermediate Spanish Level I, Certificate of Completion.
  • UNC Office of Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services — Certificate of Completion.

Oral surgery externships & clinical experience

  • UNC, Chapel Hill — 2024 & 2025. Observed/assisted: orthognathic surgery, large benign pathology resections, facial trauma.
  • Geisinger Health, Danville, PA — 2024. Head and neck oncologic surgery and patient management.
  • University of Florida, Gainesville, FL — 2025. Orthognathic procedures, TMJ arthroscopy, benign pathology reconstruction.
  • VCU, Richmond, VA — 2026. Orthognathic procedures, TMJ arthroscopy, benign pathology reconstruction, facial trauma reconstruction, IPS subperiosteal implant placement.

Research & projects

  • UNC OMFS — RA, Drs. Blakey & White. Pilot prospective study: Lion's Mane supplementation for perioperative safety and IAN recovery after BSSO; IND/IRB, design, data collection.
  • UNC OMFS — RA, Dr. Manlove. Pterygoid plate anatomy in cleft patients; database; standardized length/thickness measurements.
  • UNC OMFS — Coauthor, Drs. Blakey, White, Turvey. Foundations and Fixation: An Oral History of OMFS at UNC — interviews and coauthored article.
  • NCSU Biochemistry — UG RA, 2022–2023, Dr. Doherty. Bench research: plant cloning and gene editing.
  • NCSU Biophysics — UG RA, 2021–2023, Dr. Elting. Gene editing of E. coli and S. cerevisiae for cancer research applications.

Leadership & service

  • AMOR Volunteer Clinic, UNC — Cofounder & President, 2024–present. Clinic for troubled youth and migrant communities; partners: Haven House Services, EMBRACE, Baptists on Mission.
  • OMFS Club, UNC — Co-Vice President, 2025–2026 (monthly journal club; pig jaw suture lab). Co-President, 2026–2027.
  • Dental Students Against Abuse and Human Trafficking, UNC — Cofounder & President, 2024–2025. Lunch-and-learns; collaboration with UNC OVP; dental supply drive for UNC Hospital Beacon Program.
  • International student trip — World Congress on Dental Traumatology, Warsaw, Poland, 2026 — Co-leader & organizer; lectures and hands-on workshops (e.g. autotransplantation).

Teaching & mentorship

  • SNDA Student Panel — 2025.
  • Bridging the Gap Mentor — 2025.
  • ASDA Mentor — 2025.

Extracurriculars

  • CBSEReview — Co-owner; CBSE study materials for OMFS applicants.
  • MedAI — Co-owner; AI engine for medical board review courses.
  • UNC ASOD AI Committee — Student Ambassador; monthly AI meetings; development of student chatbot Clinic Companion.

International experiences

  • CMDA clinical mission trip — Treasure Beach, Jamaica. Free dental care in a rural community.
  • World Congress on Dental Traumatology — Warsaw, Poland (see leadership for student trip role).

Volunteering & outreach

  • Roots — 2024, 2025.
  • SNDA Student Panel — 2025.
  • Bridging the Gap Mentor — 2025.
  • ASDA Mentor — 2025.
  • Smile Clinic — 2024.
  • Reach Clinic — 2024.
  • Deah Day — 2023, 2024, 2025.

Non-clinical skills

  • Language: Intermediate Spanish.
  • Technology: Epic, Microsoft Office, AI-assisted Python development.

Let's connect

I welcome residency correspondence and professional inquiries.

Email clachap@ad.unc.edu Phone (252) 955-5493
Location Morrisville, NC

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