Meet the Doctors
Dr. Omar Ata graduated with honors from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1976 with a Bachelor degree in Biology. He continued on to the University of Illinois College of Dentistry where he graduated in 1981. Dr. Omar Ata remained at the University of Illinois where he taught comprehensive dental care for over three years. Dr. Omar Ata completed a comprehensive orthodontic training program utilizing the straight wire technique from 1987-1989 with Dr. Bob Gerety.
In 1996, Dr. Ata was the first to utilize CAD-CAM technology to mill computerized dental restorations in Central Florida. He has been providing state of the art comprehensive dental care for Osceola County and South Orlando since 1984.
Dr. Ata has been a member of the American Dental Association since 1981, the Florida Dental Association since 1984 and is currently a member of the Central Florida District Dental Association.
Dr. Joseph A. Ata was raised in the central Florida area where he attended Lake Highland Preparatory school, graduating with honors in 2001. He attended Nova Southeastern University as an undergraduate from 2001-2004, with a major in Biology. He enrolled at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in 2004.
From May 2008 to March 2009 Dr. Joseph Ata provided his services to a free joint venture clinic between Broward County and Nova Southeastern University. The clinic offered free dental care for recipients of the Broward Country Ryan White Grant and BCPP Grant.
Dr. Joseph Ata has taken over 400 hours of continuing education through the Medical College of Georgia on the topic of dental implants. He is an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. An associate fellow must undergo rigorous testing to be certified by the board of the AAID. Dr. Joseph Ata is also a member of the American Dental Association and the Florida Dental Association.
Dr. Jill E. Ata graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005.
She attended Nova Southeastern University, College of Dental Medicine from 2005-2009 where she earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine degree.
In 2010, Dr. Jill E. Ata attended a Straight Wire Orthodontic training program, which included 132 hours of continuing education. The program focused on using a combination of functional appliances, mainly in mixed dentition and fixed orthodontic braces in permanent dentition.
Dr. Jill E. Ata is currently a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and the Central Florida Dental Association. She is also an Associate member of the International Association of Orthodontics. She has been in private practice at Ata Dental Associates since 2009.
Dr. Marie Colon Melendez was born and raised in Puerto Rico and earned her dental degree from the Iberoamerican University in the Dominican Republic. She further developed her skills by completing an intensive two-year General Residency program at the University of Puerto Rico, where she later served as a faculty member.
During her residency, Dr. Colon Melendez underwent extensive training to address the needs of all kinds of the population including patients with compromised health and special needs. Her expertise. extends to procedures such as dental implants, periodontal surgery, Prosthodontics, Endodontic treatments, Oral and IV sedation. She is well-prepared to treat the general population and medically compromised patients with severe medical conditions, showcasing her commitment to comprehensive and specialized care.
Dr. Elizabeth Santiago was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Speaks fluent Spanish and moved to Florida when she was 15 years old. She attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences at Florida International University in 2010 and earned her Doctorate Degree from Howard University, College of Dentistry, in 2017.
Shortly after, she earned an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) certificate from NYU Langone Hospitals at Springfield Missouri in June 2018.
Dr. Santiago developed proficiency in restorative dentistry, removable and fixed prosthetics, molar endodontics, routine and surgical extractions, as well as implant placements and implant-crown restorations.
Dr. Santiago is currently a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and Central Florida Dental Association. She is also a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
Dr. Johana Cobo was raised in Cuba and relocated to Miami, FL at the age of 16. She is an alumna of G. Holmes Braddock High School, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She subsequently began her Associate in Arts degree with a major in Biology at Miami Dade Honors College. She continued her studies at Florida International University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 2013.
From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Cobo pursued her dental education at the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C. Throughout her time in dental school, she was an active member of the Hispanic Dental Association, eventually rising to the position of school chapter president. She has always been passionate about educating the Hispanic community on dental health.
After dental school, Dr. Cobo advanced her education by completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at LECOM University in affiliation with NYU Langone Hospitals. In her year-long residency, she honed her expertise as a general dentist, gaining proficiency in various areas of dentistry such as cosmetic procedures, molar root canal treatments, prosthetics and implant restorations.
Committed to lifelong learning, Dr. Cobo frequently participates in continuing education programs, seeking new methods to refine her skills and provide top-tier care to her patients. She holds an Invisalign certification and is an active member of the American Dental Association, Hispanic Dental Association, and Florida Dental Association.
