Faculty & Staff

Leadership Team

Mary Joyce Gomez, DDS - Program Director

Dr. Gomez practiced for eight years in the Philippines as a hospital-based pediatric dentist before moving to the US in 2000. Her dental career in the US started in orthodontics, assisting in a bustling practice in Maryland.

At the ripe age of 43, she became a member of the highly deemed Omicron Kappa Upsilon Sigma Chapter, University of Illinois College of Dentistry, where she graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

She then pursued a General Practice Residency at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Dr. Gomez then joined OSF HealthCare as part of the Residency Faculty and the Clinical Supervisor at one of its off-site locations for four years.

Before she came back to Peoria to assume the position of the Director of the OSF Dental GPR program, Dr. Gomez served as the Director of Dental Services at St. Bernard Hospital and Health Center for three years, where she was recognized for her humanitarian services by the Chicago Tribune, WGN News, NBC News and the Steve Cochran Show.

Her colleagues elected Dr. Gomez to become a Fellow of the esteemed Academy of Dentist International and International College of Dentists USA Chapter in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

As a follower of Christ, it has been her mission to pursue excellence, integrity, and compassion in all her dealings to extend God's grace to people she comes in contact with – her mentors, students, peers, staff, and most of all – her patients.

Dr. Gomez has given up her private practice to focus on making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people in her community. She also aims to help educate the next generation of dentists that will stand out not only for their higher education and better skills but also for their outstanding patient care.

Susan B. Bishop, DDS - Assistant Director

A graduate of the Washington University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Bordenave-Bishop also earned a BS in nursing from Loyola University and a BS in Medical Technology.

She furthered her studies with completion of a pediatric dentistry fellowship at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Currently, Dr. Bordenave-Bishop practices general dentistry in private practice in addition to her work as Dental Director of the Peoria City/County Health Department.

Dr. Bordenave-Bishop is a Past President of the Peoria District Dental Society, President of the Illinois Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, Immediate Past President of the Academy of Dentistry InternationaI, Editor of the Illinois Section of the American College of Dentistry, AGD Region 8 Regional Director and Past President of the Illinois AGD.

She has served as a member of the AGD Self Instruction and Long Range Planning Committees and the Council on Communications. She also served as a delegate to the AGD House of Delegates and ADA House of Delegates.

Her other organized dentistry involvement includes serving on the ADA CAPIR, Illinois State Dental Society Access to Care Committee Chair and Affiliate Member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Additionally, she is a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists and International College of Dentistry. She earned her AGD Fellowship in 1994 and Mastership in 2003.

Attending Dentists

Paul A. Amodeo, DDS - Attending Dentist & Former Director

Following a family tradition from five other family members, Dr. Amodeo attended Creighton University undergraduate majoring in biology. Liking the area of Omaha, Nebraska he pursued dentistry as his career and earned a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Creighton School of Dentistry in 1990.

He has been in private practice in Northern and Central Illinois for 30 years before moving from the private sector to a hospital-based General Practice Residency as a Coordinator.

For ten years he provided dental care at the Illinois Veterans Home as the Chief Staff dentist, allowing him to gain much experience in hospital and operating room dentistry.

Dr. Amodeo has been very active in his professional career serving as a delegate to the Illinois State Dental Society, delegate to the American Dental Association, and committee chair for the ISDS. Locally, he is a member of the Peoria District Dental Society serving on the Board of Governors and chaired numerous committees.

His passion for teaching and education prompted him to provide lectures and presentations to a variety of audiences over his professional career. He is looking forward to sharing his experiences to new dental residents every year.

Gary Herberger, DDS - Attending Dentist

Dr. Herberger is a Peoria native whose quest for excellence is evident in his academic achievements as well as in his dental care. He began his collegiate career as a James Scholar in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois in Champaign, working as a co-operative education student for Ford Motor Company.

In 1974 his interests changed from engineering to dentistry and he began studying at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with honors four years later.

After graduation, he completed a one year General Practice Residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago before joining Associates in Dentistry in July 1979.

In 1983, Dr. Herberger became a partner in the business with office hours in both the Canton and Bartonville Family Dental Centers.

Glen Thompson, DDS - Attending Dentist

Dr. Thompson is a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. His dental career has been a mix of private practice, military dentistry, institutional dental care, international humanitarian missions and academia. 

As a result he has practiced dentistry in 8 states and 4 countries in settings as diverse as a modern hospital operating room to the front porch of a tropical thatched hut.

The constant tread though his career has been a devotion to teaching. He was been charged with the training of young dental professionals in his roles as Dental Director at Logan Correctional Center/Illinois Department of Corrections, Dental Commander at 182 Airlift Wing/ILNAG, Instructor at Illinois Central College, Dental Hygiene Program and Attending Dentist, OSF OSF Saint Francis General Practice Residency Program.

In his role as Attending Dentist Dr. Thompson at OSF Saint Francis General Practice Residency Program enthusiastically shares his professional experience, philosophy and knowledge with young dental professionals.

Faculty