MEET THE DOCTORS
Dr. Monica Babbitt
Dr. Monica Babbitt grew up in the town of Bristol, Illinois, about 60 miles west of the city of Chicago.
In 1988, she graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in dental hygiene. While working part-time as a hygienist, she continued her education at University of Illinois in Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1993 and her Doctorate Degree from the School of Dentistry in 1994. She completed her education at University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a surgical residency in Periodontology in 1997.
Dr. Babbitt has been involved in the area of Periodontics for over 20 years.
She has served as an Associate Clinical Professor, in the Department of Periodontology, at University of Illinois College of Dentistry, where she received the Faculty Development Award from the Department of Periodontics in 1999. She left teaching in 2001 due to the demands of a busy practice and her growing family.
Her private practice involves all aspects of periodontal therapy, including non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease, placing dental implants and diagnosis of oral pathology.
She is particularly interested in oral plastic surgery for aesthetic improvement and the medical implications from oral infection.
She was instrumental in a research project through the National Institute of Health, which looked at the link between osteoporosis, post-menopause and periodontal disease.
Dr. Babbitt frequently attends continuing education courses, most recently regarding alternative medicine, implants and laser surgical techniques. She has also completed a proficiency certificate from the Academy of Laser Dentistry. In the last two years, she has attended 100+ hours of continuing education, which is over 3-times that required by the State of Illinois. She has been a member of the American Academy of Periodontology and the Midwest Society of Periodontology since 1998.
Dr. Michael Cunningham
Dr. Cunningham grew up on the south side of Chicago and graduated from St. Laurence High School in Burbank. He served our country and continued his education during a 6-year term in the US Navy, where he was trained as a Cytotechnologist and worked in a pathology lab screening for cancer.
After his service in the Navy and completing his undergraduate degree at Roosevelt University, he completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1993, while continuing to work as a cytotechnologist during dental school. He then earned his Specialty degree in Periodontics and Masters degree in Oral Science at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1996.
Dr. Cunningham has been practicing Periodontics for the past 28 years in the Western Suburbs. He is also currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Periodontics Department at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, where he enjoys passing on his clinical knowledge to the predoctoral students and the Residents in the Specialty program in Periodontics.
Dr. Cunningham’s practice involves all aspects of periodontal therapy, including non-surgical and surgical care of periodontal conditions, reconstruction of the oral hard and soft tissues, sinus surgery for implants, and implant placement and care for ailing implants. He is also trained in laser surgery for treating periodontitis.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Cunningham lives in the western suburbs with his wife and 2 daughters and enjoys golf, travel, and fitness. He is excited to be a member of the team at La Grange Periodontics.
Dr. Michelle Parzatka Jennings
Native to the area, Dr. Jennings grew up in Hinsdale and graduated from Hinsdale Central High School.
After completing her undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University, she completed her dental school degree in 1989 at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. She furthered her education at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, receiving her specialty degree in Periodontics in 1991. Since her graduation in 1991, Dr. Jennings has been in private practice at La Grange Periodontics for over 30 years. Dr. Jennings is also a past Clinical Professor in Periodontics at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.
Dr. Jennings attends regular dental meetings and specialty conferences in order to ensure she is providing the most advanced and modern treatment available. In addition, she has lectured for numerous dental and periodontal societies and serves on various dental committees.
Some areas of involvement include:
Past committee member for the Young Periodontist Committee of the American Academy of Periodontology
Past President of the Westside Branch of the Chicago Dental Society
Past President of the Illinois Society of Periodontists
Past Committee Member for the Allied Health Committee of the Illinois State Dental Society
Past member of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Dental Society
Currently on the Mediation Committee and Peer Review Committee for the Chicago Dental Society
Currently on the Illinois State Dental Society Board of Directors
Currently on the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Board of Directors
Laser certification for use of the Nd:YAG and Erbium lasers
Selected to the American College of Dentistry and The Academy of Dentistry International on ethics, professionalism and leadership
Past Clinical Professor of Periodontics at the University of Illinois, College of Dentistry
Besides her devotion and dedication to periodontics and treating her patients, she also takes great pride in being a mother of two wonderful children. When not involved with dentistry, Dr. Jennings enjoys running, fitness, sports and traveling. She is blessed with supportive family and friends.
Dr. Farah Shakir
Dr. Farah Shakir grew up in Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Neuroscience from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Rush University. She then returned to the University of Illinois to earn her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, her Certificate in Periodontics, and a Master’s degree in Oral Science, with her master’s research focused on peri-implant disease.
She has received numerous awards, including the Robert Savage Award, the American Student Dental Association Award for Excellence, the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Award, the International College of Dentists Humanitarian Award, and, most notably, the American Academy of Periodontology Award for Excellence and Outstanding Achievement. Dr. Shakir is board certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and has contributed to periodontal textbooks and journals.
Dr. Shakir is deeply committed to lifelong learning and has completed more than 200 hours of continuing education in the last two years. As part of that commitment, and her desire to give back to the profession, she co-founded Midwest Masterminds, a study club that hosts educational meetings for local dentists and specialists. Her passion for learning and her enthusiasm for teaching others are evident in everything she does.
She is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, the Chicago Dental Society, and the Illinois State Dental Society.
Dr. Shakir specializes in the latest non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatments and dental implant services. Her clinical interests include bone augmentation in preparation for implants, sinus grafting, and soft tissue procedures. She is also certified in intravenous (IV) conscious sedation.
Dr. Shakir is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, raising her two young children, and working out. She is fluent in Arabic and Spanish.