California Gov. Gavin Newsom has reappointed two Indian American dental professionals, Ram Vaderhobli and Sridevi Ponnala to state boards responsible for regulating dental professions.
Vaderhobli, of Belmont, has been reappointed to the Dental Board of California, where he has served since 2025. Ponnala, of Fremont, has been reappointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California, where she has served since 2023, governor’s office announced Oct. 14. Neither appointment requires confirmation by the California Senate. Both positions carry compensation of $100 per diem.
Vaderhobli has been a clinical professor of preventive and restorative dental sciences at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry since 2020. He has also served as dental director of the school’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program since 2010.
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His experience at UCSF dates to 2007 and includes roles as a health sciences assistant clinical professor, health sciences associate clinical professor and clinical director for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. From 2011 to 2015, Vaderhobli served as California regional assistant director for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Lutheran Medical Center.
Earlier, he completed a residency in the program at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health and held research positions at the American Dental Association’s Paffenbarger Research Center and Alfred University.
Vaderhobli earned a master’s degree in biomaterials engineering from Alfred University and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from R.V. Dental College in India. He is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
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Ponnala has been chief integration officer at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center since 2021. She has held several positions at the organization since 2010, including chief dental officer and dental director.
Her previous experience includes serving as clinical director at the Native American Health Center from 2007 to 2010. From 2016 to 2019, she was an adjunct faculty member in the Chabot Hygiene Program at the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.
Ponnala earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the UCSF School of Dentistry, a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from M.R. Ambedkar Dental College in India.
The appointments continue both professionals’ service on California’s dental oversight boards. The Dental Board of California and the Dental Hygiene Board of California oversee separate areas of the state’s dental professions.