About Your Dentist

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

My Mission

“My mission is to positively affect my community by providing exceptional dental care, fostering long-term relationships with my patients, and raising awareness of the importance of oral health. I want to educate and empower my patients to take ownership of their dental health and hygiene. To serve others is to know oneself.”

Education

Doctor of Dental Surgery
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry – Nashville, Tennessee

Master of Business Administration
Everest University – Tampa, Florida

Bachelor of Arts in Biomedical Science and Communications
University of South Florida – Tampa, Florida

Continuing Education & Professional Memberships

Dr. Ferdinand completed a General Practice Residency in June of 2016. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Life & Hobbies

“My life consists of being with my husband and loving on my three boys. We enjoy dancing, being outdoors, and finding time to do things for others. In my spare time, (which is rare with three kids under 7) I enjoy arts and crafts, especially scrapbooking. Basically, our family just loves spending time together, so anything that allows us to do that brings us joy.”

My Mission

“My mission is to deliver high-quality dental care and patient education to your entire family, including children. I strive to provide a compassionate, personalized patient experience in a modern and relaxing environment while featuring the latest in dental technology.”

Education & Continuing Education

Doctor of Dental Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Master of Science in Oral Biology
University of Louisville School of Dentistry – Louisville, Kentucky

Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences – Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Dr. Upadhyayula completed an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center and R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Upadhyayula's notable achievements include receiving accolades such as the "Intern of the Year Award," “Clinical Proficiency Award,” “American Association of Prosthodontists Student Award,” and “Residents in Regeneration Challenge finalist”. He has demonstrated leadership as the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) National leader and President of the Advanced Standing Students Group at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Upadhyayula's research is mainly focused on periodontitis and inflammation and oral and maxillofacial pathology. He also serves as a peer reviewer for multiple journals.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Upadhyayula is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Indian Dental Association, the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Honor Dental Society, and the International Association for Dental Research/American Association for Dental Research (IADR). He is also part of the faculty for NYU Langone Advanced Education in General Dentistry.

Life & Hobbies

Having relocated to Cookeville, Tennessee, Dr. Upadhyayula has become an integral part of Johns Family & Implant Dentistry. His dedication to dentistry and community health is evident from his past role as the Dental Director of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest community health center. In this capacity, he aimed to build community relationships, introduce new technology, expand services to the underserved population, and strengthen residency programs.

Dr. Upadhyayula brings his wealth of expertise and dedication in general and implant dentistry to Cookeville, contributing to the dental well-being of the community. He looks forward to serving the Cookeville community and making a positive impact.

Dr. Upadhyayula’s wife is an endocrinologist at CRMC, and together they cherish moments with their baby girl. Outside of dentistry, he enjoys photography, travel, and playing tennis during his free time.