After graduating from dental and medical school, Drs. Fuqua, Heape, Johnson and Zouhary completed 4 years of additional surgical and anesthesia training in a hospital-based residency program to become board certified specialists in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Not only do they have a unique set of skills and knowledge to diagnose and treat a host of problems related to the mouth, teeth and facial regions, they also have a dedication to patient satisfaction and safety. They provide personalized care using minimally invasive and state of the art techniques to obtain optimal results.
Thomas H. Fuqua Jr., DMD, MD
Dr. Thomas H. Fuqua Jr. (T.J.) is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and a graduate of Minor High School. After completing his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he earned his dental degree in 2003 and medical degree in 2006. Upon conclusion of his general surgery internship, he began his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency, serving as Chief Resident of the Oral and Facial Surgery training program until he finished his training in 2009. Soon thereafter, he returned to the Auburn-Opelika community as part of the Oral and Facial Surgery of East Alabama team. He was appreciative and humbled to be honored as a Top Tiger Recipient in 2015 by Auburn University, his alma mater.
Dr. Fuqua is a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as well as the American Dental Association. He is active at the state and local level as a member of the Alabama Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and has served as president of the Ninth District Dental Society. He also maintains privileges as a member of the medical staff at East Alabama Medical Center. Dr. Fuqua is passionate about practicing oral and facial surgery and strives to excel in all areas of his practice.
On a personal level, Dr. Fuqua enjoys spending time with his wife, Jenny, and their three children, Trey, Parker, and Jack. His love of family and strong Christian beliefs define who he is and how he approaches all areas of his life. He is actively involved in their activities and they especially enjoy traveling as a family. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys coaching his children as well. Dr. Fuqua and his family are active members of First Baptist Church of Opelika. He has a heart for medical mission work and has participated in trips to both Mexico and Honduras.
Kenneth J. Zouhary, DDS, MD
Dr. Kenneth J. Zouhary was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan for his undergraduate education where he studied and became fluent in conversational Spanish. He received his dental degree (DDS) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2002 and his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2005. He completed his general surgery internship at UAB the following year and his chief residency and specialty training in oral and facial surgery in 2008. After completion of his residency, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Facial Surgery at UAB and as the Chief of Oral and Facial Surgery at the Birmingham VA Medical Center while waiting for his wife Anna to complete her internal medicine residency at UAB.
In 2011, Dr. Zouhary moved further south with his wife and twin daughters to join Dr. Fuqua at OFS. Up until then, he naively thought that Birmingham was the best kept secret in the south. He almost immediately realized that Auburn/Opelika was the south’s best kept secret and he has never looked back. In his free time, he enjoys travel, SCUBA diving and playing guitar. His greatest joy is spending time with his family and coaching soccer with his children, Kate, Lizzy, Isabel and Will.
Dr. Zouhary is board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the American Dental Association. He is active at the state and local level as a member of the Alabama Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Alabama Dental Association. He maintains active hospital privileges at East Alabama Medical Center. He has been published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Clinics of North America, Seminars in Orthodontics and Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology.
Brannon W. Heape, DMD, MD
Dr. Brannon W. Heape is a native of Troy, Alabama and is excited to join Oral and Facial Surgery. He is a proud graduate of Auburn University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2008. He earned his dental degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012, graduating with honors, and his medical degree from the University of Louisville in 2015. After finishing his general surgery internship, Dr. Heape completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training at the University of Louisville, serving as chief resident in 2018.
Dr. Heape bases his practice philosophy around his core Christian beliefs and is passionate about providing the highest level of care possible for his patients.
Away from work Dr. Heape enjoys spending time with his wife, Brynne, and their two daughters, Ann Kathryn and Olivia. He is also an avid Auburn sports fan and enjoys hunting anytime he can.
Chelsea E Johnson, DDS
Dr. Chelsea Johnson earned her dental degree at the University of Maryland, and completed her internship and residency, where she was administrative chief resident, at Emory University.
Dr. Johnson was inspired to pursue a career in dentistry by her grandfather, who practiced dentistry for many years. After gaining experience in various dental specialties while in school, Dr. Johnson found she had a passion for oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Johnson always knew she eventually wanted to return home to Auburn, her hometown, to practice.
Dr. Johnson has been married to her husband, Michael, since 2016, and they have a 10-month-old child named Sutton. In her spare time, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with her family and two standard poodles.
James D. Grady, DMD
Dr. James D. Grady graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Dentistry in 1971. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he also received his Master of Science in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Grady served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning from 1974 to 1976 before returning to his hometown of Opelika. He opened Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of East Alabama in the Opelika Medical Arts Complex in 1976, bringing one of the first specialty practices to the Auburn/Opelika area. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of East Alabama flourished under his direction for the next 33 years.
In 2009, Dr. Grady recruited Dr. T.J. Fuqua and subsequently in 2011, Dr. Kenneth Zouhary to the practice. Dr. Grady used his training and continued education, along with his affiliations, to provide his patients with the highest level of care. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He also presided as President of the Alabama Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and served on the East Alabama Medical Center Hospital Staff and Board of Advisors throughout his tenure.
In addition to his practice, Dr. Grady remained actively involved in the local community. Believing in the importance of excellence in education, he served for eight years on the Alabama Commission of Higher Education. He was also involved in and supported many local and national non-profits including the Opelika Chamber of Commerce Board, the Opelika Rotary Club, The First United Methodist Church of Opelika and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. After selling his practice to Dr. Fuqua and Dr. Zouhary, Dr. Grady continued to serve as surgeon emeritus. With the addition of Dr. C. Blake Smith to the practice in 2015, Dr. Grady was finally able to begin his much deserved retirement.
In his retirement, Dr. Grady is able to continue pursuing psychology, another lifelong passion. He received his Myers/ Briggs certification as an administrator in 1993 and is currently completing his master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology. With this additional training and expertise, he has partnered with his oldest daughter, Tori, to found Pivot Point Solutions and is providing consultation services to local and international businesses regarding the psychology of organizational development.
Dr. Grady has been supported throughout his career by his gracious and loving wife of 50 years, Anne. Any spare moments they have, they spend with their children and grandchildren. Tori and her husband, David, live in Alexandria, Virginia with their daughters, Kendall (14) and Reagan (7). Jenni and her husband, Todd, live in Huntsville, Alabama with their children, Grady (12) and Anne Caroline (10). We are thankful for the foundation provided by Dr. Grady and we are proud to continue his legacy as a regional referral center for excellence in oral and facial surgery.