Dr. Vakkas is both a licensed dentist and physician and holds board certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He obtained his doctor of dental surgery from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery and his medical degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. He completed an internship in general surgery before completing his Oral and Maxillofacial residency at New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center.