Dr. Piakis is a graduate of Georgetown University Dental School. He is currently the forensic odontologist and consultant to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office in Phoenix, Arizona. His interest in forensic odontology began in 1970 as an army dental officer in Chu Lai, Viet Nam. Dr. Piakis is the founder and supervisor of the Arizona Mass Disaster Dental Identification Team along with being a member of DMORT, district nine. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and became a Diplomate in the American Board of Forensic Odontology in 2000.He has been on the Board of Directors for the ABFO from 2009-2015 and on the ABFO Age Estimation Committee from 2009-2015. He retired from private practice after 37 years but continues to being an active lecturer in the state of Arizona.