The Harvard Dental Center’s Teaching Practices clinic was buzzing with excitement and activity on Saturday, February 8, as young patients streamed in to receive free dental care at HSDM’s annual Give Kids a Smile event. Nearly 40 children ages one to 17 were seen for dental exams, cleanings, and treatment.

“This was a fabulous event,” said Laverne Agard, a parent who brought her two children. “This was their first time at the dentist. The dentists were patient and made it fun.”... Read more about Making Oral Health Fun for Families

Harvard University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine are closely monitoring the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. As the situation continues to change rapidly, the top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community, on and off campus. Please refer to Harvard’s coronavirus webpage for updates.

... Read more about Coronavirus Response on Campus

Dr. Vicki Rosen, professor and chair of developmental biology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), has been appointed interim dean of HSDM, effective January 1, 2020.

A highly respected scientist in the field of bone and mineral research, Rosen’s career at HSDM spans nearly two decades. As chair of the Department of Developmental Biology, she oversees the clinical specialties of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, as well as basic research, and is involved in the education of postdoctoral fellows and residents, students enrolled in the DMD...

On Tuesday, December 10, members of the Harvard community and affiliated research institutions gathered to honor Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean Bruce Donoff’s contributions to research and education at a symposium and reception held in his honor. Donoff, who is stepping down at the end of the year, has been a dedicated advocate for scientific research and studying the relationship between dentistry, oral biology, and medicine.... Read more about Recognizing a Career Devoted to Research, Education, and Clinical Care

Meet Eddie Popa, a member of the Class of 2023 and new student at HSDM. This profile is part of a series of stories about our newest DMD students.

Tell us about your background.

I am originally from Romania, and I immigrated to the United States when I was three years old to the Chicagoland area where I grew up. I then went to the University of Iowa for my undergraduate, where I majored in biochemistry and chemistry. I got involved as a lab teaching assistant and group study leader for two different foundational biology courses. ... Read more about Witness Dentistry First-Hand

On Thursday, May 30, Thomas Ferlito will take the stage as HSDM’s student speaker at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School’s Class Day ceremony. In preparation for that moment, Ferlito reflected on his experiences at HSDM–what they have meant to him, and how they’ll continue to shape him moving forward.

“The connections I have made here have by far been the most meaningful part of HSDM for me. Being able to collaborate with my classmates, faculty, and residents helped me to consider new ideas and think in ways that I never would have on my own,” Ferlito said...

Erica Shapiro Frenkel’s path through dental school took a slight detour when she decided at the end of her second year of dental school to pursue a PhD. Frenkel took a break from her studies at HSDM to study oral microbiology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Ribbeck Lab as part of the PhD in Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine Program.

“I knew when I applied to dental school that I wanted to pursue a combined DMD/PhD program, so the decision to step away from the DMD program after my second year was obvious,” she said. “I had a great experience doing research during college and was sure that I wanted to make research part of my long-term career path.... Read more about Pushing the Boundaries

By Mirissa D. Price
The sun soaked my shoulders. Through my scrubs, I could feel a warmth I had missed, having spent the past five hours in the dental school’s basement lab.

As my eyes adjusted to the light – and the macro-scale vision – I spotted my Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) family, smiling and laughing. I claimed a seat at the table, and together, we fell into a conversation of ‘what if.’

‘What if we were millionaires and could do anything in the world?’ someone posed, imagining for a minute we didn’t have to miss the rest of this...

Jillian Muhlbauer arrived at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) in August of 2015 with certain expectations of what dental school would be like. She understood the academic rigor she would face, the hours of studying that would consume her time, and the mountain of knowledge she would be required to retain, but this May when she graduates from HSDM she will leave most astonished by the relationships she fostered with patients, faculty, and fellow students.... Read more about The Human Connection

HSDM kicks off its inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Week on April 22. The week will feature an exciting lineup of events through April 26, including speakers on the topics of diversity and inclusion in dental education, race and gender equity in dentistry, and culturally competent, accessible care for patients with different needs.

“While great progress is being made throughout the year, HSDM’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Week serves as an...

As the sun rose over a chilly Longwood Avenue, the Teaching Practices of the Harvard Dental Center was humming as dental students prepared to host Give Kids a Smile. Launched in 2003 by the American Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile is an event held annually that focuses on the oral health of children between the ages of one and 17. This year’s event was held on Saturday, February 9 and was well received by members of the surrounding communities.

... Read more about Building Community Through the Annual Give Kids a Smile Event

Five-year-old Ayrum Harris grasped a smiling rubber ducky in one hand while holding onto the hand of a dental student. After getting settled into a dental chair for an exam, the student gave him a pair of brightly-colored sunglasses to protect his eyes and explained how together they would count and polish his teeth, learn how to brush and floss, and fight cavity bugs. Ayrum put on the glasses and beamed in anticipation. 

... Read more about Spreading Smiles One Child at a Time

Martha Vedrine, staff assistant in the Office of Dental Education recently sang the National Anthem at the opening of the Red Sox game on Labor Day, September 4, 2017.

Vedrine was selected to represent the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW) during Union Night at Fenway Park. After sending taped recordings of her performances to the Red Sox she was officially given the honor of singing at the revered ballpark.

... Read more about HSDM Singer Knocks It out of the Ballpark

HSDM students Morgane Amat and Tiffany Chien (DMD 2019 candidates) and their HMS teammates George Agyapong and Jun Liu (MD 2019 candidates) were recently awarded an Agents of Change grant for their project Interventions in Family Oriented Optimal Diet for Development (iFOODD) which aims to spread awareness of nutrition and oral health in families that have children with special needs.

Agents of Change grants from the Center for Primary Care provide...