Dr. Hawazin W. Elani, assistant professor in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), and co-authors from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, examined how the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expansion of Medicaid eligibility affected dental coverage and the use of oral health services among low-income adults, using data from the National Health Interview Survey. Their findings were published...

Dr. Shigemi Nagai, associate professor of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, and director of clinical research at HSDM, was recently awarded a National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Catalyst Award as part of the Healthy Longevity Global Competition, a multiyear, multimillion-dollar international competition seeking breakthrough innovations to extend human health and function later in life. Nagai is the only dentist to receive the award among the 150 awards issued in the inaugural round of the competition.... Read more about Dr. Shigemi Nagai Awarded National Academy of Medicine Catalyst Award

What happens when you take a hands-on, interactive dental curriculum and turn it upside down? Four new publications in the Journal of Dental Education authored by HSDM faculty and students reveal how dental education during the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly adapted to deliver aspects of the curriculum in virtual ways. The authors took a close look at what worked well, and what needed improvement, to inform how to best deliver dental education in new and uncharted territory.

“As we all know, dental education has a very interactive curriculum and invaluable aspects to...

Dr. William V. Giannobile, became dean of HSDM on September 1, 2020. An HSDM alumnus, Giannobile is prominent educator and leader in the field of periodontology. He shares more about his background and vision for the School in the following Q&A.

Tell us about your background. What led you to a career in dental education?

I was born in Chicago and my parents later moved our family (my three sisters and me) to a small farm in the Ozarks of Missouri. Early on as a young person, I was very curious about science and medicine. I had an inspiring...

Dr. Vincenzo G. Teran joined Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) earlier this year as director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and instructor of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology. He also serves as an instructor for the Department of Psychology at Harvard Medical School and a staff psychologist at the Cambridge Health Alliance. Dr. Teran shares more about what drew him to HSDM and his thoughts on creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment in the following Q&A interview.... Read more about A Q&A with Dr. Vincenzo Teran Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion

In early March 2020, Harvard University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine began closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. As the situation changed rapidly, the top priority remained the health, safety, and well-being of students, faculty and staff, on and off campus. 

The School began working on several contingency scenarios and taking decisive, informed action to limit the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring the continuity of teaching, research and patient care. These efforts involved rapidly moving to virtual learning, ramping down research labs,...

Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology (OHPE) in collaboration with the Office of Global and Community Health (OGCH) was recently awarded a $3 million postdoctoral training grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce to address gaps in dental education and access to care in underserved and vulnerable populations in rural areas.

The five-year grant titled Catalyzing Oral Health Workforce for Rural and Vulnerable Populations will create the first and only Dental Public Health (DPH) Residency in the country with a dedicated rural track... Read more about HSDM Secures $3 Million Grant to Expand Dental Public Health in Rural Areas

William V. Giannobile, an educator and leader in the field of periodontology and an internationally recognized scholar in oral regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and precision medicine, has been named dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The appointment was announced today by Harvard Medical School Dean George Q Daley.

Giannobile is an alumnus of HSDM, with an advanced degree in periodontology and oral biology (DMSc96). He completed his postdoctoral training in molecular biology at the Dana-Farber Cancer institute and HMS. Giannobile served as an HSDM faculty...

Oral health experts at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry have taken a closer look at the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic. They suggest that in addition to precautions such as social distancing and hand washing, another immediate step that individuals can take to reduce risk is to limit tobacco use.

“As the pandemic spreads at an alarming rate globally, emerging evidence suggests that patients who use these products are more susceptible to...

Dr. Brittany Seymour is associate professor and global health discipline director at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). With a background in oral and public health, and a concentration in global health and population, she focuses on interdisciplinary approaches for health improvement through prevention, policy, and health promotion. She also conducts research on how misinformation spreads online and impacts important public health programs. She recently shared her thoughts on the spread of the virus as well as the spread of misinformation.
... Read more about Putting Public Health First: Coronavirus Q&A with Dr. Brittany Seymour

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

Earlier this week, Harvard School of Dental Medicine joined a collaborative effort with the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), and the Schools of Dental Medicine at Boston University and Tufts University, to highlight the importance of saving teeth. Together, the Boston-area dental schools provided more than 50 endodontic treatments on Teeth Worth Saving Day, totaling more than $59,000 in value, to patients in need in the Boston area.

The effort was part of a contest sponsored by AAE focused on saving well-known natural landmarks and saving natural teeth. Boston’s...

Bruce Donoff, dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) for 28 years, announced today that he will step down from the position effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Throughout his tenure, Donoff moved HSDM forward with a broad vision for global and community oral health. A skilled oral surgeon and educator, he has been an advocate for the integration of oral health and medicine as a way to ensure improved outcomes for his own patients and dental patients everywhere. He not only shaped the dental curriculum at Harvard but also influenced the way dentistry is taught around the country...

When Dr. Bjorn R. Olsen, professor of Developmental Biology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), and Hersey Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) received funding for his NIH R01 grant, “Biogenesis of Extracellular Matrix” in 1985, his expectations were high that it might yield a new discoveries related to collagen-like proteins. Much to his delight, the grant, now extended for years 33 and 34, has been one of the most prolific in the history of the School, ... Read more about Long-Running Grant Produces over 30 Years of Discoveries