Dr. T. Howard Howell was born in Atlanta, Ga. and earned his undergraduate and master of science degrees at Georgia State University. He received his DDS from Emory University, and his certificate in periodontology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Following completion of his specialty program, he was appointed to the faculty at Harvard and is currently the A. Lee Loomis professor of periodontology. He also has served as interim head of the HSDM Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity.

In his previous administrative role as dean of dental education, Dr. Howell was responsible for all educational and student programs offered by HSDM, including predoctoral, advanced graduate, and continuing education. In this capacity, he was the primary architect of Harvard's innovative problem-based learning predoctoral clinical curriculum.

In addition to his commitment to dental education, Dr. Howell has had an active career in periodontal research. He has authored numerous publications on the use of pharmacologic agents for the treatment of periodontal disease, and also has conducted extensive work in the area of periodontal regeneration using bone morphogenetic protein and growth factors. He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Dental Education and the Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry. Dr. Howell has lectured extensively within the United States and internationally. He has served as external examiner for the University of Hong Kong and is currently adviser to the dean of Khon Kaen University in Thailand. Dr. Howell is the recipient of a number of honors, including the HSDM Distinguished Alumni Award and the HSDM Distinguished Faculty Award.

Fields of Interest

Dr. Howell's research interests include periodontal regeneration, modifying factors in periodontal disease progression, pharmacologic treatment of periodontal disease, and educational methodology.