Dr. Magda Feres is an internationally recognized scholar in periodontology and currently serves as chair of the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity (OMII) at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). She earned a Doctor of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology from HSDM, where she also conducted research at The Forsyth Institute. She holds a DDS from Gama Filho University and a Master of Science in Periodontology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Before joining Harvard, Feres was the dean for dental research and graduate education and chair of the Advanced Graduate Program in Dentistry at Guarulhos University in Brazil. 

Her research focuses on periodontal microbiology and novel treatments for periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Feres’s team pioneered innovative treatment protocols for severe periodontitis, and her recent work explores the use of artificial intelligence in personalized periodontal care.

She has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers with more than 18,000 citations and has received research funding from prestigious institutions, including FAPESP, NIH, and Harvard Medical School. Since 2020, she has ranked among Stanford University’s top 2 percent most-cited scientists globally.

In addition to her research, Feres has held leadership roles in various organizations, including serving as past president of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Periodontal Research Group and the International Association of Periodontology (IAP). She has mentored over 90 students, with a strong focus on supporting female researchers. In 2018, she received the IADR Award for Distinguished Female Mentor, recognizing her impactful contributions to advancing the careers of women in research and academic leadership. She also co-founded the Latin American Oral Health Association (LAOHA), a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting doctoral students in Latin America.