Innovation Centers / Healthcare Education / Dentistry Center of Excellence

Dentistry Center of Excellence

For over one hundred and thirty-four years, Meharry’s School of Dentistry has provided educational opportunities for African Americans, ethnic minorities, and underrepresented/disadvantaged students through educational programs, service delivery and community outreach programs. The School of Dentistry plays a vital role in addressing oral health disparities within the United States and other underserved countries. We emphasize comprehensive evidence-based care, regardless of social or economic circumstances, geographical origin or ethnicity.

Established in 1988, Meharry’s Dentistry Center of Excellence remains a nationally recognized resource for providing a strong curriculum in clinical dentistry and basic principles of research. Forty percent of active African American dentists graduated from Meharry and a vast majority of our graduates practice in underserved communities. We ensure that research training is fully integrated within the academic programs, encouraging faculty and students to be fully engaged in research activities.

Research support for students is available and has focused on:

oral biology and systemic health
issues surrounding opioid use
diabetes
intimate partner violence
cancer
behavioral sciences
women’s health
HIV/AIDS

For more information, contact the School of Dentistry Student & Academic Affairs.

Dentistry Center of Excellence Publications

COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in Long-Term Care Facilities in Tennessee.
Ariel Worley, Peace Odiase, Mekeila Cook, Allysceaeioun Britt, Girish Rachakonda

A Comprehensive Approach to Sample Preparation for Electron Microscopy and the Assessment of Mitochondrial Morphology in Tissue and Cultured Cells.
Antentor Hinton, Prasanna Katti, Trace A Christensen, Margaret Mungai, Jianqiang Shao, Liang Zhang, Sergey Trushin, Ahmad Alghanem, Adam Jaspersen, Rachel E Geroux, Kit Neikirk, Michelle Biete, Edgar Garza Lopez, Bryanna Shao, Zer Vue, Larry Vang, Heather K Beasley, Andrea G Marshall, Dominique Stephens, Steven Damo, Jessica Ponce, Christopher K E Bleck, Innes Hicsasmaz, Sandra A Murray, Ranthony A C Edmonds, Andres Dajles, Young Do Koo, Serif Bacevac, Jeffrey L Salisbury, Renata O Pereira, Brian Glancy, Eugenia Trushina, E Dale Abel

The Clot Thickens: COVID-19-Related ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Setting of Recent Boosters.
Amar R Patel, Kunal Mishra, Andrew J Ortega, Avani R Patel, Fernando D Segovia, Ruben Montanez, Rakhee Makhija, Chanwit Roongsritong, Jorge C Borges

A Case of Wellens Syndrome in a Young Adult With Intermittent Chest Pain: Understanding the Unique Pattern and Clinical Correlation.
Oluwaremilekun Tolu-Akinnawo, Rabira R Dufera, Joseph Akamah

Spring Cleaning: Freshening up the portfolio.
Merry L Lindsey, Zamaneh Kassiri, Amanda J LeBlanc, Crystal M Ripplinger, Jonathan A Kirk, Jason R Carter, Petra Kleinbongard, Keith R Brunt

Pharmacogenetics of tenofovir clearance among Southern Africans living with HIV.
Zinhle Cindi, Aida N Kawuma, Gary Maartens, Yuki Bradford, Simiso Sokhela, Nomathemba Chandiwana, Willem D Francois Venter, Roeland E Wasmann, Paolo Denti, Lubbe Wiesner, Marylyn D Ritchie, David W Haas, Phumla Sinxadi