Associate dean for research, chair of foundational sciences named in School of Dental Medicine

Published Aug 22, 2013 by
Filed under:

GREENVILLE, N.C.   (Aug. 22, 2013)   —   Dr. Sharon M. Gordon has been named associate dean for research and chair of foundational sciences in the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine effective Aug. 19.

In her role, Gordon will develop research and training that pairs the foundational sciences with clinically and community-relevant research.

Dr. Sharon M. Gordon

“Dr. Gordon’s strong research, general dentistry and public health background uniquely qualify her to serve as our first associate dean for research and chair of foundational sciences,” said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of ECU’s School of Dental Medicine. “We are extremely excited to have Dr. Gordon join East Carolina University’s research team and lead the dental school’s research effort on our campus and in communities across North Carolina.” 

Before joining ECU, Gordon was director of graduate research and training at the University of Maryland’s School of Dentistry and previously served as an intramural scientist and directed research training at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health.

“Moving from the world’s first recognized dental school to a developing dental school is an exciting opportunity to adapt established programs into a dynamic innovative model of dental education that incorporates research with dental education and clinical care that is relevant for the communities served,” Gordon said.

Gordon has a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School at San Antonio, a master’s of public health in epidemiology and a Ph.D. in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interest is injury and interaction of the inflammatory response and nervous system in pain and wound healing.

Gordon serves on the grants review panel for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, is a national faculty advisor for the National Student Research Group of the American Association of Dental Research, and board member of the American Dental Association Student Clinician Awards—ADA/Dentsply.