Research/Areas of Interest
Tooth development, nutrition and infant oral health; pediatric dentistry
Education
- BDS, University of London, London, United Kingdom, 1975
- MS, University of Rochester, Rochester, United States, 1979
- PhD. Biomedical Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, United States, 1986
Biography
Dean Thomas received his B.D.S. (Dental Degree) from Guy's Hospital, University of London, England, in 1975. In 1978, he received a Pediatric Dentistry Certificate from Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, NY, and M.S. (Dental Research) from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. From 1978 – 1980, he was appointed as assistant professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In 1980, he moved to the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, where he received his Ph.D (Biomedical Sciences) in 1986.
From 1980 – 1992, he held appointments as assistant and subsequently associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut Health Center. From 1992 – 2003, he was professor and chairman, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and held additional appointments as professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Cellular and Structural Biology. He was appointed Dean at the School of Dentistry at University of Alabama at Birmingham, in January 2004. On August 1, 2011, he was appointed dean and professor of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Thomas has given more than 100 lectures and continuing education courses at various universities, associations and study clubs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He is the author or co-author of over 150 published articles, chapters and abstracts in a broad spectrum of scientific journals. Dr. Thomas holds fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists, and is a member of several national and international associations and societies. In 1996, he was elected to membership in OKU (Dental Honor Society) and in 2010 received the Award for Excellence from the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine. He has served terms as a member of the National Board Test Construction Committee (Anatomical Sciences) of the American Dental Association (ADA); Hatton Awards Committee, American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and International Association for Dental Research; and member and chairman of the Research Committee, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. From 1988 to 1991, he served as an associate editor for the Pediatric Dentistry Journal, and from 1995 to 1997, as chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Infant Oral Health, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He has served as chair, Section on Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences for the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a Basic Science Consultant, Commission on Dental Accreditation (currently Chair of site visit teams); Executive Committee Member and Program Chairperson, Section on Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Health, American Academy of Pediatrics; Chairman of the Council on Scientific Affairs, AAPD; and as Chair, Council of Deans of the American Dental Education Association.
Dr. Thomas held a Post-doctoral Fellowship from NIH, from 1980 to1984, and in 1985 was the recipient of an NIH New Investigator Research Award. His research has been continuously funded by NIH from 1985 until he assumed the dean's position at the School of Dentistry at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2004. He is currently involved in studies on tooth development, nutrition and infant oral health. In 1979, he was the First Place winner of the Edward H. Hatton Award, Postdoctoral Division, International Association for Dental Research and the winner of a Graduate Student Research Award, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. From 1990 to 1992, he was a member of the NIH Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section.
From 1980 – 1992, he held appointments as assistant and subsequently associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut Health Center. From 1992 – 2003, he was professor and chairman, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and held additional appointments as professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Cellular and Structural Biology. He was appointed Dean at the School of Dentistry at University of Alabama at Birmingham, in January 2004. On August 1, 2011, he was appointed dean and professor of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Thomas has given more than 100 lectures and continuing education courses at various universities, associations and study clubs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He is the author or co-author of over 150 published articles, chapters and abstracts in a broad spectrum of scientific journals. Dr. Thomas holds fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists, and is a member of several national and international associations and societies. In 1996, he was elected to membership in OKU (Dental Honor Society) and in 2010 received the Award for Excellence from the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine. He has served terms as a member of the National Board Test Construction Committee (Anatomical Sciences) of the American Dental Association (ADA); Hatton Awards Committee, American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and International Association for Dental Research; and member and chairman of the Research Committee, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. From 1988 to 1991, he served as an associate editor for the Pediatric Dentistry Journal, and from 1995 to 1997, as chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Infant Oral Health, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He has served as chair, Section on Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences for the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a Basic Science Consultant, Commission on Dental Accreditation (currently Chair of site visit teams); Executive Committee Member and Program Chairperson, Section on Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Health, American Academy of Pediatrics; Chairman of the Council on Scientific Affairs, AAPD; and as Chair, Council of Deans of the American Dental Education Association.
Dr. Thomas held a Post-doctoral Fellowship from NIH, from 1980 to1984, and in 1985 was the recipient of an NIH New Investigator Research Award. His research has been continuously funded by NIH from 1985 until he assumed the dean's position at the School of Dentistry at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2004. He is currently involved in studies on tooth development, nutrition and infant oral health. In 1979, he was the First Place winner of the Edward H. Hatton Award, Postdoctoral Division, International Association for Dental Research and the winner of a Graduate Student Research Award, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. From 1990 to 1992, he was a member of the NIH Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section.