Mark E. Nehring, transitioned to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine as the Delta Dental of Massachusetts Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health and Community Service, following 30 years of service in Federal oral health programs. After graduation from dental school, Dr. Nehring began his public service career in community clinical assignments, culminating in administrative roles as Acting Chief Dental Officer of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Chief Dental Officer of HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau. After several years of clinical service and oversight at multiple U.S. Public Health Service sites within the National Health Service Corps and the Indian Health Service, Dr. Nehring was assigned to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area to assume administrative responsibilities within the Office of the Surgeon General. He directed non-dental programs in Emergency Medical Services for Children and Traumatic Brain Injury when reassigned to HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB).
Renewed interest in improving access to oral health care for those most vulnerable brought Dr. Nehring a leadership role as MCHB’s Chief Dental Officer to share public health perspective, knowledge of Federal programs and an ability to collaborate with Federal, State, and non-governmental partners. Innovative oral health grant programs were authored and expert workgroups were convened to address the need for earliest prevention interventions in keeping with the concept of dental home, integration of systems of care and the development of inter-professional, patient-centered care models to the benefit of women and children. He continues to bring broad leadership and program management experiences to national agendas as an expert consultant, participating in policy development workshops and panels considering promising interventions for earliest disease prevention practices, inter-professional collaboration and evaluation of innovative programs.
Dr. Nehring received his professional degree in dentistry from Boston University. He also possesses a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Maine, a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins, and residency training in Dental Public Health. As a Department Chair at Tufts, Dr. Nehring works with Tufts University leadership to strengthen community-based dental education and public health experiences for its diverse pre-doctoral and postdoctoral student body. Under Tufts University’s strategic planning initiative, major focus within the Department includes curriculum revisions to integrate community service learning and inter-professional education, develop a formalized approach to global outreach, and coordinate faculty and student volunteer community-based activities as part of the unified embodiment of Tufts University’s philosophy of success.
Education:
Dental Public Health Residency, Two-year (part time) accredited program, Office of the Chief Dental Officer, USPHS, 1994
Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 1992
Doctor of Dental Medicine, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, 1981
Master of Education, University of Maine, Orono, 1976
Bachelor of Arts, University of Maine, Orono, 1975
Professional Experience:
2011-Present:
Chair and Delta Dental of Massachusetts Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Service, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
2011:
Acting Chief Dental Officer, HRSA, Rockville, MD
2002-2011:
Chief Dental Officer, MCHB Oral Health Program, Rockville, MD
1998-2002:
Associate Chief Dental Officer, MCHB Oral Health Programs and Team Member of HRSA’s Oral Health Initiative, Rockville, MD
1996-1998:
Director, Emergency Medical Services for Children, MCHB, HRSA, Rockville, MD
1996-1998:
Director, Traumatic Brain Injury Demonstration Grant Program, MCHB, HRSA, Rockville, MD
1994-1996:
Associate Director, Emergency Medical Services for Children, MCHB, HRSA, Rockville, MD
1992-1994:
Dental Public Health Resident/Advisor to the Chief Dental Officer, Office of the Chief Dental Officer, USPHS, Rockville, Maryland
1990-1992:
Section Chief, Officer Development Branch, DCP, OSG, Rockville, Maryland
1989-1990:
Senior Staffing Officer, Officer Development Branch, DCP, OSG, Rockville, Maryland
Selected Honors and Awards:
Distinguished Alumni Award, Boston University, 2011
Unit Commendation, PHS Commissioned Corps Award, 2010, 2006, 2004, 1992, 1988
Administrator’s Citation for Outstanding Group Performance, 2010, 2004, 2001
Crisis Response Service Ribbon, PHS Commissioned Corps Award, 2009, 2006
Outstanding Unit Commendation, PHS Commissioned Corps Award, 2007, 2001
Hershel S. Horowitz Oral Health Research and Policy Award, 2006
PHS Citation, PHS Commissioned Corps Award, 2002
Chief Dental Officer's Exemplary Service Award, 2001, 1994
EMSC Special Recognition Award, 1999
Ernest Eugene Buell Award recognizing junior dental officer achievement, 1990
Professional Memberships:
American Dental Association, Member
American Association of Public Health Dentistry, Member
AMSUS, Member
ROA, Member
MOAA, Member
House of Delegates, Alternate Delegate, San Francisco, CA
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Representative, Oral Health Subcommittee
