DDS, MBA, FAAHD, FACD, FICD
The University of Alabama at Birmingham proudly presents its highest honor, The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award to Distinguished Professor Gregg H. Gilbert, DDS, MBA, FAAHD, FACD, FICD.
Dr. Gilbert received a bachelor of science in chemistry and a doctor of dental surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following dental school, he completed a two-year residency in Hospital and General Dentistry at the Charity Hospital of Louisiana and Louisiana State University in New Orleans. Following his residency, he embarked on a Dentist Geriatric Fellowship at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts and a Research Fellowship at the Harvard University Schools of Dental Medicine, Public Health, and Medicine.
Dr. Gilbert accepted his first faculty position at the University of Florida and, during his tenure there, he earned his MBA from the university. In 1998, Gilbert’s vision of creating a consortium of dentists to conduct practice-based research and expedite the application of scientific discoveries into routine everyday clinical practice began to take shape. He substantially added to the data collection for a six-year population-based project called the “Florida Dental Care Study.” This study was supported by seven NIH grants over a 10-year period and led to 75 peer-reviewed publications.
In 2002, after joining the faculty of the UAB School of Dentistry in 2000, Gilbert’s interest in the field of oral health clinical research, including practice-based, oral epidemiology and dental behavioral sciences research led him to apply for UAB Health Services Foundation grant. With the resulting grant award, Gilbert established an Alabama practice-based research network (PBRN) that would become the nation’s first statewide dental PBRN.
Dr. Gilbert distinguishes himself by sustained significant contributions to oral health research that bridge investigation between the population and clinical levels, and that bridge disciplines and professions. His work has changed the oral health research model by bringing everyday clinicians and patients to the discussion table – end users who have an immense amount of practical knowledge and wisdom that previously had been largely ignored.
In addition to his position as Chair of the department of Clinical and Community Sciences at UAB’s School of Dentistry, Dr. Gilbert currently serves as Director for The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network as a result of funding from the NIH. As of 2019, he has received approximately $117 million in research funding for his work as Principal Investigator (PI), with an additional $12+ million as co-PI or Investigator.
Dr. Gilbert’s work has made global contributions to the health of all people and it is an honor to have his leadership and expertise as a part of UAB.