Dowlatshahi recognized with AAP Richman Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award

Assistant Professor Sahar Dowlatshahi, DDS, MMSc, has been named a 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award from the American Academy of Periodontology.

The Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award is presented to a periodontal educator who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in providing education in the full scope of periodontics and relays that enthusiasm to students. The award, sponsored by Crest and Oral-B, was given to 42 honorees across dental schools in the U.S.

“I’m honored to receive the American Academy of Periodontology Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award,” Dowlatshahi said. “This recognition holds special meaning for me as an educator and periodontist, and I’m deeply grateful to my mentors, colleagues, and students who continue to inspire and challenge me every day.”

The Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award is given to one educator at each institution and is chosen by the periodontal department chair. Nominees must be AAP members and are submitted to the AAP’s Education and Liaison Department.

The School of Dentistry periodontics faculty and residents nominate and vote on the department’s honoree submission.

Dowlatshahi was presented her award by Nikola Angelov, DDS, MS, PhD, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene, during the dental school’s periodontics resident graduation luncheon on May 12.

“Dr. Dowlatshahi has an exceptional gift for teaching and mentoring,” Angelov said. “Her enthusiasm for periodontology is contagious, and she brings that energy to everything she does — from the clinic to the classroom to the research arena. Her dedication to her students and colleagues exemplifies the values of this award, and we are proud to have her as part of our faculty.”

Dowlatshahi earned her doctorate in dental surgery from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry in 2018. She received her Master of Medical Sciences and periodontology certificate from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2021.

Dowlatshahi, who joined the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry faculty in 2022, considers the award a validation of her effort in training the next generation.

“Teaching is more than sharing knowledge — it’s about nurturing curiosity, confidence, and clinical excellence. I look forward to continuing this journey and giving back to the profession that has given me so much,” she said.

At the School of Dentistry, Dowlatshahi teaches periodontics introduction and nonsurgical periodontal therapy to dental students and provides faculty oversight in the student clinic. She also supervises sedation cases and surgeries for periodontal residents.

Dowlatshahi is a board-certified periodontist and implant surgeon. She specializes in implant dentistry, resective and regenerative periodontal therapy, laser therapy, and surgically facilitated orthodontic therapy and is a provider at UT Dentists.