Anita Joy-Thomas

Biosketch

Dr. Anita Joy-Thomas is professor and chair of the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences at the School of Dentistry. She is also the Peggy A. O'Neill, PhD, DDS Distinguished Professor for Biomedical Sciences at the school. She previously served as the interim chair in 2020.

A clinician-scientist by training, Dr. Joy joined the dental school faculty in 2019 after leaving a tenured position as an associate professor at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, where she also served as graduate faculty, head of anatomy, department chair, and director of research.

Dr. Joy’s extensive experience in dental education includes directing systems-based, integrated biomedical sciences and oral biology courses, directing a dissection-based human anatomy course, and serving as faculty for courses in periodontics, oral radiology, occlusion, and within Advanced Education programs. She has extensive experience in curriculum development, assessment development, incorporating technology in education, and effectively engaging students through innovative pedagogical strategies.

Her laboratory's primary area of research focus has been on studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for progression of oral and salivary gland cancers; specifically, the influence of the extracellular matrix on cancer progression — survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Dr. Joy has extended her research focus of cancer prevention and early detection through translational work in the area of risk assessments, patient education, and HPV vaccination. Dr. Joy is a team science expert and leads the School of Dentistry’s concerted efforts in implementing an integrated dental medicine (IDM) clinical care delivery model and evaluating clinical outcomes related to the critical and often overlooked interplay between oral and overall health.

Another area of interest is in dental educational research (the scholarship of teaching and learning) with a focus on innovative teaching technologies/methodologies, curricular initiatives, assessments, and outcomes.

At the international/national level, Dr. Joy serves on the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Council of Sections and the Council of Faculties. She serves as a consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and on the Test Construction Committee for the Integrated National Dental Board Examinations (INDBE) since over 10 years. She reviews grants for the NSF-Biological Sciences Division and publications for various scientific journals.

Dr. Joy actively mentors students and is a sought-after faculty mentor as well. She is invested in faculty success and faculty development initiatives through her roles at the school and at the national level.

She has been recognized internationally through the ADEA/ADEA Council of Students, Residents and Fellows/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Junior Faculty Award, the ADEA/ADEGies Education Fellowship, the ADEA/Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Excellence in Teaching Award, and the ADEA Chair of the Board Citation. She has received the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching at the School of Dentistry as well as numerous teaching awards and honors at her prior institution. She has led various regional leadership initiatives and completed national and international leadership programs, including the Harvard Women's Leadership Forum and the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program from Drexel University. In recognition of her professional excellence, integrity, leadership, and continued service to her profession and people, she has been inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the National Dental Honor Society Omicron Kappa Upsilon. She is also internationally recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.

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