ADEA Connect spotlight honors Sly
Marilia Sly, DDS, MSD, associate professor and director of the International Dentist Education Program at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, was featured in the American Dental Education Association’s Educator Spotlight series.
The American Dental Education Association Special Interest Group for Internationally Educated Oral Health Professionals recently featured Marilia Sly, DDS, MSD, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics and director of the International Dentist Education Program at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, in its Educator Spotlight series.
A foreign-trained dentist, Sly has spent more than two decades advancing dental education in the United States while mentoring internationally educated oral health professionals. Her recognition highlights the impact of her leadership and dedication to helping dentists successfully transition into U.S. dental education and practice.
Since immigrating to the United States in 2002, Sly has experienced firsthand many of the challenges faced by internationally educated professionals, including adapting to a new culture, language, academic environment, and professional pathway. Those experiences have shaped her approach to mentorship and education.
Sly earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in Brazil in 1995 and a Master of Science in Dentistry at Indiana University in 2006. Throughout her academic career, she has provided instruction in preclinical, clinical, and digital dentistry while supporting the professional development of dental students from diverse backgrounds.
In 2025, Sly was appointed the inaugural director of the International Dentist Education Program at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. In this role, she guides internationally trained dentists as they pursue a U.S. Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and prepare for careers serving patients across the country.
The ADEA spotlight highlighted Sly’s recognition of the courage, investment, and persistence required to earn a dental degree in the United States, as well as her dedication to helping the next generation of internationally educated oral health professionals achieve that goal.