Barros receives 2026 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Clinical Service

Professor Juliana A. Barros, DDS, MS (third from the right), holds her 2026 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Clinical Service, surrounded by colleagues and family. Photo by UTHealth Houston.

Professor Juliana A. Barros, DDS, MS, assistant dean for clinical education at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, has been named the recipient of the 2026 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Clinical Service. She was recognized during a May 1 luncheon recognizing outstanding faculty across UTHealth Houston.

The President’s Scholar Awards honor faculty members nominated by their peers for excellence in research, teaching, clinical service, and tripartite achievement. Recipients are recognized for advancing the university’s mission through leadership, innovation, and service.

Barros was one of four faculty members recognized with a 2026 President’s Scholar Award. Other recipients included Qingchun Tong, PhD, of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, recipient of the President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Research; Han Zhang, MD, of McGovern Medical School, recipient of the President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Teaching; and Louise D. McCullough, MD, PhD, of McGovern Medical School and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston School of Biomedical Sciences, recipient of the President’s Scholar Award for Tripartite Excellence.

A professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, Barros was recognized for her leadership in clinical education, restorative dentistry, and laser dentistry, as well as her commitment to student learning and patient care.

“This moment is because so many people have supported me along the way. This award really belongs to all of us,” Barros said. “I hope we keep showing up for each other and keep doing this work with heart, honesty, and a real sense of purpose. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. This is an incredible honor.”

Since joining the School of Dentistry faculty in 2008, Barros has helped advance clinical education and expand the integration of innovative technologies into patient care. She currently oversees clinical education programs within the predoctoral dental curriculum and works closely with academic and clinical leaders to strengthen clinical training and competency assessment.

Barros was appointed assistant dean for clinical education effective July 1, 2025, after serving in the interim role beginning in August 2024. She also serves as acting director of the school’s laser clinic.

In addition to developing the school’s laser dentistry curriculum, Barros has helped expand the use of laser technologies in both dental education and patient care. She also helped coordinate administration of the ADEX Clinical Licensure Exam at the School of Dentistry, contributing to a 97% pass rate.

Barros is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, the Academy of Operative Dentistry, the International Association for Dental Research, and the Consortium of Operative Dentistry Educators.

She earned her DDS degree from the University of Uberaba School of Dentistry in Brazil. She completed advanced clinical education in restorative dentistry at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and earned a master’s degree in laser dentistry from the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute and the University of São Paulo in Brazil.