Richard W. Rubin, DDS, MPH

  • Faculty - Dentistry

My main interests are in exploring the interface of public health and oral health, and in developing culturally competent/community-minded dental students. In 2001, at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine, I designed and initiated the ongoing service-learning phase of the Student Community Outreach Program and Education (SCOPE I) and expanded the student clinical component of community service (SCOPE II). The combined programs involve both non-dental and clinical participation by dental students (I-IV) in underserved and at-risk communities throughout western Pennsylvania. The goals of the SCOPE program are to help: 1) develop the students’ cultural competence and communication skills, 2) create more empathic, personally committed dentists, and 3) create a social norm of community-mindedness among dentists. My research explores the development of these attitudes and beliefs among dental students and the relationship of SCOPE activities in this process. I am also interested in evaluating and implementing new approaches in teaching and learning; this includes techniques based upon active adult-learning modules, “learning communities,” debates, and discussion boards. Recent work involved creating, teaching, and directing a Certificate in Dental Public Health for our dental school’s first-professional program. Further, I serve in affiliation with the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) to help in the public health career development of selected dental students. As a faculty member (secondary position) at the GSPH, I act as the liaison for the dual-degree program (DMD/MPH), and work as an advisor and reader on the GSPH student essay committee. As a core faculty member of LEND Pittsburgh, I am involved in “special needs” training programs for dental students and serve as mentor for the MTT program. By combining LEND principles and programs, the dental students, receive additional exposure to the special needs community by developing 1) inter-disciplinary training experiences, 2) student community service participation for special needs and other underserved populations, and 3) student clinical activity at special needs health centers throughout western Pennsylvania.

Education & Training

  • BS, Zoology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 1972
  • DDS, Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, 1977
  • MPH, Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1998