Dr. Mitra Simanian

Biography

Mitra Simanian is a Health Sciences Clinical Assistant Professor and Group Practice Director at UCLA's School of Dentistry. With decades of experience in clinical practice, academia, and public health, she is a committed educator and researcher dedicated to advancing oral health through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research. She holds a D.D.S. from UCLA (1996), an M.P.H. (2023), and a B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Immunology (1985). Her educational background has informed her career in private practice, community health leadership, and academic mentorship. As Group Practice Director for the UCLA pre-doctoral clinic, her teaching contributions extend across multiple didactic and clinical courses, including Clinical Treatment Planning, Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning, Patient Management, and Population Health Principles, all with a focus on integrating public health perspectives into dental education. Dr. Simanian is also a dedicated researcher, currently leading a project aimed at using salivary biomarkers to detect chronic inflammation due to mental disorders and immunocompromised conditions, funded by the Dean’s Faculty Research Innovation Seed Grant. Additionally, she has contributed to retrospective studies analyzing patient retention among HIV-infected individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research Interests