Dr. Phil Richards

Biography

Phil Richards received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and completed a residency in periodontics, earning his Master of Science (MS) degree in 1988 from the same institution. He began his career as a clinical instructor and lecturer at Michigan from 1984 to 1993. Richards was appointed clinical assistant professor and, subsequently, promoted to clinical associate professor in 1998 and clinical professor in 2008. His focus has been on predoctoral dental education in periodontics, serving as director of undergraduate periodontics during multiple terms between 1994 and 2025. In addition to periodontics, he has developed and taught courses in dental treatment planning and behavioral science. Richards also acted as a faculty coach, providing support for dental students’ clinical development and serving as a research advisor for graduate student projects in dental hygiene. He has taught numerous continuing education courses at local, regional, and national levels, and has created a large digital library of dental patient case scenarios for teaching and assessment purposes. Over his career, he has received forty teaching awards, including the Dr. Paul Gibbons award as the most influential faculty member for twelve graduating classes at Michigan from 1994 to 2014.

Research Interests