Professor Dr. Theresa Davies Heerema

Biography

Theresa Davies-Heerema has served as a Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University's Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine for over 40 years. She specializes in the Department of Medical Sciences & Education, where her research primarily focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, particularly concerning platelets and blood-brain barrier interactions. Over the years, she has taken on several leadership roles, including Assistant Director of the Medical Sciences program and Director of the Oral Health Sciences program. In her role as Assistant Dean overseeing Graduate Affairs, she has spearheaded initiatives focused on inclusion and diversity within medical education, notably leading a pipeline program aimed at increasing the enrollment of underrepresented groups into dental schools. Davies-Heerema is passionate about teaching and has been a course manager for courses related to Dental Biochemistry and Evidence-Based Dentistry for 25 years. Her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility has led her to advocate for systemic changes within educational frameworks, aiming to support students facing various socio-economic challenges. She has contributed to numerous scholarly publications and has presented at national conferences to address issues within dental education and student affairs. Her ongoing work supports a collaborative and supportive environment for students, especially those traditionally marginalized in healthcare professions.

Research Interests

Experience