Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

09/04/2026

CDM student Nikolas Christoffel (DDS ’27) helped bring 130 medical and dental students from around the world to New York City for the 2026 ICEP Global Academic Immersion Travel Conference.

As president of Columbia’s ICEP Global chapter and head organizer of the conference, Christoffel spent six months creating opportunities for scientific exchange, cultural immersion, and lasting connections among future health leaders.

Read more about his experience and the global connections built through AIT 2026 here:

CDM student Nikolas Christoffel brings future health leaders together through ICEP global conference. .

08/28/2026

CDM alumna Dr. Jessica Y. Lee, DDS, MPH, PhD, has built a career combining pediatric dentistry and public health, while advocating for policies that improve oral health care for children.

Her path began at Columbia, where she found opportunities to pursue her interests in both public health and pediatric dentistry and saw firsthand the oral health needs of the surrounding community.

Now, as CEO of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Lee is bringing those experiences to a national leadership role focused on putting children first and supporting the pediatric dentists who care for them.

Read more about her journey and the impact of her CDM experience here:

CDM alumna Dr. Jessica Lee reflects on how Columbia shaped her career in pediatric dentistry, public health and advocacy as she begins a new chapter as AAPD CEO.

08/27/2026

For CDM alumna Dr. Zoe Mattana, DDS ’18, MBA, '25, the idea for ToothDoc began with a challenge she saw firsthand in practice.

One in three dental paper referrals never actually happen, and delayed or neglected treatment can mean more expensive and invasive care down the road. As Zoe began building ToothDoc and speaking with other providers, she realized that making referrals easier wasn’t enough. Dentists wanted more than another digital tool; they wanted a better way to find providers they trust.

Zoe built ToothDoc, a digital referral platform designed to help providers find trusted colleagues, make referrals, and track whether patients successfully connect with the care they need.

She credits the big-picture thinking and supportive community she experienced at CDM with giving her the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship and take risks.

Learn more about ToothDoc here: https://toothdoc.io/

08/26/2026

The College of Dental Medicine was proud to take part in CUIMC’s Project Medical Education, an immersive experience offering community and institutional partners an inside look at the work happening across the medical center. Dr. Aaron Myers, associate professor of dental medicine in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and senior associate dean for clinical affairs, led CDM’s session on oral health. Through experiences across campus, participants gained a deeper understanding of CUIMC and its connections to the surrounding community.

08/25/2026

Join us for the next Dean’s Distinguished Lecture, featuring Dr. Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the Health Policy Institute and chief of international relations at the American Dental Association.

In “Evidence-Based Policy Making in Oral Health: What Research is Missing?” Dr. Vujicic will explore the growing recognition of oral health as an essential part of overall health, where U.S. health policy has yet to catch up, and the policy reforms and research needed to accelerate progress.

📅 Thursday, September 17 | 12–1 p.m.
📍 Hammer Health Sciences Building, 3rd Floor, Room 301
🎓 Complimentary CDE course (1 credit)

The CUIMC community is welcome to attend. Register here: https://bit.ly/4xYEwXJ

08/24/2026

Last week, we were delighted to welcome four dental students from National Taiwan University School of Dentistry through our Externships & Observational Visits Program.

The students began with an introduction to CDM from Dr. Philip Kang, associate dean for postdoctoral affairs. Throughout their time with us, they explored several postgraduate programs through clinical observation and opportunities to meet with faculty and residents.

We enjoyed having them as part of our CDM community and sharing a glimpse into postgraduate education and clinical training at Columbia!

08/21/2026

Dr. Christie Custodio-Lumsden, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition sciences (in dental medicine), has received an R21 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to investigate how dietary exposures during childhood and adolescence may shape both oral and systemic health.

Through the AHEAD study, Custodio-Lumsden and her collaborators will use metabolomics, a technique that provides insight into how what we eat is processed by the body, to develop an index of healthy eating and examine its relationship to children’s oral and systemic health outcomes over time.

Congratulations to Dr. Custodio-Lumsden on this exciting achievement and her first independent NIH award!

Read more about the AHEAD study here: https://bit.ly/4xhSsMw

The AHEAD study will explore how diet during childhood and adolescence may influence oral and systemic health and inform future prevention strategies.

08/20/2026

CDM’s AI Fellows came together for a day of discussion, reflection, and planning around the role of AI in dental education. Fellows shared concrete examples of how they are already using AI in their teaching, research, assessment, or clinical education, explored questions of ethics and bias through a case-based discussion, and heard from Dean Dennis Mitchell about CDM’s broader vision for digital dentistry. The convening concluded with fellows looking ahead as they began planning AI integration prototypes for their teaching.

As AI continues to shape dentistry and education, CDM is preparing faculty to engage with these technologies responsibly while helping lead what comes next.

08/17/2026

A warm welcome to our new postdoctoral residents! We kicked off the year at our Postdoctoral Welcome Reception, bringing new and returning residents together for a festive start to the year. Wishing our residents a wonderful year of learning, connection, and growth!

08/14/2026

On August 10, 2026, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine welcomed the inaugural cohort of its new Master of Science in Oral Sciences program! 🎉

Over the next year, students will build a strong foundation in oral and craniofacial sciences while developing the skills to think like researchers: asking meaningful scientific questions, evaluating evidence, identifying gaps in existing knowledge, and designing rigorous approaches to investigate them. The program also encourages students to see research as a creative process, bringing curiosity and scientific imagination to questions that can advance our understanding of oral health and disease. Through coursework, laboratory experiences, and faculty mentorship, they will gain the skills to pursue future paths in research, health professions, academia, industry, and public health.

Learn more about the new program here: https://bit.ly/4x6FCAO

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine welcomed the inaugural cohort of its new MS in Oral Sciences, a one-year program combining oral science, research training, and laboratory experience.