Pete Damiano, DDS, MPH is the Bernstein Endowed Professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry at the UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. 

Background

After graduating from the UI College of Dentistry, Dr. Damiano served as a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, providing dental care to members of the Navajo Nation. He received his Master’s of Public Health degree and completed his training in health services/policy research while participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Dental Health Services Research Scholars Program at UCLA. 

Research & Teaching

As a 35 year UI faculty member, Dr. Damiano conducts externally funded health services/policy research focusing on health disparities including access to and quality of primary care services for underserved populations. He also teaches health policy-related classes in multiple units on campus. He was the founding director of the Health Policy Research Program at the UI Public Policy Center (PPC) and directed the PPC for 15 years, emphasizing policy-relevant research with units across campus. He created programs increasing experiential community-based research opportunities in public policy for UI students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Damiano served as Interim Associate Dean for Research at the UI COD in 2024-2025.

He is the author of more than 300 journal articles and research monographs and has been principal investigator on more than 90 funded research studies. He saw dental patients, including special needs adults, in the UI faculty practice for 35 years.