Thurs., Nov. 6, 2025
Time: TBD / Lecture
Room: TBD
Speaker: Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS, PhD ’97

Alumni Speaker Series

Recommended for: Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants, and Dental Students

Obesity has emerged as a significant public health concern, impacting not only general health but also oral health. This continuing dental education program will explore the intricate relationship between obesity and periodontal diseases, highlighting shared risk factors, pathophysiological mechanisms, and systematic implications.

Participants will gain insights into:

• Understanding the implications for dental practice, including the importance of screening for obesity in dental patients and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to management. Best practices for patient education, prevention strategies, and treatment considerations will be emphasized.
• Understanding the inflammatory pathways connecting obesity and periodontal diseases.
• Understanding how obesity-related comorbidities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, further exacerbate periodontal issues.

By the end of the program, dental professionals will be equipped with a deeper understanding of the connections between obesity and periodontal health, enabling them to provide more comprehensive care to their patients. The integration of this knowledge into clinical practice can ultimately improve patient outcomes and promote overall health.

Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS, PhD ‘97 is currently the Senior Associate Dean for Research at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He is also a member of the Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Program at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo.

Previously, he was a professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Oral Health Sciences at the College of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, where he was also the Sr. Associate Dean for Research and Director for the MUSC Center for Oral Health Research. He completed his Certificate in Periodontology and earned his PhD in Oral Biology at the University at Buffalo and was a tenured associate professor at the University of Michigan.

In addition to being a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, he has been the principal investigator in several grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Dental Research (NIH/NIDCR) focused on understanding immune signaling involved inflammatory periodontal bone loss and oral cancer progression. He has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Tarrson Fellowship Career Development Award from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research, the Sunstar Fellowship Research Award from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, and the two-time recipient of the IADR/GSK Innovation in Oral Care Award.

Dr. Kirkwood (or an immediate family member) is not associated with, employed by, nor consults for any manufacturer, supplier, or retailer of dental instruments or materials.

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement designates this activity for 3 continuing education credits.