Home // Faculty // Alina O’Brien, DDS
Alina O'Brien

Alina O’Brien, DDS

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, Director, Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program
Division of Pediatric Dentistry
Professional Biography

Dr. Alina O’Brien is Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. She is also the Program Director of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program at Penn Dental Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She earned her B.A. degree in French and Biology and Society from Cornell University in 2010 and her D.D.S degree at Columbia University in 2017. In 2019 she completed her Residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and was appointed Chief Resident. Prior to joining Penn Dental Medicine, Dr. O’Brien worked in private practice and served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Dental Medicine at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where she was part of a study team researching the prevention of early childhood caries. During her time at Columbia, she was awarded numerous research awards as well as the Divisional Excellence Award in Pediatric Dentistry in 2017.

Honors/Credentials:
  • Assistant Program Director of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program, University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2021 – Present
  • Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 2021- Present
  • Clinical Associate, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 2020-2021
  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Dental Medicine, Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine, 2019 – Present
  • Ethics Committee, New York County Dental Society, 2019- 2020
  • Milton G. Schlesinger Research Excellence Award, 2017
  • Divisional Excellence Award in Pediatric Dentistry, 2017
  • National Student Leadership Award, 2017
  • Membership Committee, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2017-2020
  • Hispanic Dental Association Board of Trustees, 2015 – 2017
  • American Academy of Dental Research National Student Research Group, 2015 – 2017
Education
  • Residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 2019, Chief Resident (2018-2019)
  • D.D.S., Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine, 2017
  • B.A., French and Biology and Society, Cornell University, 2010