Dr. Patricia Miguez, DDS, MS, PhD, earned her DDS degree and first periodontal certificate from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil (1997); and later earned her Masters in Restorative (Operative) Dentistry (2003) and PhD in Oral Biology with a second certificate in Periodontology from the University of North Carolina (UNC)-Chapel Hill (CH) (2011). Prior to joining Penn as Chair and Professor of Periodontics, Dr. Miguez served as Associate Professor with tenure at the Adams School of Dentistry at UNC-CH (2014-2026). Her first faculty appointment was as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine from 2011-2014.
She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, an elected Fellow of the American Association for Dental and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and is a Past-President of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Women in Science Network (2024-2025).
She has been an active clinician-scientist for over 25 years and has mentored numerous students, research scholars and faculty. Her mentorship and leading roles expand beyond her tenure at the University level including leadership roles at AADOCR, IADR, American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), AAP Foundation and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
In research, she has received multiple awards for her dedication and excellence in science including a national recognition by the AAP, the R. Earl Robinson Regeneration Award (2024) for the best research article in periodontal regeneration. She is a member of the editorial board of several prestigious journals including the Journal of Dental Research and the Journal of Periodontology. She has been continuously funded by several organizations including the Osteology Foundation, Academy of Osseointegration, IADR, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among others. In recognition of her research expertise, she has participated as a reviewer in multiple NIH study sections since 2020.
A matrix biologist by training, her research focuses on exploring the biology and biomodification of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to modulate connective tissue homeostasis, disease and regeneration. Her research is especially beneficial for individuals with hyper-inflammatory profiles and in promoting mineralized tissue maintenance, given the role of ECM on structural and inflammatory modulation in the systemic and oral environment. She joins Penn with over 45 peer-reviewed publications including high-impact journals in various fields and several book chapters of relevance to Periodontology, regenerative medicine and oral health.
