Damien L. Cuffie, DDS, MPH

Damien L. Cuffie, DDS, MPH

Assistant Clinical Professor

Louisiana State University Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences/University Medical Center New Orleans

I was born in Fontana, CA and grew up all across the continental US as well as Incirlik, Turkey due to my father being active duty Air Force. After graduating high school I attended The Xavier University of Louisiana. I had the privilege of moving to New Orleans prior to Katrina and came right back once the city allowed the students to return. Seeing the devastation post Katrina is what sparked my interest in public health.

After graduation from Xavier University in 2008. I enrolled in LSU Health Sciences Center for my Masters in Public Health with a focus on Health Policy and Management. While attending LSU I worked with the Juvenile Justice Reform and was afforded the opportunity to get my first publication. Upon graduation I landed my first job working for the state of Louisiana in disease management, monitoring HIV, Tuberculosis and Syphilis patients who had been deemed “out of care.” While working with the state I was able to be published yet again. It was while in my graduate program I saw my desire to work in oral health and be an influence to minority and underserved populations and attend dental school.

I attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN for my dental training. I matriculated through the post baccalaureate program receiving my certificate in health sciences. While in dental school I also became a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Policy Scholar. I also commissioned in the U.S. Army National Guard. Upon graduation from dental school I completed a two year hospital based residency program back in New Orleans treating medical complex and comprised patients. Currently, I am the rank of a Captain in the Army Guard, and I serve as full time faculty with LSU School of Dentistry providing care in the HIV Outpatient Dental Clinic in University Hospital.