Shelly Dionne Taylor, DMD
Shelly Dionne Taylor, DMD
MPH Candidate & Interim Dental Director
Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health & Upham's Corner Health Center
Shelly D. Taylor, DMD is a Master in Public Health (MPH) candidate at Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health and a Joseph L. Henry Oral Health Fellow in Minority Health Policy. Currently, Dr. Taylor serves as the Interim Dental Director of Upham’s Corner Health Center in Dorchester, MA. Through this role, she has demonstrated her commitment to public health and dedication to caring for underserved communities. In her present leadership role, she has oversight of the day-to-day operations of the oral health program and provides clinical and preventative dental care to patients of the health center. Her leadership decisions are guided by the principles of eliminating racial disparities and oral health inequities. Presently, she is successfully navigating the clinic through the Covid-19 pandemic through implementation of administrative and engineering protocols geared towards the health and safety of both the patients and staff. Dr. Taylor serves as a clinical preceptor to fourth year dental students who rotate through the clinic and frequently speaks as a guest lecturer at various universities and high schools about the importance of public health. She values volunteerism and has taken an active role in developing programs within the community to educate patients on the importance of oral health and the connection between oral and overall health. Dr. Taylor has an interest in designing programs that will promote and enhance integration between medical and dental departments within the healthcare system. Upon completion of her MPH degree, Dr. Taylor will complete additional training in Periodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Taylor was the most recent American Public Health Association Oral Health Section Winter Student Spotlight. She is the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award at Broward Community and Family Health Centers and received the Young Alumni Gator Great Award for her impactful work in South Florida. Dr. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees from the University of Florida in 2011 and 2015 respectively. She also earned an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certificate from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 2016.