Clinical Pharmacology in Dentistry: A 2025 Update - Zoom Webinar

Meet our Experts

Daniel Skaar, DDS, MS, MBA

Associate Professor and Director, Division of Periodontology
Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Dr. Skaar received his pharmacy and dental degrees from the University of Iowa. He completed his periodontal residency and MS in Dentistry at the University of Minnesota and received his MBA at Northwestern University. Dr. Skaar joined the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry faculty in 1999 and is now an Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Periodontology. In addition to being a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, he teaches and directs didactic and clinical courses in dental pharmacology and predoctoral and postdoctoral periodontology. He has directed and presented numerous CE programs on clinical pharmacology. His research has primarily focused on clinical medical and pharmacology issues affecting oral health care. In addition to analyzing medication utilization using large government and commercial datasets, he has developed innovative and unique models addressing the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic prescribing, including prophylaxis for dental patients with prosthetic joint replacement. Dr. Skaar's recent research focuses on applying precision medicine in dentistry through pharmacogenetic testing to inform and improve analgesic prescribing to treat acute dental pain in clinical practice.

Stephen Shuman, DDS, MS, FGSA

Professor and Director, Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program
Director, Division of Hospital and Special Care Dentistry
Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Dr. Shuman received his dental degree from Temple University and then completed his Fellowship and MS degree in Geriatric Dentistry from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1989 and is now a Professor and Director of the school’s Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program and Director of the Division of Hospital Special Care Dentistry. He also serves on the faculty for the school’s Special Healthcare Needs Clinic and the University’s HRSA-funded Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Expansion Program. Dr. Shuman served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry for ten years and was President of that organization from 1998-99. He currently serves as Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup for the Gerontological Society of America and Chair of the Minnesota Dental Association’s Barriers to Care Committee. His teaching and clinical programs have been recognized nationally and at the state and local levels, including the American Dental Association’s national Geriatric Oral Health Award and the 2016 Innovation Award from LeadingAge, the national association of over 6000 non-profits representing the entire field of aging services. In 2018, he became the 8th dental professional inducted as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America—the nation’s oldest and largest organization of professionals working in aging research, education, policy, and practice.

Pamala Jacobson, PharmD, FCCP

Distinguished Professor, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
Director, Institute of Personalized Medicine, College of Pharmacology
Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School.

Dr. Jacobson received her PharmD from the University of Nebraska and completed her residency training at the University of Michigan and then became a member of the faculty. She joined the University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy in 1998. Dr. Jacobson is a clinical pharmacologist where her research focuses on how genetic variation in DNA and the gut microbiome influences drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy and toxicity. She also leads several state-wide efforts directed towards preparing healthcare professionals for implementation of pharmacogenomics in their practice. 

Disclosure Summary

It is the policy of the University of Minnesota Office of Continuing Dental Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its sponsored educational activities. All participating speakers, course directors, and planning committee members are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Relationships of spouse/partner with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services should be disclosed if they are of a nature that may influence the objectivity of the individual in a position to control the content of the CDE activity. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each speaker, course director, and planning committee member will be shared with the audience prior to the speaker’s presentation.

Continuing Dental Education Staff members have nothing to disclose.

The speakers indicated no relevant affiliations or financial interests and do not intend to discuss off-label/investigative use of a commercial product/device.