Michael Korleski, DDS

Michael Korleski, DDS, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital & Special Care Dentistry at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. His clinical practice centers on adults with developmental and acquired disabilities, complex medical conditions, and sensory/communication differences. Dr. Korleski completed a General Practice Residency at the University of California, San Francisco and a fellowship in Special Care Dentistry at the University of Washington. These experiences shaped his commitment to team-based, compassionate care that blends behavior support, medical risk assessment, and pragmatic accommodations to keep patients comfortable and safe throughout diagnosis and treatment. At UMN, he teaches in the predoctoral and graduate curricula and supervises patient care in special-care clinics. His teaching portfolio includes patient-centered communication; interprofessional collaboration with medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, and social services; informed consent and supported decision-making; and practical skills for working effectively with professional interpreters and direct-support professionals. He mentors students and residents on treatment planning for high-needs cases, emphasizing dignity, autonomy and measurable health outcomes. 

Dr. Korleski’s scholarly interests focus on improving access and equity in oral healthcare and advancing non-invasive, behavioral techniques that support patient comfort and cooperation. Current projects include integrating interpreters into the dental workflow; strengthening care coordination across community and university clinics; and developing training resources on desensitization, tell–show–do, graduated exposure, environmental/sensory accommodations, and augmentative/alternative communication to better serve patients with developmental and acquired disabilities. He collaborates with community partners to expand inclusive oral-health education and reduce structural barriers to care. He is active in professional service through the American Dental Association, Minnesota Dental Association, and American Dental Education Association, Special Care Dentistry Association, and serves in national leadership roles within special care dentistry organizations, including Special Care Advocates in Dentistry and American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry. His service contributes to initiatives that broaden training opportunities and advance person-centered standards of care. Outside the clinic and classroom, he engages with Minnesota’s outdoor recreation community and supports health-promoting, accessible environments.

Korleski MJ, Stefanac SJ, Inglehart MR. Dentists' considerations concerning treating patients from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community: A national survey. J Dent Educ. 2024 Mar;88(3):278-288.