Sheila Riggs, DDS, MS, DMSc

Sheila Riggs is recognized as an academic and policy leader with an established record in developing and implementing innovative results through a balanced portfolio of peer reviewed research and hands on community engagement. She has navigated a uniquely influential career as a dentist, epidemiologist, academic, corporate executive, and policy advocate. In recognition of Dr. Riggs’ impact, she was selected as the 2016 Distinguished Alumni for the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Riggs current serves as Chair, Department of Primary Dental Care at the University of Minnesota’s School of Dentistry where she provides leadership to the pre-doctoral dental program, the Dental Hygiene program, and the innovative Dental Therapy program. Dr. Riggs also serves on the Community Engagement team for the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute pursuing a wide range of critically important research interests related to the overall health status of communities and populations.

While pursuing her Doctorate in Medical Sciences from Harvard in the late 1980s, she was convinced that expanding access by influencing insurance carriers and legislative leaders would have a much greater impact than providing care one patient at a time. She began her career serving as an Assistant Professor in Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Oral Epidemiology and Health Policy, and then President of the Iowa Health Research Institute. She joined the executive ranks of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota to launch and lead their analytics division, later adding the role of Executive Director of The Wellmark Foundation to her responsibilities.

In 1999, Dr. Riggs was recruited to the Board of Directors of Delta Dental of Minnesota to provide governance to their innovative analytics strategy. The success of that strategy led to her appointment as CEO of Delta Dental in 2005 where she served until the firm’s operations were acquired in 2008 by Wellpoint creating the largest Foundation dedicated to oral health.

Dr. Riggs is Chair of the Board of Directors of Hennepin Health System. She also serves on the board of Benco Dental, Inc., as well as the Cargill Foundation and the Minnesota Hospital Association.
 

Geriatric Fellow, Fellowship
Harvard Medical School

Epidemiology Research Fellow, Fellowship
Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Award: Utilizing new technologies to lower cost and increase ac
Principal Investigator: Riggs, Sheila
Sponsoring Organization: MN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Award Dates: 2019 - 2021

Award: University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Scien
Principal Investigator: Blazar, Bruce R
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NAT'L CTR FOR ADVANCING TRAN SCIENCE
Award Dates: 2018 - 2020

Award: University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Scien
Principal Investigator: Blazar, Bruce R
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NAT'L CTR FOR ADVANCING TRAN SCIENCE
Award Dates: 2018 - 2023

Award: Minnesota Dental Faculty Loan RepaymentPrincipal Investigator: Riggs, Sheila
Sponsoring Organization: US Dept. of Health & Human Services HRSA
Award Dates: 2017 - 2022

Award: MASTER w/Admin Costs: Dental Therapy Provider ConferencePrincipal Investigator: Self, Karl D
Sponsoring Organization: THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
Award Dates: 2017 - 2019

Award: MASTER w/Admin Costs: Dental Therapy Provider Conference
Principal Investigator: Self, Karl D
Sponsoring Organization: THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
Award Dates: 2016 - 2019

Award: Greater Plains Collaborative Clinical Data Research Netw
Principal Investigator: Aliferis, Constantin
Sponsoring Organization: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
Award Dates: 2014 - 2018

Award: University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Scien
Principal Investigator: Blazar, Bruce R
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Center for Research Resources
Award Dates: 2011 - 2017

Award: University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Scien
Principal Investigator: Blazar, Bruce R
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Nat'l Center for Research Resources
Award Dates: 2011 - 2017