Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH

Dr. Juanita Lozano-Pineda is currently the Associate Dean for External Affairs at the UT Health San Antonio School of dentistry.  She is a 1987 UT Health San Antonio alumna and has been teaching at School of Dentistry since 2002.  Dr. Pineda values community-based clinical education, welcomes these educational opportunities, and successfully applies for foundation and federal grants that provide resources to facilitate student learning during external clinical rotations that include primary care provision to underserved populations at Federally Qualified Community Health Centers in South Texas and a primary care rotation for the homeless population of San Antonio.  Dr. Pineda’ teaching activities also include directing an Inter-Professional Ergonomics course, the Learning Enhancement for Achievement in Dentistry (LEAD) 3-week summer enrichment program that includes seven different course components for participants from first-year college students through third-year dental students.  Dr. Pineda is active in recruitment and retention efforts for students that are under-represented in the health professions and in increasing access to care in dental health professional shortage areas of the state.  She is currently the PI for two Health Resources and Services Administrations (HRSA) sponsored grants:  The Centers of Excellence and the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Grants.  Dr. Pineda is also the PI in the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Grant that provides funds for provision of dental services to the homeless population.  Through her teaching and service to UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, she has gained valuable insight and knowledge in dealing with diverse populations and continues to have a strong interest in addressing the needs of underserved populations by helping graduate a competent dentist that will then compassionately serve the oral health needs of all members residing in their future communities.