Title: Associate Professor of Dentistry
Company: University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Daniel J. Chiego Jr., PhD, associate professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in higher education and dentistry.
Dr. Chiego, a seasoned educator, began his career in higher education in 1976 when he was acquired by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As an associate professor of dentistry, he has been instrumental in teaching and mentoring thousands of students during his tenure. In addition to instructing all four years of dental courses, he teaches graduate courses in pulp biology on campus, musculoskeletal system and tooth development. Additionally, Dr. Chiego spends a portion of his time dedicated to the Pathways Program curriculum.
Dr. Chiego, who is exceptionally knowledgeable about pulp biology and innervation of the pulp, has studied this area of dentistry extensively. Through his work at the Chiego Lab in the school of dentistry at the University of Michigan, he has been heavily engaged in studies surrounding dental pulp innervation because of the roles it plays in development, growth, pain, inflammation/immunity and repair. Dr. Chiego also maintains an interest in the central mechanisms of salivation, comparing the temporal sequence of gene expression.
Besides his teaching and research endeavors, Dr. Chiego has had the opportunity to serve as an invited lecturer for various international events. He also honorably served in the United States Armed Forces, including one year of deployment to Vietnam.
Drawing success from years of experience, Dr. Chiego initially studied biology at Bloomfield College in New Jersey, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1968. Continuing his studies, he attended New York University, earning a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in anatomy and neuroscience between 1970 and 1976. While in college, Dr. Chiego was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon.
Besides his education, Dr. Chiego has remained at the forefront of his career through several professional memberships with organizations like the American Association for Dental Oral and Craniofacial Research, the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research, and the American Association for Anatomy. Civically invested, Dr. Chiego has given back his time to educational initiatives, including serving as a judge for local science fairs.
As a seasoned researcher in the medical field, Dr. Chiego has disseminated many of his findings in scholarly journals, such as the Journal of Endodontics, ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters and Archives of Oral Biology, contributing over 50 articles in all. His most recent article was published in 2024 via Vital Pulp Treatment and was titled “The Importance of Maintaining Pulp Vitality.” As a respected figure in his field, Dr. Chiego also authored “Essentials of Oral History and Embryology: A Clinical Approach” in 2018. This is the 28th book to be published and sold in its subject and has achieved noteworthy success by ranking in the top 30 in sales within its specialty.
After more than 45 years in academia, Dr. Chiego intends to continue impacting dental students. Among his goals, he plans to update courses with the latest scientific material and original published manuscripts to safeguard the future of academic research and best practices. Reflecting on his career accomplishments, Dr. Chiego attributes his success to his persistence and passion for the field.
For more information, please visit:
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