Elisa M. Chávez, DDS currently serves as Interim Dean and Director of the Pacific Center for Equity in Oral Health Care and is a tenured Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. She graduated from The University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Dentistry and earned her certificate in Geriatric Dentistry from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Chávez has practiced in private, community health, long-term care and hospital settings including Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe in her hometown of El Paso Texas, The Veteran’s Administration in Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Jewish Home for the Aged in San Francisco and On Lok PACE in the Bay Area. As an educator she has been dedicated to inspiring and preparing dental providers to care for frail older adults and adults with complex health needs. She has authored several papers and book chapters focused on oral health and access to oral health care for older adults.
Dr. Chávez has participated in numerous professional development programs and fellowships to enhance her understanding of the needs and barriers to oral health care for those who are vulnerable to poor oral health and limited access to healthcare including: The Geriatric Faculty Scholars Program at UCSF, Health Literacy and Ethnogeriatrics at Stanford University and Addressing the Oral Health Needs of the Underserved at The University of California, San Diego. She is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and The International College of Dentists. She has served on the California Dental Association Medicare Task Force and is currently a member of The California Dental Association Foundation Board. As member of The Santa Fe Group, she has been an advocate for the oral health needs of older adults and whole person care nationwide. She has a particular interest in expanding access to oral health care for older adults through Medicare.
