Karen Luce, DDS, MS
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Dr. Luce joined The University of Oklahoma in 2015 as an assistant professor. She obtained a D.D.S. degree in 2001, and completed a residency in Periodontics in 2005, both at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She practiced as a periodontist in private practice for 4 years, and in Indian Health Service for 6 years before entering academics. She also has private practice and public health experience as a dental hygienist. Currently, Dr. Luce is pursuing a Masters in Public Health, and her primary scholarly focuses are communtiy dentistry and interprofessional education.

Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center combines interprofessional education (IPE) with comprehensive care to patients with complex medical and dental needs at a non-profit community clinic for the underserved or uninsured population of central Oklahoma. Team-based care is delivered to both medical and dental patients. Our previous models have not allowed collaboration among students of different disciplines. In one model, dental/dental hygiene students were siloed within clinics, treating dental patients exclusively, and interacted infrequently with students of other professions.…