Burton L. Edelstein

Dr. Burton L. Edelstein is a board-certified pediatric dentist and professor of dentistry and public health at Columbia University, where he is Chairman of the Section on Social and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Dental Medicine. His is founding director of the Children’s Dental Health Project, a Washington D.C.-based organization that promotes federal and state policies and programs to improve children’s oral health equity. At CDHP, he is Director of the National Oral Health Policy Center supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Dr. Edelstein practiced pediatric dentistry in Connecticut and taught at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine for 21 years before committing to a full-time health policy position. With primary responsibilities for SCHIP, he served as a 1996–97 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in the office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. He worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on its oral health initiatives from 1998 to 2001, chaired the US Surgeon General’s Workshop on Children and Oral Health, and authored the child section of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in America.

Dr. Edelstein is a graduate of Harpur College, SUNY Buffalo School of Dentistry, Harvard School of Public Health, and the Boston Children’s Hospital pediatric dentistry residency program. His work has been recognized by awards from a number of organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and the American College of Dentists.


Education
  • BA, 1968 Biological Sciences, Harpur College
  • DDS, 1972 State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
  • MPH, 1977 Maternal Child Health/Health Services Administration, Harvard School of Public Health
  • Residency: 1973 State University of New York Upstate Medical Center
  • Residency: 1977 Boston Children’s Hospital

Honors and Awards
  • Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honorary Fraternity
  • Clinical Research Award, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Fellow, American College of Dentists
  • Dental Visionary Award, American Student Dental Association
  • Pediatric Dentist of the Year, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Distinguished Service Award, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
  • Outstanding Service Award, American College of Dentists
  • Fogarty Memorial Lecturer, Baltimore College of Dentistry
  • Presidential Citation, American Dental Education Association
  • Cushing Award, Chicago Dental Society
  • Public Advocacy Award, Friends of the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research
  • Fones Memorial Medal, Connecticut State Dental Association
  • Edward Zegarelli Teaching Award, Columbia University College of DentalMedicine
  • Foundation of Excellence in Community Service Award, New York State Dental Association Foundation
  • Distinguished Service Award, American Association of Public Health Dentistry
  • Visionary Leadership Award, Medicaid-CHIP State Dental Association
  • Shils Award, Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund
  • Fellow International College of Dentists
  • Research Mentor of the Year Award, American Association for Dental Research National Student Research Group
  • Research Mentor of the Year, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
  • Marvin Goldstein Outstanding Service Award, Oral Health America


Last updated December 20, 2022