Dr. Simmi Patel is a skilled, well-trained, and experienced dental educator. She holds degrees from Texas A&M University (BS 1997, cum laude) and UT Health Science Center – San Antonio (DDS 2001). After 9 years in private practice, she began her career in public health dentistry by delivering oral health care to patients at many shelters and underserved communities in Dallas, Texas.
She enjoys sharing her passion for community-based dentistry with trainees and mentees. Currently, she teaches clinical dentistry at the Now-Forward community clinic to predoctoral third- and fourth-year students. Her primary focus is teaching future dentists to increase access to dental care for vulnerable communities, including those who are homeless, victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, patients with HIV/AIDS, people grappling with substance use disorders and medically compromised, elderly patients.