Sheila Riggs, DDS, MS, DMSc

Sheila Riggs, DDS, MS, DMSc, is an academic, epidemiologist and health care leader recognized for advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches to oral health policy, education and community care. Throughout her career, she has bridged clinical practice, research, industry and public policy to improve access to care and strengthen health systems.

Riggs earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa and a doctorate in epidemiology from Harvard University. She has held leadership roles across academic medicine, corporate health care and public service, including service as chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Critical Access Dental Providers of Minnesota and previous board service with Benco Dental, where she chaired the Compensation Committee and the Hennepin County Medical Center system.

She has been recognized nationally for her contributions to the field, including selection as Distinguished Alumni of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2016 and recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Service from the University of Minnesota.

Known for her collaborative and pragmatic approach to leadership, Riggs has built a career at the intersection of dentistry, epidemiology and health system innovation, advancing strategies that connect research to real-world impact.