CU Professor Emerita Lauded for Her Significant Contributions to Dentistry

After an illustrious 43-year career at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Terri Tilliss, RDH, MS, MA, PhD, has retired and reflected on her remarkable journey. She initially joined the school as a part-time faculty member in the Dental Hygiene Department and eventually became a full-time faculty member. Over the years, she took on various roles, including co-director of the Dental Hygiene Program and serving as an integral part of the Graduate Orthodontics Program, where she worked with patients and residents on oral health and behavior change concepts. Notably, Tilliss played a crucial role in teaching communication and behavior change courses to international students, helping them adapt to the American dental-patient interaction. She also contributed to interdisciplinary education at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, fostering collaboration between students from different health professions. Tilliss’ impressive accomplishments include earning her Doctor of Philosophy in Health and Behavioral Sciences and receiving the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Warner Lambert Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene. She has been a longtime member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Editorial Advisory Board as well as a contributor to the journal. Click here to read more.