Sinem Esra Sahingur, DDS, MS, PhD, serves as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Student Research at University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. She is also Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics and a Diplomate of American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Sahingur’s continuously funded research program focuses on defining the role of immune and inflammatory pathways in periodontal disease pathogenesis, genetic and epigenetic susceptibility to periodontitis and the link between oral and systemic diseases. Sahingur and her team initiated the studies that revealed the involvement of nucleic acid sensing and ubiquitination in periodontal disease pathogenesis and more recently the link between oral cavity, gut, and liver axis and the effect of surfacing tobacco products, such as waterpipe smoking and e-cigarettes on human health. Dr. Sahingur has delivered numerous presentations at national and international meetings and published in leading journals.She was recognized for her outstanding achievements in research and teaching and received multiple awards including Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award and Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research at VCU. In addition, Dr. Sahingur was also honored with the Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WSDM) Award at VCU which is presented to distinguished female leaders in their respective fields.