Caroline Sawicki, DDS, PhD

ASSistant PROFESSOR, division of pediatric and public health
adams school of dentistry

Dr. Caroline Sawicki is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric and Public Health at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry. She obtained her Bachelor of Science with Honors in Pre-Dentistry at the University of Dayton, in addition to a minor in Psychology. She then went on to complete both her DDS and PhD degrees at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Dr. Sawicki’s dissertation research on the bi-directional communication pathways between the central nervous system and peripheral immune system in modulating physiology and behavior during stress was funded by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Predoctoral Fellows.

She went on to complete her pediatric dentistry residency simultaneously with a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical-translational research at New York University College of Dentistry. She is the current recipient of an NIH-NIDCR K23 Research Career Development Award to support her clinical-translational research on orofacial pain conditions in pediatric patients. Additionally, Dr. Sawicki was awarded the Idea Grant through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina to support her research program focused on biopsychosocial factors associated with temporomandibular disorder pain in children and adolescents.

Dr. Sawicki serves on the editorial board for the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Dental Medicine and is the leading topic editor for the section “Pain and Anxiety in Dentistry and Oral Health Care.” Additionally, she currently acts as Councilor for the International Association for Dental Research Dental Anesthesiology and Special Care Research Group. Dr. Sawicki has received numerous awards throughout her academic career, including the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Resident Recognition Award, the American Dental Association Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award, and the Anne D. Haffajee Fellowship through the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research.