NSU CDM Impressions Fall/Winter 2019

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 33 FAST FACTS LINA M. MEJIA, D.D.S., M.P.H. Hometown Medellin, Colombia Education D.D.S., Universidad CES de Medellin dental program (1999) Certificate in Oral Medicine, University of California—San Francisco (2009) M.P.H., Nova Southeastern University (2015) Professional Hispanic Dental Association, national member and South Florida chapter president Academy of Laser Dentistry (member) American Dental Association (member) America Dental Education Association (member) Florida Dental Association (member) Society of Integrative Oncology (member) Committees American Academy of Oral Medicine, Board of Trustees and Residents Committee chair Humanism and Diversity Committee Laster Committee Tobacco Cessation Program Hobbies Pilates and yoga Mejia graduated from the Universidad CES de Medellin (Colombia) dental program in 1999, then practiced general and cosmetic dentistry for a few years before coming to the United States in 2001. In 2007, she began an oral medicine resi- dency program at the University of California— San Francisco, and obtained a certificate in oral medicine in 2009. COMBINED SKILLS A year later, Mejia moved to Florida to earn a master’s degree in public health at NSU, combining her skills in disease prevention and a desire for promoting health care. She was named an assistant professor in the NSU CDM Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, then promoted to associate professor in 2018. Mejia sees patients and is on call for oral medicine needs at predoctoral and postdoctoral facilities, as well as in the faculty practice. “I love my department, my boss, and the people I work with. They’ve been very supportive. I love my specialty,” she said. “Oral medicine is a very important specialty in dentistry, and it is not very common. There are only 10 accredited programs in North America.” u Lina Mejia discusses an upcoming community project with members of the CDM’s Hispanic Dental Association.