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Dr. Karo Parsegian

Faculty Feature: Meet Karo Parsegian, DMD, MDSc, PhD

CU Dental Associate Professor, Surgical Dentistry, and Program Director, Predoctoral Periodontics

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Written by Laura Ramsey on July 7, 2022

Dr. Parsegian is a practicing periodontist and an award-winning educator. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) at First Tashkent State Medical Institute in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After relocating to the United States in 2006, Dr. Parsegian completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Science, Master of Dental Science (MDSc), and Clinical Certificate in Periodontology trainings at the University of Connecticut Health in Farmington, CT. In 2017, Dr. Parsegian joined the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Dentistry (UTSD) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene and served as a program director of Predoctoral Periodontics in 2020-21. In early 2022, Dr. Parsegian joined the CU School of Dental Medicine as an Associate Professor and the Program Director of Predoctoral Periodontics in the Department of Surgical Dentistry, Division of Periodontics, pursuing a tenure-track, clinical educator position.


As a testament to Dr. Parsegian’s teaching efforts, he has received several prestigious teaching awards. Among them are the American Dental Education Association Junior Faculty Award (2020), the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring (2020), the UTSD Dean’s Excellence in Teaching award (2021), and a finalist of the AAP Teaching Fellowship award (2020). He also completed the Health Educators Fellowship Program at the McGovern Medical School in Houston, TX. 

Dr. Parsegian’s research focuses on the biology of the dental pulp and reparative dentinogenesis, the epidemiology of periodontal diseases, and the association between periodontal and renal disease. His other research interests include educational technology and the development of educational software applications. He has an extensive record of presentations at national and international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and book chapters. Dr. Parsegian is a peer reviewer of the Journal of Dental Education, Journal of Endodontics, Journal of Periodontology, and JDR Clinical & Translational Research. 

Dr. Parsegian is a current active member of the American Academy of Periodontology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. He also serves as an examiner for the Western Regional Examining Board and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments. Languages spoken include English, Russian and Armenian.

Q&A Header

Describe your teaching style or philosophy.

As a dental educator, I aim to serve my students by contributing to their academic and clinical excellence. Therefore, my teaching philosophy is centered on the students and their professional needs, focusing on two fundamental approaches: nurturing a friendly and trustworthy environment in the classroom and clinic and using evidence-based teaching. To foster open communication, I share my experiences, challenges, and mistakes with students. Treating my students as my future peers contributes to a strong bond based on understanding and acceptance, which promotes courageous learning. 

As a practicing periodontist, I also realize the importance of using the latest evidence-based practices daily in my clinic. I teach my students to think logically, understand the causality behind various aspects of dental diseases and treatment, and challenge their assumptions. 

What do you like most about your role and why?

I am sensitive to the needs of students, colleagues, and patients. My leadership position as a director of the Predoctoral Periodontics program allows me to identify, propose and implement changes to improve dental clinic operations, contribute to patient satisfaction, and promote students' academic excellence. 

What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?

I love photography, especially working with technical cameras. I enjoy a methodical and considered approach that requires understanding the technical aspects behind the photography process to capture different objects. 

Topics: Faculty