Melanie Morris, LCSW
Assistant Professor & Social Worker
Tufts University
Melanie Morris, LCSW, is an applied social work researcher and oral health advocate. She received a Master of Science in Social Work specializing in Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming focused on health, mental health, and disabilities from Columbia University School of Social Work. Her research focuses on social work integration in oral health settings to improve oral health practice, policy, and patient outcomes. She has experience integrating social work clinical practice in dental academic settings and conducting research with interprofessional teams.

Presenting at the Nexus Summit:

Description: There has been a growing awareness that social determinants of health (SDOH), such as socioeconomic status, housing, and transportation, play a critical role in people’s health. While SDOH has been recognized as an important part of health, dental students often struggle to address social complexities that impact care. One approach to addressing these factors in clinical practice is through interprofessional education (IPE). IPE has been increasingly incorporated into dental education, as more than 61% of dental schools require IPE experiences. IPE is a mechanism by which dental…