Hugh J Silk

Hugh J Silk, MD, is a Professor at UMass Chan Medical School in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. He holds secondary appointments at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine and practices clinically at Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, MA. His academic roles include curriculum development, student mentorship, and leadership in national oral health initiatives.

Education: Dr. Silk earned a BA in Government from Harvard University (1987-1991), an MD from McMaster University (1994-1998), completed residency at UMass Medical School (1998-2001), and an MPH from Harvard School of Public Health (2006-2010).

Research Focus: His work centers on integrating oral health into primary care, medical education, and public health systems. Key themes include:

• Curriculum design for oral health in medical, nursing, and PA programs
• Community-based interventions for underserved populations
• Interprofessional collaboration models
• Policy advocacy for health equity

Publications: Dr. Silk has authored 70+ publications (2004-2025), predominantly on oral health integration in primary care. Recent works emphasize curriculum evaluation, health equity initiatives, and maternal/child oral health. His research consistently bridges clinical practice, education, and public health policy.

Leadership: He serves on national committees including the American Dental Association's Council on Access, Prevention, and Interprofessional Relations and the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health. At the state level, he leads the Massachusetts Oral Health Advocacy Task Force Steering Committee and the Worcester District Medical Society Public Health Committee.

Teaching & Advising: He developed the Oral Health Spiral Curriculum at UMass and mentors medical students through the Senior Scholar Research Program. His educational innovations include interclerkships in Oral Health, Health Policy, and Disabilities.