Maria Geisinger

Maria Geisinger is a Professor and Chair of Periodontology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry. She holds concurrent appointments as Senior Scientist in UAB's Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Global Center for Craniofacial/Oral Disorders, Comprehensive Diabetes Center, and Comprehensive Arthritis/Musculoskeletal Center. She earned her DDS from Columbia University and completed her Periodontology training at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

Her research focuses on periodontal-systemic health connections, particularly diabetes management, pregnancy-related gingivitis, and oral care protocols for dementia patients. She employs randomized clinical trials to evaluate interventions like non-surgical periodontal therapy and behavioral strategies for care-resistant populations.

Geisinger teaches graduate periodontology courses including Clinical Periodontics and Periodontal Literature Review, and mentors thesis students. Her grants include NIH-funded projects on diabetes-periodontitis links and industry-sponsored trials on regenerative therapies. She leads the department's clinical and research initiatives with emphasis on translational outcomes.