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Dharini van der Hoeven, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs

Introduction

Dr. van der Hoeven joined the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics in 2024 as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. Prior to her current role, she was a faculty member, John M. Powers Endowed Professor, and Director of Pre- and Postdoctoral Student Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry. She earned her Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Dalhousie University in Canada, her Doctorate in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her postdoctoral research fellowship at UTHealth McGovern Medical School.

Dr. van der Hoeven’s research encompasses innovative dental school curriculum design, professional curriculum management, and educational assessment. Additionally, her work includes studying signal transduction in oral cancer and developing anti-cancer therapeutics.

Current Positions

  • Assistant Dean - Dentistry Administration

Education

  • BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • MSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Canada
  • PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin

Licenses & Certifications

  • American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute
  • ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders
  • Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL) Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL)
  • Postdoctoral Certification Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Texas Health Science at Houston McGovern Medical School
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Medical College of Wisconsin

Selected Awards & Honors

  • Board Director, American Dental Education Association
  • Colgate Palmolive/American Dental Education Association Excellence in Teaching Award
  • Mentor of the Year, American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research National Student Research Group
  • Fellow, American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute
  • American Dental Education Association Faculty of Color Tuition Scholarship
  • Dean’s Excellence Award for Scholarship of Teaching, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry
  • Dean’s Excellence Award in Integration, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry
  • Member of Dean’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry
  • Dean’s Excellence Award in Teaching, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry
  • Best research presentation award – American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology symposium, “Translating the Biophysics of Molecular Switches: Signaling Mechanisms and

Selected Publications

  • Perez HL, Fuentes ANL, Benzian H, Chadwick G, Manzanares MC, Marichi F, Quinn B, van der Hoeven D, Niessen LC. Global collaborations to change the paradigm of oral health education and care: 2024 ADEA Annual Session Chair of the Board Symposium, Proceedings. J Dent Educ. 2025 Feb;89(2):207-214.
  • Pagba CV, Gupta AK, Dilsha K, Sadrpour P, Jakubec J, Prakash P, van der Hoeven D, Cho KJ, Gilbertson S, Gorfe AA.(2024). Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization of Structurally Diverse Small Molecule Hits for KRAS Inhibition. Chembiochem. 25(7). PMID: 38349283
  • Usman S, van der Hoeven R, van der Hoeven D. Regulation of EGFR expression and localization by cholesterol-associated genes: insights from C.elegans model. IADR/AADOCR Annual Meeting (2024).
  • Parikh N, Gardner A, Myers AL, Halpin R, Holland JN, van der Hoeven D. (2023) The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on dental school assessments - Current status and future perspectives. J Dent Educ. 87(6):825-842. PMID: 36852938
  • Le T, van der Hoeven R, van der Hoeven D. Characterizing endolysosomal proteins in regulating EGFR localization and function. AADOCR Annual Meeting (2023).
  • Chowdhary S, Ma X, Hancock JF, van der Hoeven D. Sphingomyelin Pathway Modulation for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition. AADOCR Annual Meeting (2023).
  • Brownstein SA, Fenesy KE, McLaren S, van der Hoeven D, Walter R, Yelick PC. (2022) Scenario V: Back to the Future: An optimal scenario for pandemic 2026 based on lessons from COVID-19. J Dent Educ. 86(3):368-371. PMID: 34888874
  • Parikh N, Risinger D, Molony DA, Holland JN, van der Hoeven D. (2022) Evaluating dental students’ perspectives on the synchronous teaching of didactic and case-based courses. J Dent Educ. 86(12):1643-1652. PMID: 35994207
  • Pagba CV, Gupta AK, Naji AK, van der Hoeven D, Churion K, Liang X, Jakubec J, Hook M, Zuo Y, Martinez de Kraatz M, Frost JA, Gorfe AA. (2022) KRAS Inhibitor that Simultaneously Inhibits Nucleotide Exchange Activity and Effector Engagement. ACS Bio Med Chem Au. 2(6):617-626. PMID: 37101428
  • Le T, Ma X, Hancock JF, van der Hoeven D. Characterization of sphingomyelin biosynthetic pathway modulators as EGFR inhibitors. AADOCR Annual Meeting (2022).