Center for Oral Diseases

About Us

The Center for Oral Diseases (COD) is a clinical-research collaborative at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) on the campus of the Boston Medical Center (BMC).

The team, led by Drs. Vikki Noonan, Marcus Couey and Kelly Sayre, draws on the experience and expertise of specialists in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology at GSDM. A primary goal of the COD is to eliminate silos of clinical care by creating synchronous multi-disciplinary appointments for patients. This model of care in head and neck cancer and other health care arenas has been shown to improve survival, quality of life, and patient satisfaction.

The multispecialty clinic focuses primarily on mucosal diseases of the oral cavity including oral epithelial dysplasia, oral cancer, and salivary gland disorders, as well as mucosal fragility disorders including lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and pemphigus vulgaris. Dr. Vikki Noonan, an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist, brings with her experience from diagnostic histopathology to bridge the gap from the microscope to the chairside providing consultative and treatment services for a wide variety of oral conditions.

The COD is a critical component of GSDM’s Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI), a multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists and clinicians with a research program focused on the etiology and pathogenesis of oral cancer. Recently established as an Evans Center Affinity Research Collaborative (ARC), the OCRI-ARC applies cutting edge technologies and strategies to identify the underlying mechanisms of oral cancer development and progression and to translate research findings into prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. In this context, the COD facilitates collaborations between scientists and clinicians.

Click here to view the Center for Oral Disease patient packet.

Our Services

The Center for Oral Diseases at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary specialty practice. The Center’s team of practitioners is uniquely positioned to offer patients comprehensive management of head and neck cancer, as well as extensive expertise in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of oral conditions, including:

  • Dysplasia and Oral Cancer
  • Salivary Gland Disorders
  • Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors
  • Lichen Planus/Lichenoid Mucositis
  • Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
  • Pemphigus Vulgaris
  • Infectious Diseases of the Oral Cavity
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome
  • Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Our Team

The practitioners at the Center for Oral Diseases hold joint appointments at Boston Medical Center and are members of the Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI), a multidisciplinary collaborative that aligns basic scientists, clinicians, public health researchers, engineers, chemists, and computational biologists to address diverse issues related to oral cancer.

Marcus Couey, DDS, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. Dr. Couey is a candidate for board-certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery and is one of a select few oral and maxillofacial surgeons with specialized fellowship training in Oncologic and Microvascular Surgery. He is a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Couey has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and his primary clinical interests include treatment of head and neck pathology including malignancies and microvascular reconstruction. His investigative focus is on the interface of surgical technique and immunotherapy delivery.
Vikki Noonan, DMD, DMSc, is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Oral Pathology in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Noonan has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and serves as a reviewer for several professional journals. Her clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of oral mucosal diseases and diseases of the jaws.
Kelly Sayre, DMD, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. Dr. Sayre completed her OMS residency training and obtained her M.D. from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She completed a fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Dr. Sayre’s primary clinical practice includes comprehensive treatment of head and neck malignancies, tumors of the craniofacial region, salivary gland pathology, and microvascular free flap reconstruction of ablative and traumatic defects using 3D computer aided design and simulation.
Maria A. Kukuruzinska, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Associate Dean for Research at GSDM and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the BU School of Medicine. Major topics of research in her laboratory include the mechanisms underlying salivary gland development, the molecular basis of oral cancer, and Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Locations:

Administrative Office:

            Boston University School of Dental Medicine
            Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
            635 Albany Street, Suite 446
            Boston, MA 02118

Clinic: Boston Medical Center
            Shapiro Ambulatory Center
            725 Albany Street, Suite 6A
            Boston, MA 02118

The Center for Oral Diseases is accessible by car and via public transportation. Parking is available in the parking garage located on 710 Albany Street across from Boston Medical Center.

Contact Us

Anita Jhamb, Clinical Coordinator
617-358-6775
ajhamb@bu.edu