2025 Paul Goldhaber Distinguished Lecture

Lecture 

Decoding Wound Healing: A Journey in Science and Mentorship

In this talk, Dr. Luisa DiPietro will share her path to becoming an academic scientist who studies one of the body’s most remarkable abilities: wound healing. She will honor the outstanding mentors who influenced not only her research, but also the way she guides others. In describing her science, she will explain some of the major questions her lab has asked about the wound repair process and present some of the surprising answers. She will highlight studies on why oral wounds heal faster and with less scarring than skin, and how the healing process is built with a remarkable resilience that allows it to function even under stress.

This year’s honoree

This year’s honoree is Dr. Luisa DiPietro, an internationally recognized expert in wound healing and tissue regeneration. She is Professor of Periodontics and Director of the Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). DiPietro earned both her DDS and PhD in immunology from UIC, completed a hospital dentistry residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, and pursued postdoctoral training at Northwestern University under Dr. Peter Polverini.

For more than 25 years, her research has focused on the biological mechanisms of wound repair, including angiogenesis, inflammation, and the unique properties of oral mucosal healing compared to skin. Her current studies explore the genomic regulation of repair and computational modeling of wound healing. She has secured over $19 million in extramural funding, and her work has been cited more than 27,000 times.

A dedicated mentor, DiPietro has directed multiple NIH training programs and served as primary mentor to dozens of pre- and postdoctoral trainees, residents, and clinician-scientists. Her many honors include the Distinguished Service and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Wound Healing Society, the Mentor of the Year Award from the American Association for Dental Research Student Research Group, and the University Scholar and Distinguished Professor Awards from UIC. She is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and serves on the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council at the National Institutes of Health.

About the Goldhaber Award

The Goldhaber Award Lecture and Award Ceremony celebrates a distinguished leader whose work reflects the legacy of Dr. Paul Goldhaber, HSDM’s former dean, periodontist, and researcher. Established in 1989, the award is the School’s highest honor and is presented to an individual of international esteem in the field of oral and systemic health.

Special tea time 

3:00 PM | REB Lobby
Enjoy refreshments and conversation before the lecture.