Prof. Dr. Brittany Seymour

Dr. Brittany Seymour is an award-winning senior academic and health systems leader who builds purpose-driven institutional systems at the intersection of people, strategy, and mission. She serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, and Director of the Global Health Discipline at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Seymour earned her DDS from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, her Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health and Population, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Harvard Business School Online. She began her career as the founding owner of a private dental practice before transitioning into global health and academic leadership. Her work spans global health, higher education, and organizational leadership, with a focus on strengthening health systems through education, workforce development, prevention, policy, and leadership. At Harvard, she has led the development of institutional systems that support faculty advancement, workforce planning, leadership development, and data-informed decision-making. Her work centers on building resilient organizations that enable individuals and institutions to thrive. Dr. Seymour has held fellowships with the Harvard Global Health Institute, the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, and the Harvard Medical School Academy. Her global initiatives include helping establish Rwanda's first dental school, supporting competency-based dental education reform across Vietnam, and leading oral health education initiatives with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa that have expanded access to prevention and workforce training across its 47 member states. She has held leadership roles with the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health's Global Oral Health Interest Group. She contributed to the FDI World Dental Federation Oral Health Atlas (2nd Edition), and serves as a national consumer spokesperson for the American Dental Association. She is also the lead architect, editor, and author of the Global Health Starter Kit curriculum project spanning 35 countries. Dr. Seymour has received numerous honors for leadership, teaching, mentorship, and public health, including the Award for Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health, the Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship, Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award, Harvard Medical School's Excellence in Mentorship Award, Dental Educator of the Year 2023, and Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Velji Faculty Leader in Global Health Innovation. Today, Dr. Seymour leads faculty affairs and career advancement initiatives for more than 300 faculty members at Harvard, advancing innovative approaches to leadership, organizational effectiveness, and academic workforce development while continuing to contribute to global efforts to strengthen oral health systems.