Mariela Padilla, DDS, M.Ed
Associate Dean of Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment
Dr. Mariela Padilla obtained her DDS in 1989 at Universidad de Costa Rica, and in 1998 completed a Residency Program in Orofacial Pain at UCLA. In 2005, she obtained her master’s degree in Education and Curriculum Design in Latin University, and is a Fellow from the Center for Excellence in Teaching of USC. Dr. Padilla started her clinical practice as a general dentist in 1990, and then dedicated herself solely to Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Disorders. She has combined her clinical practice with academics since 1990, as clinical provider, faculty, pedagogical adviser, and educational administrator. Dr. Padilla is dedicated to creating online academic programs and resources and contributes with learning innovation and teaching development.
Dr. Padilla is currently Associate Dean of Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment, Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry, and Program Director Orofacial Pain, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.
Current & Upcoming Courses
| OFPM 709 | 1 unit | Headache for Dental Residents Lectures and seminars on the diagnosis, prevention and management of (including pathophysiologic mechanisms) of episodic and chronic headache disorders. |
| Pain 723 | 2 units | Elective 2 Orofacial Pain and Headache The purpose of this course is to educate the student about the prevalence, differential diagnosis, prevention and management for neurogenic orofacial pain and headache disorders. |
| Pain 712a,b,c,d | 0.5 units | Pain Medicine Capstone The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship (practicum) incorporating a service learning approach. |
| COH 716 | 2 units | Healthcare Communication Technology Reviews systems and applications of the emerging technology of Telehealth for patient and professional health-related education and applications for patient access to care. |
| COH 593b | 2 units | Capstone Project Preparation and presentation of research capstone experience of the program, final report needs to be of a quality that it could be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. |
Current Articles