Dr. Poonam Jain has over 28 years of experience in dental education and clinical dental practice. After receiving her M.S. and a certificate in Operative Dentistry from the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, she started as an Assistant Professor in Operative Dentistry at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 1997. In that role, she taught operative dentistry and dental materials in the preclinic as well as on the clinic floor. Dr. Jain received prestigious teaching awards from students in 1999 and 2003 and in 2004, she was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. In 2006, she took over as the Director of Community Dentistry. In that role, she developed and taught courses in Cariology, Dentistry for the elderly and patient with special needs and designed and implemented multiple diverse community-focused programs, including Give Kids a Smile, National Children’s Dental Health Month, dentistry for older adults and patients with special needs. Dr. Jain earned her M.P.H. degree from the School of Public Health and Social Work at Saint Louis University in 2011 and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2012. She joined A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health in 2016 and served as Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs and Advanced Dental Education till 2025.

Throughout her career in dental education, Dr. Jain has been active in teaching, designing and evaluating dental curricula as well as research and has published several articles, a book-chapter, numerous abstracts, and presented at numerous local, regional, state, national and international meetings. She has been awarded numerous research and service grants. Her research interests include dental materials, prevention of oral disease, soft and energy drinks, and nutrition. She has a special interest in translational research and evidence-based dentistry, which she utilizes in her practice as well as CE courses.

Dr. Jain has maintained a private practice of General Dentistry since 1998. In 2007, she founded Staunton Family Dentistry and focuses on general and esthetic dentistry with a special emphasis on prevention and whole-person care. Dr. Jain serves as a consultant for the dental industry as well as other healthcare organizations.