Sheila M. Riggs serves as chair of the Department of Primary Dental Care at the
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as well as the community engagement director for the University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
In these roles, she pursues a wide range of research interests as well as providing leadership to the pioneering Dental Therapy Program within her department. The
Dental Therapist A dental therapist is a member of the dental team who provides preventive and restorative Dentistry, dental care for children and adults. The precise role varies and is dependent on the therapist's education and the various dental regulations and gu ...
program in Minnesota is among the first to be developed and accredited in the US and is designed to increase access to dental care for underserved populations.
While pursuing her doctorate in medical sciences from Harvard in the late 1980s, she worked to expand access by influencing insurance carriers and legislative leaders and shifted away from a clinical career providing care one patient at a time. She began her career serving both as an Assistant Professor in Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Department of Oral Epidemiology and Health Policy, and as President of the Iowa Health Research Institute. She joined the executive ranks of
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is a mutual insurance in the United States with more than two million members in Iowa and South Dakota. It is the dominant health insurance in Iowa. It is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Associ ...
of Iowa and South Dakota to launch and lead their analytics division, later adding the role of Executive Director of The Wellmark Foundation
to her responsibilities.
In 1999, Riggs was recruited to the board of directors of
Delta Dental
The Delta Dental Plans Association is a network of dental insurance companies composed of 39 independent Delta Dental members operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These member companies provide coverage to 85 mill ...
of Minnesota to launch an analytics strategy. That work was recognized by the board as successful and led to her appointment as CEO of Delta Dental in 2005
where she served until the firm's operations were acquired in 2008.
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Riggs is vice chair of the board of directors of
Hennepin Healthcare System dba HCMC,
where she chairs the Physicians Compensation and Benefits Committee. She also serves on the board of Benco Dental, Inc., chairing the Growth and Diversification Committee as well as The Wellmark Foundation.
Publications
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riggs, Sheila M.
Living people
University of Minnesota faculty
Harvard Medical School alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
American dentistry academics
University of Iowa alumni
Creighton University alumni