Alvin G. Wee, DDS, BDS, MS, MPH, PhD

Dr. Wee started his professional career at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where he was eventually promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. His academic career continued at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery) and Creighton University (Department of Prosthodontics). In 2014, he took a break from academia and accepted a position at the Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served as Assistant Dental Service Chief and Dental Laboratory Supervisor. He returned to academics in 2019 as Professor (with tenure) and Director of the Division of Prosthodontics at the University of Minnesota. He started his tenure at the University of Washington in July 2024.

Dr. Wee has received research funding as principal investigator (NIH R15 and NIH K23) and co-investigator (NIH R01 and VA RR&D) from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, as well as several other agencies. Dr. Wee has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and several textbook chapters.

His research foci are:
(1) Major: Clinical translational aspects of color science with regard to teeth/skin and their respective restorative materials
(2) Minor: Early detection of oral and oropharyngeal cancer
(3) Minor: Educational research in the area of restorative dentistry and prosthodontics

• National University of Singapore Dental Society, Silver Jubilee Award, 1991
• Rotary International Foundation Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship (Singapore to USA), 1994 to 1996
• Finalist, Arthur R. Frechette Prosthodontic Research Award for New Investigators,1998 &1999
• Honored Hooder, The Ohio State University Graduating Dental Class, 1999
• Student Government Teaching Award, The Ohio State College of Dentistry, 2000
• Clinical Instructor of the Year, The Alpha Omega Professional Dental Fraternity, 2000
• Third Place, The Ohio State Fisher College/Deloitte Touche Business Plan Competition, 2002
• Inaugural Claude R. Baker Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching Predoctoral Fixed Prosthodontics, American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, 2003
• Ruth L. Kirschetein National Research Service Award (NIH T32 DE14320), 2002 to 2003
• Inducted into Epsilon Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), National Dental Honor Society, 2017
• Dept of Veterans Affairs, National Recipient of the Clinical Excellence in Dentistry Award winner, 2017

Dr. Wee currently holds the following offices: (1) Past president of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, and (2) Honorary Treasurer of the International Academy of Oral and Facial Rehabilitation. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the American College of Prosthodontists as the Director of the Prosthodontic Forum. Dr. Wee is one of three Assistant Editors of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and has reviewed for more than 20 peer-reviewed journals. He is also an external examiner for the National University of Singapore and Hong Kong University. He has been invited to deliver more than 100 presentations both nationally and internationally on various aspects of dentistry.

Dr. Wee continues to be affiliated with the Veterans Affairs Health Care System for his faculty practice, where he treats patients with complex oral rehabilitation needs, including those with head and neck cancer, facial trauma, and obstructive sleep apnea.