Background
Dr. Beatrice Gandara is a 1978 graduate of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, California. She was a general practice resident at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in La Jolla, California from 1978-79, and a staff dentist at the Edward Royal Comprehensive Health Center in Los Angeles for two years following her residency. In 1981-82, Dr. Gandara was a part-time instructor at the USC dental school and associated in a private practice in Anaheim, California. In 1982, she moved to Seattle, Washington to enter the Oral Medicine specialty program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, earning her MSD degree in the field of Oral Medicine in 1985. During her studies, she also completed a National Institute of Aging Fellowship in Geriatric Dentistry and a NRSA Fellowship in Salivary Gland Research. She also participated in the Dental Education and Care of the Disabled (DECOD) program in 1985.
In 1987, Dr. Gandara joined the faculty of the University of Washington Department of Oral Medicine. In 1990 she became a Diplomate in the American Board of Oral Medicine, and in 1992-93, participated in a research fellowship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She is currently appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Oral Medicine.
Dr. Gandara’s research interests are saliva as a diagnostic fluid, as well as therapy for salivary disorders. She also dedicates time teaching undergraduate dental students and is Director of the Emergency Clinic at the School of Dentistry. Her patient care responsibilities include oral medicine, urgent care and geriatric dentistry.