About

Doctor of Dental Medicine, Juris Doctorate, and Baccalaureate in Pharmacy. Over twenty-five years’ experience developing, overseeing, owning and operating a large successful dental practice. Special interests in dental-legal issues, risk management, dental malpractice and expert review of dental records and the prescription opioid crisis. Diverse experience in clinical dental medicine, dental therapeutics, treatment planning, dental standards of care, physiology, pathology and pharmacology. In depth understanding of various federal and state health regulatory agencies. Academic faculty background with experience lecturing, publishing and direct student-patient clinical supervision. Former consultant for American Dental Association Council on Dental Practice. Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry approved presenter of state mandated pain management course.

University

1975 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy - B.S. Pharmacy

Graduate School

1995 New England School of Law - J.D.

1980 Tufts University School of Dental Medicine - D.M.D.

Academic Appointments: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

2020-present - Adjunct Professor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

2019-2020 - Professor, Department of Comprehensive Care

2018-2019 - Associate Professor, Department of Comprehensive Care

2013-2018 - Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Comprehensive Care

2008-2013 - Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of General Dentistry and Department of Diagnosis and Health Promotion

1993-1996 - Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry

1985-1993 - Clinical Instructor, Department of Restorative Dentistry

Responsibilities include: Providing instruction in oral diagnosis in the clinical setting. Supervising oral examinations in the clinical setting, review of x-ray findings, informed consent, development of treatment plans, assignment and transfer of patients, supervise clinical case presentations, serve on various university committees, manage difficult patient and student situations, communicate with deans and administrative supervisors, counsel students on matters academic, personal and professional and model professional behavior to students and staff, monitor and track student progress, facilitate emergency care for patients, computer training, screening for licensing exams, write recommendation letters, attend university functions, conflict resolutions, perform record audits and outcome assessments.

Non-Academic Employment

1980-2007 - General Dentistry Practice, Malden, MA., Medford, MA.

Responsibilities include: Directing a team of dental professionals in developing a large community practice with emphasis on the delivery of rapid emergency and comprehensive dental care. Overseeing and implementing protocol for hiring and supervision of personnel, procurement of equipment and supplies. Implementing various federal and state health regulations, including Center for Disease Control, OSHA and HIPAA directives. Supervising, directing and participating in or contributing to numerous public health programs such as public school dental health programs, international dental health, Masonic Child ID Program (CHIPS), Polio Plus and Massachusetts Dental for All. Additional experience includes leadership in the development and delivery of a dental health clinic, educational lectures, seminars and publications on health care legal issues.

1995-present - Attorney/Dental Expert Witness/Consultant

2017-2019 - MassHealth Dentaquest, Charlestown, MA.

1975-1980 - Registered Pharmacist, Osco Pharmacy, Lynn, MA., Somerville Pharmacy, Somerville, MA., Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Medford, MA.

Licensed Dentist

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - #14456 1980-Present

Attorney

• Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

• Supreme Judicial Court Board of Bar Overseers # 629877 1996-Present (Retired Status)

Registered Pharmacist

Commonwealth of Massachusetts #16265 - 1975-1984

Statement of Teaching Philosophy

My early career in dentistry focused on clinical practice, team building, community service and continually learning new techniques. I soon became aware of the escalating number of regulations requiring dentists to improve their level of documentation and enroll in dental-legal continuing education programs. Over the years I have seen a dramatic increase of regulations in the areas of record keeping, infection control, privacy, confidentiality and security. Lately, prescription writing and the entire field of pain management has undergone a paradigm shift as a result of the prescription opioid epidemic.

While practicing dentistry I enrolled in law school and obtained my J.D. degree and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. My intent was to develop new and better ways to help navigate the ever-increasing regulatory burdens and administrative demands. Having obtained these skills, I transitioned from a private practice dentist to the clinical faculty at Tufts. Since then I have attempted to incorporate basic legal concepts into my teaching duties as it has become my philosophy to help students develop skills that will protect them from what I believe are some of the legal challenges facing our profession.

I have integrated, as part of my educator role, a philosophy of legal and risk management solutions to what I believe are significant challenges facing our profession. I have been successful in achieving this goal while interacting with students during patient examinations and treatment planning discussions. My objective has been to facilitate the development of critical and analytical thinking techniques among my students so that diagnostic and treatment planning decisions are based not only on evidenced based clinical problem-solving skills, but sound risk management principles. It has been my experience that when students are challenged to think critically and beyond their comfort zone, in a safe interactive environment, they soon learn the skills necessary to take responsibility for the development of lifelong diagnostic, treatment planning and clinical decisions. The formulation of good analytical skills allows our students, after graduation, the ability to decide for themselves which treatment options are appropriate, and which are not.

My background in pharmacy, law and dentistry allows me to provide unique insight to our students, faculty and administration and serves to create a more diverse course of training for our students. Part of my role is to be sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences among our students and patients. My in-depth knowledge over multiple disciplines allows me to better understand issues facing our dental profession and more importantly communicate that knowledge to our students, faculty and administration.

Harold, RS. 2023. The Comprehensive Case Note: Your Number-One Defense Witness

Dental Economics. February, 2023, 113 (2): 45.

Keith DA, Kulich RJ, Vasciannie, AA, Harold, RS, 2020. Opioid Prescribing in Dental Practice: Managing Liability Risks. Dental Clinics of North America. July, 2020, 64 (3): 597.

Harold RS. 2018. Dentistry and the Prescription Drug Epidemic-How Did We Get There? J Mass Dent Soc. 66(4) Winter: 14.

Harold RS. 2015 Pharmacologic Management of Dental Pain: A Review of Prescribing Options. J Mass Dent Soc. 64(3) Fall: 24.

Harold RS. 2012. Prescription Writing for Dentists: Ethical and Legal Guidelines. J Mass Dent Soc. 60(4) Winter: 28.