Stephen K. Shuman, DDS, MS

Dr. Shuman is Professor and Director of the Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program in the Department of Developmental & Surgical Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He also serves as Dental Director for the Walker Methodist Dental Clinic in Minneapolis where he teaches geriatrics, conducts research and maintains his clinical practice. Dr. Shuman received his dental degree from Temple University and completed his Geriatric Dental Fellowship and MS-Dentistry degree at the University of Minnesota. He is a past president of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry and currently serves as Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup for the Gerontological Society of America as well as Chair of the Minnesota Dental Association’s Barriers to Care Committee. His teaching and clinical programs have been recognized with the American Dental Association’s Geriatric Oral Health Award and the 2016 Innovation Award from LeadingAge, the national association of over 6000 non-profit organizations representing the entire field of aging services. He was the School of Dentistry’s 2016 Century Club Professor of the Year and in 2018 was inducted as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of professionals in the field of aging.

2018 - Fellow, Gerontological Society of America

2017 - Century Club Professor of the Year, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

2016 - National Innovation Award LeadingAge National For “Walker Methodist Dental Clinic”

2010 - Paper of the Year (Clinical Research), Univ. of Minnesota School of Dentistry, for: Chen X, Shuman SK, Hodges JS, et al. Patterns of tooth loss in older adults with and without dementia: a retrospective study based on a Minnesota cohort. J Am Geriatr Soc, 58(12):2300-7.

2007 - Innovation of the Year Award Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance for “Walker Dental Clinic”

1995 - Geriatric Oral Health Care Award - American Dental Association, for "The Wilder Senior Dental Program-Linking Community Service for Education"

1994 - Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society, Faculty Member

1987 - Achievement Award, National Association of Counties, Washington, D.C., "Dental Care to Underserved Groups in Peoria County, IL"

My early scholarly work and publications focused on the impact of the growing number of older adult consumers of dental care on dental practice economics and practice productivity. The economic analyses and perspectives employed in these studies continue to inform my work in care delivery models for older adults given the growing importance of cost-efficiency in health care. An additional area of research, scholarship and program development has been devoted to oral health in the long-term care environment, specifically including care delivery systems and ethical and legal issues. More recent research conducted at our community dental clinics has focused on clinical issues and treatment outcomes for geriatric conditions that complicate treatment planning and care delivery, such as dementia and end of life trajectories. Two recently funded projects by NIH and CDC in collaboration with ASTER Labs, Shoreview, MN are focused on the development of new technology to support disabled older adults and their caregivers in maintaining oral health and function.

Invited Papers, Book Chapters and Other Media

1.Shuman, S.K., Owen, M.K. “Ethical Issues in Oral Health Care for Older Adults.” Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 40(3):70-78, 2016.

2.“Promoting Oral Health for Older Adults” Web-based Geriatric Education Module, Minnesota Area Geriatric Education Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (2015)

3.“Oral Health Toolkit for Long-term Care Settings” (Contributor), American Medical Directors Association, Columbia, MD (2014)

4.“Growing Old with a Smile: Oral Care for Older Adults in Long-term Care” (DVD and Workbook), Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, 2010 (http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fpc/videoindex.cfm)

5.Shuman, S.K, Pronych, G.J., Ofstehage, J.C. “Dental Services.” In: Markenson, A. (Ed.),

Long Term Care Facility Survey and Certification Guide. Chap. 14, Durham: Eli Research, 2000.

6.McCusker, M.L., Shuman, S.K., Irvine, P.W. “Medical Issues in the Dental Care of Older Adults.” In: P. Holm-Pedersen and H. Loe (Eds.), Geriatric Dentistry. 2nd Ed., Chap. 13, Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1996.

Refereed Publications

1.Chen X, Chen H, Douglas CE, Preisser JS, Shuman SK. Dental Treatment Intensity in Frail Older Adults in the Last Year of Life. J Am Dent Assoc, 144(11):1234-42, 2013.

2.Chen X, Clark JJ, Preisser, JS, Naorungroj S, Shuman SK. Dental Caries in Older Adults in the Last Year of Life. J Am Geriatr Soc, 61(8):1345-50, 2013.

3.Chen X, Shuman SK, Hodges JS, Gatewood LC, Xu J. Patterns of tooth loss in older adults with and without dementia: a retrospective study based on a Minnesota cohort. J Am Geriatr Soc, 58(12):2300-7, 2010.

4.Chen X, Hodges JS, Shuman SK, Gatewood LC, Xu J. Predicting tooth loss for older adults with special needs. Comm Dent and Oral Epidemiology, Mar 26, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].

5.Hsu KT, Shuman SK, Hamamoto DT, Feldt KJ, Hodges JS. Application of facial expressions to assess orofacial pain cognitively impaired older adults. J Am Dent Assoc 138:963-9, 2007.

6.Shuman, S.K. Doing the Right Thing: Ethical Challenges in Geriatric Dental Care. Journal of the California Dental Association 27(9):693-702, 1999.

7.Thai, P.H., Shuman, S.K., Davidson, G.B. Nurses' Dental Assessments and Subsequent Care in Minnesota Nursing Homes. Special Care in Dentistry, 17(1):13-18, 1997.

8.Shuman, S.K., Bebeau, M.J. Ethical Issues in Nursing Home Care: Practice Guidelines for Difficult Situations. Special Care in Dentistry, 16(4):170-176, 1996.

9.Shuman, S.K., Davidson. Patient Age, Service Mix, and Dental Practice Productivity. Gerodontology 11(1):50-56, 1994.

10.Shuman, S.K., Loupe, M.J., Davidson, G.B., Martens, L.V. Productivity in Minnesota Dental Practices with Increased Visits by Older Patients. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 54(1):31-38, 1994.

11.Shuman, S.K., McCusker, M.L., Owen, M.K. Enhancing Infection Control for Elderly and Medically Compromised Patients. J Am Dent Assoc 124(9):76-84, 1993.

12.Shuman, S.K., Loupe, M.J., Davidson, G.B., Martens, L.V. Are Dental Practices Less Productive with Older Patients? Comparison of Alternative Output Measures. Special Care in Dentistry 12(6):238-244, 1992.

13.Shuman, S.K. A Physician's Guide to Coordinating Oral Health and Primary Care. Geriatrics 45(8):47-57, 1990.

12.Shuman, S.K. Ethics and Rationing Health Care. J Am Dent Assoc, 121(5):639, 1990.

13.Shuman, S.K. Ethics and the Patient with Dementia. J Am Dent Assoc 119(6):747-748, 1989.

Non-refereed Publications

1.Tschida BC, Shuman, SK, Simonson PJ. Safe patient handling questions and answers. Northwest Dent 90(6):33-4, 2011.

2.Shuman, SK, Simonson PJ, Tschida BC, Owen MK, Ofstehage JC, Glasrud PH. Myths and facts about Minnesota's new safe patient handling statute and your dental practice. Northwest Dent 90(4):12-16, 2011.

3.Shuman, S.K. Goals and Strategies for Improving Dental Care in the Nursing Home: Part Two. Northwest Dent 78(1):23-26, 1999.

4.Shuman, S.K. Goals and Strategies for Improving Dental Care in the Nursing Home: Part One. Northwest Dent 77(6):21-26, 1998.

5.Johnson, T.E., Shuman, S.K., Ofstehage, J.C. Fitting the Pieces Together: Treatment Planning the Geriatric Dental Patient. Dental Clinics of North America 41(4)945-59, 1997.

6.Shuman, S.K. New Dentists and Older Patients: Preparing for Dental Practice in an Aging Society. Dentistry 96, Journal of the American Student Dental Association, 16(3):7-9, 20-1, 1996.

7.Shuman, S.K., Bebeau, M.J. Ethical and Legal Issues in Special Patient Care. Dental Clinics of North America 38(3):553-575, 1994. Reprinted in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, November, 1995.

8.Shuman, S.K. Dental Practice Productivity and the Aging Patient. Northwest Dentistry 70(3):27-29, 1991.

Published Research/Educational Abstracts

1.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Oral Health and Dementia: Current Evidence and Recommendations. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Washington, DC, July 21, 2015.

1.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. A Best Practice Model for Oral Health and Education in Long-term Care: The Walker Dental Clinic. American Society on Aging, San Diego, CA, March 12, 2014.

2.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Development of a New Caregiver Educational DVD on Oral Health: “Growing Old with a Smile: Oral Care for Older Adults in Long-Term Care.” Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Cincinnati, March 19, 2011.

3.Chen, X., Hodges J.S., Shuman S.K., Gatewood, L.C. An Evidence-based Dental Clinical Decision-support System for Older Adults with Special Needs. Journal of Dental Research 88(Special Issue) #629, 2009.

4.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Intensive Interdisciplinary Training in Geriatrics: The Miniresidency in Nursing Home and Long-term Care for the Dental Team. Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, San Antonio, February 27, 2009.

5.Xu A.C., Madhok N.M., Shuman S.K., Born D.O. Dental Care Access in Urban and Rural Minnesota Nursing Homes. Midwest Dental Student Research Conference, Minneapolis, April 19, 2008.

5.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Interdisciplinary Clinical Training Strategies in Long-term Care. Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Baltimore, February 22, 2008

6.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Rethinking Clinical Training Opportunities in Geriatric Care. American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint National Conference, Chicago, March 7, 2007.

7.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Assessing the Outcomes of Community-based Clinical Geriatric Training Programs. Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Indianapolis, February 11, 2006.

8.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Partnering Community Service and Education: The Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program. American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint National Conference, San Francisco, April 16, 2004.

9.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Developing Effective Dental Programs in Long-Term Care. American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint National Conference, Chicago, March 14, 2003 and April 15, 2004.

10.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Linking Oral Health and Long-term Care: Strategies for Success. American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint National Conference, Denver, April 5, 2002.

11.Shuman S.K., Simonson M.J. Outcomes of an Intensive Continuing Education Course in Nursing Home Care. American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging Joint National Conference, Denver, April 6, 2002.

12.Shuman, S.K., Simonson, M.J. Outcomes of a Continuing Education Program in Nursing Home Dentistry. Journal of Dental Research 79(Special Issue):3302, 2000.

13.Thai, P.H., Shuman, S.K., Davidson, G.B. Nurses' Dental Assessments and Subsequent Care in Minnesota Nursing Homes. Journal of Dental Research 75(Special Issue):153, 1996.

14.Shuman, S.K, Davidson, G.B., Smith, B.J., Helgeson, M.J. Factors Associated with Demand for Dental Services in Nursing Homes. Journal of Dental Research 74(Special Issue):46, 1995.

15.Ehrman, R.J., Shuman, S.K., Owen, M.K. Diabetes, Tobacco Use, and Oral MRSA. University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Program Presentations, February 21, 1995.

16.Owen, M.K., Shuman, S.K., Thurn, J.R. Oral Carriage of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus in Institutionalized Adults. Journal of Dental Research 73(Special Issue):336, 1994.

17.Shuman, S.K. The Relationship Between Postmenopausal Estrogen Depletion and Tooth Loss. Journal of Dental Research 73(Special Issue):237, 1994.

18.Shuman, S.K., Davidson, G.B., Martens, L.V. Patient Age and Dental Practice Productivity: Effect of Service Mix. Presented at the American Association for Dental Research Meeting, March 14, 1992, Boston. Journal of Dental Research 71 (Special Issue):288, 1992.

19.Shuman, S.K. and Loupe, M.J. A Revised "Facts on Aging" Test for Dentistry. Presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA, November 18, 1990. Gerontologist 30(Special Issue):162A, 1990.

20.Shuman, S.K., Loupe, M.J., Davidson, G.B. and Martens, L.V. Relationship Between Patient Age and Practice Productivity. Presented at 68th Annual Session, International Association for Dental Research, March 10, 1990, Cincinnati, Ohio. Journal of Dental Research 69(Special Issue):281, 1990.

Shuman, S.K., Loupe, M.J., Davidson, G.B. and Martens, L.V. The Effect of Patient Age on Practice Productivity in Minnesota Private Dental Offices." Presented at 42nd Annual Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN, November 18, 1989. Gerontologist 29(Special Issue):106A, 1989.