Elisa M. Chávez, DDS is a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. She graduated from The University of California San Francisco, School of Dentistry and earned her certificate in Geriatric Dentistry from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Chávez has practiced in private, community health, long-term care and hospital settings including Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe in her hometown of El Paso Texas, The Veteran?s Administration in Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Jewish Home for the Aged in San Francisco and On Lok PACE in the Bay Area where she currently directs student rotations. She also developed and directed a clinical teaching program for the Dugoni school, in a 780-bed long term care and rehabilitation hospital in San Francisco for which Pacific was recognized with the ADEA/IFDEA Orna Shanley Prize for Enhancing Access to Care. She has been a recipient of the Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni Faculty Award from The California Dental Association Foundation and The American College of Dentists, Outstanding Faculty Member Award at The Dugoni School of Dentistry.

Dr. Chávez has participated in numerous professional development programs and fellowships to enhance her understanding of the needs and barriers to oral health care for those who are vulnerable to poor oral health and limited access to healthcare including: The Geriatric Faculty Scholars Program at UCSF, Health Literacy and Ethnogeriatrics at Stanford University and Addressing the Oral Health Needs of the Underserved at The University of California, San Diego. In addition, she has participated in The California Healthcare Foundation leadership program and The ADEA Leadership Institute. She has served on the California Dental Association Medicare Task Force and as a member of  The Santa Fe Group, she has been an advocate for the oral health needs of older adults nationwide. She is currently the Director of the Pacific Center for Equity in Oral Health Care at The University of the Pacific, Dugoni School of Dentistry.