Heather L. Taylor, PhD, MPH, LDH
Dr. Taylor is a dedicated health services researcher at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health and an Affiliated Research Scientist at the Regenstrief Institute. With over 19 years of experience as a licensed dental hygienist, Dr. Taylor combines extensive clinical expertise with a passion for advancing overall health and oral health. She holds a PhD in Health Policy and Management and a Master of Public Health degree. Licensed since 2006, she is deeply committed to leveraging her expertise to drive meaningful change in healthcare and inspire others to elevate standards of care within their communities.
Throughout her career, Dr. Taylor has trained dental hygiene and dental assisting students in clinical settings and taught more than 300 graduate and undergraduate students. Her research contributions include publishing over 25 manuscripts and presenting her work at state, national, and international conferences. Currently, she leads a 5-year National Institutes of Health-funded study analyzing oral health data collected within health systems’ electronic medical records.
Dr. Taylor’s professional journey also includes extensive consulting work in wound care. As the Public Member of the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy Certification Committee for several years, she has advocated for the development of Wound Prevention Certification for non-licensed healthcare professionals, empowering them to deliver higher standards of care and enhance their competencies. She has also championed credentialing initiatives for retired and emeritus practitioners and the implementation of practice exams related to certification processes.
Dr. Taylor is honored to serve the International Alliance of Wound Care Scholarship Foundation, where she helps provide financial support for the education and certification of wound care clinicians worldwide. She strongly believes in holistic, interprofessional care and values supporting advanced training for those dedicated to improving the world through the high-quality care they provide to their patients.