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Dr. Rivera is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, where he graduated with honors and received many awards for merit and leadership. He also completed his training in the specialty of endodontics and received his Master of Science degree from UNC.

He is currently the Jacob B. Freedland Distinguished associate professor with tenure, and has recently served as graduate program director and chair of the department of endodontics at the UNC School of Dentistry. His teaching responsibilities include the directorship of other staff and teaching involvement of the undergraduate/graduate clinical and didactic endodontic programs. He has organized and instituted a number of innovations and is a departmental resource for information technology. He also served as graduate program director and head of the department of endodontics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, and has served as section editor of endodontics for the Quintessence International Dental Journal. He has also served on the scientific advisory boards of the Journal of Endodontics, Journal of Dental Education, and Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology. Dr. Rivera is the recipient of the 1996 AAE Edward M. Osetek Educator Award.

He has clinical experience from his general practice residency at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, operating a private practice and as a general dentist. His research areas of interest include the biochemical and functional aspects of collagen cross-linking and structure of dentin related to tooth fracture; use of calcium hydroxide as a medicament in root canal therapy; and the use of electronic apex locators. He has even worked as a chemist for Burroughs Welcome and International Business Machines. He has been a mentor for many dental students and residents. His mentees have gained state and national recognition from their research experiences and presentations. He has made numerous local, state, national and international presentations regarding endodontics.

Dr. Rivera is a member of many dental and service associations including the American Dental Association, International Association for Dental Research, American Dental Education Association, AAE, National Dental Association and Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. He has been chair of the AAE Membership Services Committee; past president for the section on endodontics of the American Association of Dental Schools; and treasurer of the International Association for Dental Research Pulp Biology Group. He is a former director and founder of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Endodontics. He was also an AAE representative to the American Dental Education Association Council of Hospitals and Advanced Education Programs. He has served as a member of the AAE Research and Scientific Affairs Committee.

University of North Carolina
School of Dentistry
Department of Endodontics
1098 Old Dental Building
CB #7450
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450
Phone: 919-537-3403
Fax: 919-966-6344
Email: eric_rivera@dentistry.unc.edu