Residency, Orofacial Pain (USC)
Residency, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology (Northwell Health/LIJMC)
Residency, Oral Medicine (Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard School of Dental Medicine)

Dr. Laurel Henderson is a clinician, educator, and researcher specializing in oral medicine, oral oncology, orofacial pain, and oral and maxillofacial pathology. She is Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Oral Medicine at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and she directs the Oral Medicine & Oral Oncology service at Boston Medical Center. In these roles, she is building an integrated clinical and educational program that bridges dentistry and medicine to improve the care of patients with medically complex conditions.

Dr. Henderson is triple-specialized, having completed advanced residency training in Orofacial Pain at the University of Southern California, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Northwell Health/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and Oral Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and a Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and she is pursuing board certification in Oral Medicine.

Her academic work focuses on the intersection of systemic disease and oral health, with particular emphasis on oral complications of cancer therapies, chronic orofacial pain disorders, and the safe management of patients with complex medical histories. She has published and presented on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, diagnostic challenges in oral medicine and pathology, and triage systems for clinical decision-making. She is also the lead author of a forthcoming policy-focused manuscript on reimbursement for medically necessary dental care, which addresses barriers faced by patients and providers in hospital and outpatient settings.

A core component of Dr. Henderson’s career is her commitment to trauma-informed care and improving access to dentistry for individuals with mental health needs. Drawing from her background in health communication and her Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, she has developed educational and clinical frameworks that recognize the impact of trauma, mental illness, and social determinants of health on oral healthcare delivery. She integrates these principles into student and resident training to ensure that future dental professionals are equipped to provide care that is safe, respectful, and accessible for all patients.

At Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Dr. Henderson is advancing the integration of biomedical sciences and clinical dentistry in the predoctoral and residency curricula. She develops structured triage tools and teaching resources to help students and residents evaluate, present, and safely treat patients with medical complexity. She has received recognition for her contributions to teaching, research, and mentorship, including awards from the American Academy of Oral Medicine and the Organization of Teachers of Oral Diagnosis.

Beyond her academic and clinical leadership, Dr. Henderson is passionate about mentorship, interprofessional education, and community engagement. She has served in leadership roles with the American Academy of Oral Medicine, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, and American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and she frequently lectures for professional societies, dental schools, and continuing education programs. Her core mission is to expand access to medically informed, trauma-informed, and patient-centered dental care through clinical innovation, scholarship, and training the next generation of dental professionals.