Kaaren Vargas, Assistant Professor

Education:
B.D.S., Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru 1988
D.D.S., Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru 1988
Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, NY 1992
Ph.D., University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1998

Boards:
Diplomate, The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Brief Professional Resume:
Dr. Vargas joined the University of Iowa College of Dentistry faculty in 1998 after completing post-doctoral research at the college. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and in the Dows Institute for Dental Research. Dr. Vargas is graduate program director for the Pediatric Dentistry Graduate Training program.

Teaching Responsibilities:
Dr. Vargas is a lecturer for Junior Seminars in Pediatric Dentistry, Cariology and Preventive Therapies, and Pathophysiology of Skin and Oral Mucosa, and Growth and Development.

Clinical Activities:
Dr. Vargas' clinical activities include supervision of junior dental students in the Dental Science Building and graduate pediatric students at Hospital School in the use of conscious sedation. Dr. Vargas also has a pediatric private practice at Hospital School and in Hospital Dentistry.

Research Activities:
Dr. Vargas' research focuses on the role of phenotypic switching on antifungal drug resistance and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of ß-defensin peptides against Candida albicans, antifungal drug suscepibility in Candida albicans and antifugal properties of cationic petides such as defensins and cathelicidins.

List of Publications

Email: kaaren-g-vargas@uiowa.edu