Principal

Dr. Mithra N. Hegde has 34 years of teaching experience and has guided 62 postgraduate students and co-guided 128 postgraduate students. She is a recognized PhD guide, with 7 candidates having been awarded their PhDs and 4 ongoing Doctor of Philosophy projects.

Dr. Hegde has completed 5 major external research projects, including those funded by:

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (2010-2013), Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) – 2 projects (2011-2012 & 2014-2018), Vision Group on Science and Technology (Government of Karnataka) (2011-2012), Dabur India Limited (2019-2021)

She is currently leading ongoing projects funded by:- Department of Science & Technology - Dental Technology Innovation Hub (DST-DTIH), Vision Group on Science and Technology, Karnataka Fund for Infrastructure Strengthening in Science & Technology Level 2 (VGST K-FIST L2), AIC Nitte Incubation Centre

Dr. Hegde has guided 10 ICMR-funded STS projects and 2 ICMR Thesis grants.

Thrust Areas of Research:
Her primary research interests are in caries research and the use of saliva as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, which has gained international recognition.

Awards and Recognition:
Dr. Hegde has received numerous prestigious awards, including:-Karnataka Kannada Rajyotsava Award, the highest civilian award in the field of Medicine, Colgate Gold Medal, T.M.A Pai Gold Medal, Career 360 Award (2023), Golden Tooth Award, Dentist Excellence Award (Instituted by Indian Dentist Research and Review Excellence), Women Dentist Achiever of the Year Award (Indian Dental Association and Women Dental Council), Award of Membership, Academy of Medical Sciences (MAMS), Dr. J.G. Kannappan Award (International Association for Dental Research and Indian Society for Dental Research), ISDR Founder President Prof. M. Rahmatulla Award (2023), Fellow, International Pierre Fauchard Academy, USA, Fellowship of International College of Dentistry, Member, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, MFDS RCPS (Glasg), Chikitsak Lifetime Achiever’s Award, Academic Excellence Award and Clinical Excellence Award (Indian Association of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics), Best Researcher Award, Nitte University

Accomplishments:
Dr. Hegde has authored and completed textbooks on Endodontics and 8 handbooks on recent concepts in dentistry. She has published 4 patents and 441 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has presented guest lectures at 95 international and national conferences and organized 8 state, national, and international conferences as Chairman/Secretary. She serves as a reviewer for 25 Web of Science-indexed journals and holds editorial memberships in 16 journals.

Positions Held:
Dr. Hegde has held various leadership roles, including:- President, Aesthetic Dentistry Association of India, President-Elect, Indian Association of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Past President, Indian Dental Association, Dakshina Kannada Branch, Past Vice President, Indian Endodontic Society, Secretary, Association of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics of Karnataka (ACE-K), Syndicate Member, Mangalore University (2009-2011), Member, Project Screening Committee, ICMR, Technical Assessor for Pilot Assessment of Dental Colleges by NABET-QCI

Board of Studies Memberships:
Dr. Hegde is a member of the Board of Studies at:- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka (RGUHS), Nitte University, Yenepoya University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)

Positions Held at Nitte University:
Planning & Monitoring Board, Nitte DU, Research Advisory Committee, Nitte DU, Central Ethics Committee & Adverse Events Committee, Nitte DU, Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Dean, Dental Faculty

Clinician:
Dr. Hegde has been a part-time private practitioner for the last 32 years, with a state-of-the-art clinic in Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Alumnus:
She is a proud Alumnus as the first batch Student of A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (1985).