Dr. Erik Harrington, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Board Certified Dentist – Special Management of Pediatric Dental Care
When Dr. Harrington enters the room you immediately feel the connection. His approach to special management of pediatric dental care keeps the focus on the idea that each patient is indeed special and the care the patient receives will come from his understanding of that patient’s specific needs. “Pediatric dentistry must be about much more than whether or not the child has cavities,” he says, “I must consider the patient’s age, disposition, preferences in treatment options and most importantly the goals of the parents and child.” Dr. Harrington fosters a connection with each patient in order to deliver the most compassionate and beneficial treatment attainable. He believes that developing this informed and loving connection removes the fears and challenges a patient may have prior to surgery. This connection provides the path to a successful treatment plan because as Dr. Harrington says, “No two patients or their parents are alike, therefore no two plans of care should be the same.”
Fun Facts to help you connect with Dr. Harrington.
- He speaks Klingon. A Trekkie, he appreciates all things Star Trek and the bond it creates between all different kinds of people.
- He is a big fan of Wikipedia. As a lifelong learner, he believes curiosity is our greatest gift.
Quote:
“People who cannot change their mind, cannot change anything.”
What does The Dental Ranch mean to you:
“I have never worked with a more loving team of specialists – from the front staff, to the assistants to the doctors.”
Dr. Harrington is married to his high school sweetheart, Amy, and together they are raising their three sons William, Rider and Shepard.
Heart of a Servant.
Dr. Harrington is currently the Director of Window to the Body which is a _______
Dr. Harrington is past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Texas Oral Health Coalition (www.txohc.org) or TXOHC. The Texas Oral Health Coalition, Inc. (TxOHC) is a non-profit, nonpartisan state level oral health coalition that exists exclusively to promote and support the overall oral health of all Texans.
Window to the Body Director – Mission is to provide oral health care where needed
RH Charities Founder – Serves to provide healthcare to the less fortunate in South Texas. (Contact: Jodi Huegler)
Texas Mission of Mercy Volunteer, 2002, 2003
Special Olympics Volunteer, 2003
Education
Fellowship in Pediatric Dentistry at Children’s Medical Center in the Dept. of Graduate
Pediatric Dentistry, 2005-2008.
Fellowship in Pediatric Dentistry in Dept. of Graduate Pediatric Dentistry at Scottish Rite
Hospital for Children, 2005-2008
Texas A&M Health Science Center – Baylor College of Dentistry
Graduate Residency in Pediatric Dentistry in the Dept. of Graduate Pediatric Dentistry, 2005-2008
Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences in the Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, 1999-2007
Doctor of Dental Surgery – Western Regional Examination Board – 90, 1999-2004
Bachelor of Arts from the College of Liberal Arts with a double Major in Psychology and History from the University of Texas at Dallas, 1995.
Advanced Training in Dentistry Programs
Stagen Advanced Leadership Program, Certificate of Completion (2017)
The Work in Leadership Program, Certificate of Completion (2014)
Stagen Integral Leadership Program, Certificate of Completion (2013)
Professional Associations/Affiliations
Children’s Health Our Children’s House Member, Medical Executive Committee
Baylor – Our Children’s House Hospital Member, Medical Executive Committee
Texas Oral Health Coalition Chairman – Board of Directors, Current
Member, 2012 to present
American Dental Association Member, 1999 to Present
Texas Dental Association Member, 1999 to Present
Dallas County Dental Society Member, 1999 to Present
Conscious Capitalism Member, 2013 to Present
Am. Assoc. of Dental Research Member – Board of Directors, as President of NSRG
Member, 1999-2004
National Student Research Group, President, 2003 to 2004
Publications, Abstracts and Presentations
Publications
Harrington, E.K., L.E. Lunsford and K.K.H.Svoboda. PTH Modulates Chondrocyte Survival, Differentiation, Type X Collagen Deposition and mRNA Expression in vitro. Anatomical Record. Dec. 2004
Harrington, E.K., Roddy,G., West, R., and K.K.H.Svoboda. PTH/PTHrP Modulates Growth of Avian Sterna Cartilage Via Chondrocytic Proliferation. Anatomical Record. Dec. 2006
Abstracts (selected)
Harrington, E.K. and K.K.H. Svoboda. PTH Downregulates Type X Collagen mRNA Expression in Chondrocytes. J. Dental Research, Vol. 80, 2546, March 2001.
Patel, M., E.K. Harrington, D. Coon, and K.K.H. Svoboda, PTH-Mediated Differentiation is Independent of PKA Downstream Signaling. J. Dental Research, Vol. 83, 2544, 2004.
Coon, D.J., E.K. Harrington, M. Patel, and K.K.H. Svoboda, PKC Inhibitor RO 318220 Effects on PTH-Treated Sterna During Chondrogenesis. J. Dental Research, Vol. 83, 2546, 2004.
Presentations
Harrington, E.K. and K.K.H. Svoboda. Effect of Parathyroid Hormone on the Release of Reactive Oxygen Species in Developing Cartilage. J. Dental Research, Vol. 81, 3083, March 2002. Presented in San Diego (AADR) and as selected participant in Hinman Student Research Symposium.
Harrington, E.K., Matthew F. Kern, Steve Lin, Kathy K. Svoboda. PI3 Kinase and MAP Kinase Signal Downstream of the PTH/PTHrP Receptor in Primary Cartilage Chondrogenesis. J. Dental Research Vol. 82, 0795, 2003. Presented in San Antonio (AADR)
Invited speaker, as President of AADR-National Student Research Group, at inaugural Student Research Day, newly opened University of Las Vegas Dental School. Future of Student Research in America. May 2003 in Las Vegas.