For Alumnae
Alumnae Awards
2021: Dr. Martha Ann Keels ’75, Pediatric Dentist
After graduating from Chatham Hall, Dr. Martha Ann Keels ’75 completed her undergraduate education at Duke University majoring in chemistry. She received her dental degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) and was the recipient of the NIH Dentist-Scientist Award, which funded specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry and PhD training in Epidemiology at UNC. Subsequently, Dr. Keels established the Pediatric Dental program at Duke University and served as the Division Chief of Pediatric Dentistry at Duke Children’s Hospital for 25 years.
She is board certified in pediatric dentistry and has served on the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Examination Committee. She is founder and owner of Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry in Durham.
Dr. Keels holds fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. As a dental student, she was elected to membership in OKU Honor Dental Fraternity. She has served as president of the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; on the editorial board of Pediatric Dentistry; and on the Council for Clinical Affairs and the Council of Scientific Affairs for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Keels was chair of the Section on Oral Health within the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is presently on the ADA Council of Scientific Affairs and the Science Committee of International Association of Pediatric Dentistry. Recently, she received the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Keels holds fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. As a dental student, she was elected to membership in OKU Honor Dental Fraternity. She has served as president of the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; on the editorial board of Pediatric Dentistry; and on the Council for Clinical Affairs and the Council of Scientific Affairs for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Keels was chair of the Section on Oral Health within the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is presently on the ADA Council of Scientific Affairs and the Science Committee of International Association of Pediatric Dentistry. Recently, she received the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Keels has received NIH funding for an epidemiological study of fluoridation and is currently funded by the NIH assessing dental caries risk factors in children and undiagnosed genetic diseases. She continues to study dental acid erosion and dental care for children with special health care needs.
She is married to Dr. Dennis Clements, an infectious disease pediatrician and interim director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University. She has three stepdaughters, all living in San Francisco, and seven grandchildren. Her sister, Cameron Austin, graduated from Chatham Hall in 1978.
800 Chatham Hall Circle • Chatham, VA 24531
+1 434.432.2941 • admissions@chathamhall.org
Day and boarding school for girls grades 9-12 in the Episcopal tradition.
+1 434.432.2941 • admissions@chathamhall.org
Day and boarding school for girls grades 9-12 in the Episcopal tradition.
