Tracey Whitley, D.M.D., M.S.
Division Head of Periodontics, Director of Pre-doctoral Periodontics, Clinical Assistant Professor
405/271-8001 Ext. 34173
Tracey-Whitley@ouhsc.edu
Tracey Whitley, D.D.M., MS, moved to Oklahoma in 1999 after spending a few years in several different places around the world. She is proud to call Oklahoma home and graduated from Edmond North High School in 2005. Dr. Whitley knew at the age of 16 she wanted to become a dentist. Dr. Whitley felt passionately that everyone should want to smile and decided she wanted to be in a profession where she could make everyone love their smile. After high school Dr. Whitley went on to attend Henderson State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors while being a collegiate swimmer. She attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA for her dental training, earning her Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 2014. She returned to Oklahoma City, completing her periodontal residency and Master of Science degree in periodontics at the college in 2017. During her time in residency Dr. Whitley was selected to participate in the national Straumann Resident Symposium and conducted research evaluating gene regulation and the genetic component to periodontal disease.
Upon completion of her residency Dr. Whitley went into private practice as a periodontist for 3 years. During which, she also served as a part-time clinical instructor in periodontics for the college. In 2020 Dr. Whitley transitioned to the college full-time, pursing her passion for education and to share her love of periodontics with the dental students. Currently Dr. Whitley is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the college and serves as the new Director of Pre-doctoral Periodontics and the course director for all pre-doctoral and dental hygiene periodontal courses. She said, “My favorite part about teaching (no matter the role) is getting to help instill in our students a passion for caring for their patients as people, not requirements, establishing a foundation for quality care for the rest of their careers. I know when the students leave here, they will in turn teach their patients, staff and other colleagues carrying our teaching beyond the walls of this building.”
While she loves teaching, she also enjoys getting to continue practicing her craft and treating her own patients in the Faculty Practice.
Dr. Whitley is also very active in her community. She has served on the Good Shepard Young Professional Board, Girl Scouts Fundraising “Cookies and Cocktails” Board, the OKC Ballet Young Professional Board, and volunteered her time at PIVOT-A Turning Point for Youth and her church, Crossing Community Church. In her free time, Dr. Whitley enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, being outdoors and cheering on the OKC Thunder and US National Soccer teams.