John S. McDonald, DDS, MS

John S. McDonald, DDS, MS, is an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist with the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute’s Headache and Facial Pain Program. His introduction to chronic pain management came early in 1980 when he was called on to perform oral pathology consults on some of their patients for the Department of Anesthesia’s Pain Control Center. He subsequently began to work with patients there and received a secondary appointment in the Department of Anesthesia for chronic pain management in 1981. 

For over thirty years now he has included the management of chronic head and neck pain as a major emphasis in his practice at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. During many of these years he also taught chronic pain management to residents and fellows in UC’s Department of Anesthesia’s pain control center.  His work in chronic pain management led him to a major interest in his practice: referred or non-otologic causes of otalgia and other aural symptoms.  He has both lectured and authored papers and book chapters on this subject. 

Dr. McDonald did his postgraduate work in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Indiana University and achieved Diplomate Status in 1978.  He also completed a hospital dental residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1980. He joined the faculty at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine in 1980 and since that time has held various faculty positions at the college.  He currently holds appointments there as Volunteer Professor in the Departments of Anesthesia and Pediatrics (Division of Pediatric Dentistry) in addition to his full-time clinical practice. 

Dr. McDonald is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and American Academy of Orofacial Pain. He has published in numerous specialty journals and has authored or co-authored many textbook chapters.  He also was a contributing author to Orofacial Pain: Guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis and Management.  

Dr. McDonald has lectured extensively around the United States and also internationally on topics relating to Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Chronic Head and Neck Pain.