LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ian A. Boggero has been named a 2026-27 University Research Professor for his work developing psychological interventions for patients with chronic orofacial pain.

Boggero, an assistant professor in the Division of Orofacial Pain at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, was among 17 faculty members honored with the distinction, which includes a $10,000 one-year award. The professor will use the funds to pilot a new two-hour pain management course designed to help orofacial pain patients at the UK Orofacial Pain Clinic.

"Getting this recognition is such a huge honor," Boggero said in a statement. "What makes it even more special is knowing the quality of researchers in the UK College of Dentistry."

The University Research Professorships were established by the UK Board of Trustees in 1976 to recognize outstanding research achievements across all colleges and disciplines. The program fosters a culture of innovation and research success at the state's flagship university.

Boggero's research focuses on the psychological aspects of temporomandibular and orofacial pain conditions. Unlike other chronic pain populations, orofacial pain is often aggravated by social activities like speaking, eating and expressing emotions. The UK Orofacial Pain Clinic, founded in 1977, was one of the first in the nation dedicated to managing facial pain disorders and has expanded into a multidisciplinary center serving patients throughout Kentucky and neighboring states.

Boggero currently leads a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial testing brief psychological telehealth interventions for chronic muscle pain disorders. Preliminary results show promise, with pilot data demonstrating significant pain reduction after just two sessions. His research record includes more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and over 100 national and international presentations, with his work cited more than 2,400 times in the scientific literature.

As director of psychological services and research at the clinic, Boggero has expanded access to care by offering most psychology services via telehealth and providing sessions in Spanish for rural patients. "We regularly see patients from all over Kentucky and neighboring states in the clinic, and I firmly believe that the work we are doing is making a big impact in the state," he said.