Dr. Thomas Connolly received his dental training at Columbia’s School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York. At graduation, he received numerous scholastic awards in Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and General Dentistry. He then completed a general practice residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. After which, he returned to Columbia for his residency in Periodontics, receiving his Certificate in Periodontics.

At Columbia, Dr. Connolly received training in non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy. He has extensive experience in all aspects of implant dentistry, soft tissue grafting and periodontal microsurgery. Dr. Connolly maintains a full-time private practice in periodontics and implant therapy here in Manhattan with his daughter, Dr. Julie Connolly, while still being involved in academics. From 1980-1988, he was a clinical instructor in periodontics at Columbia receiving a faculty award with induction into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Currently, he is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dentistry at Columbia College of Dental Medicine and a visiting lecturer at NYU, teaching Periodontal Microsurgery to periodontal residents at both institutions. He has also taught ethics to the dental students at Columbia since 1993. He has been involved with their student mentoring program since 1995. At Sony Brook Dental School, he has helped initiate an ethics program.

Dr. Connolly maintains active involvement in both local and national dental organizations. He was President of the New York Academy of Dentistry (2004/2005) and of the New York Academy of Dentistry Endowment Fund (2007/2008). He is the Immediate Past Chair, on the Board of the New York Section, and has been elected Regent of the American College of Dentists where he will serve on the National Board and represent the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. He was instrumental in bringing Donated Dental Services (a national organization devoted to bringing pro bono dental care to the less fortunate) to New York and currently serves on their NY DDS Leadership Council. He had been president of the 1852 Society (which consists of the school’s most generous supporters) at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, is a member of the Board of Visitors at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center serving on the Strategic Planning Committee and is currently the Chair of the Capital Campaign at the Columbia College of Dental Medicine. He is also on the Columbia University Executive Steering Committee.

In 1997, Dr. Connolly completed his training in Periodontal Microsurgery. He taught at the Periodontal Microsurgery Institute from 1997-2002 and has given lectures/courses on the subject at: American Academy of Periodontology Regional Workshops, the New York County Dental Society, the Greater New York Dental Meeting (1998, 2002, 2006), the Yankee Dental Meeting (1999,2010), the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery Dental Hygiene Day (2004), University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine(2004), the American College of Dentists-New York Section (2002, 2003) and the New York Academy of Dentistry (2007).

Dr. Connolly received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Periodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in May 2008.

Outside of his busy professional life, Dr. Connolly is on the board of his coop. He is married to his wife Arlene and they have three daughters: Julie, Lauren, and Alyssa. He enjoys playing tennis, platform tennis and running.