Margaret Hamilton earned her BA in psychology from Allegheny College and master of health promotion and education from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. While in graduate school, she participated in the Comprehensive Evaluative Fellows Program at the American Cancer Society. Ms. Hamilton is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She joined the faculty in 2001.
She currently serves as the coordinator of the Pitt Dental Medicine Standardized Patient Program, an educational program designed to teach patient communication skills. Predoctoral students participate in this program throughout their first three years of education, allowing them to practice specific communication skills at designated points in the curriculum. In this role, she works with faculty and residents throughout the school, predoctoral students, and students in the Advance Standing and ACT ARCO programs. She also supports the cultural relevance and ethics discussion groups in the Person-Centered Care curriculum.
Ms. Hamilton serves as an ad hoc member of the school's Admissions Committee.