Dr. Richard Nelson graduated from West Virginia University with a BA in pre-dentistry in 1967 and earned his DDS at WVU School of Dentistry in 1971. He served two years as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, then joined a group practice in Grove City, Pa., where he practiced for 2-1/2 years.
In 1976, Dr. Nelson opened a solo private practice in Pittsburgh in the North Hills, where he practiced general dentistry for 45 years. From 1976-1978, he taught part-time at Pitt Dental Medicine in restorative dentistry. During that time, also, Dr. Nelson also was active in the North Hills Branch of The Western Pennsylvania Dental Society, The Pittsburgh Dental Research Club, The Academy of General Dentistry, The Pittsburgh Dental Network and Donated Dental Services.
Dr. Nelson has been a part-time clinical assistant professor at Pitt Dental Medicine since December, 2007, teaching in pre-clinical Fixed Partial Dentures and Clinical Prosthodontics courses. He has been retired from private practice since April, 2001.