Dr. Carlen P. Blume

Carlen Palmer Blume, D.D.S. After a versatile career in dentistry, Dr. Blume is excited to have her own practice. Dr. Blume graduated in 1995 with Honors and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at The University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, she graduated Cum Laude from our own dental school, The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. To begin her career in general dentistry, Dr. Blume joined the US Navy and completed a residency known as an Advanced Education in General Dentistry. She had the privilege of completing that program in San Diego, CA. For her first real duty assignment as a Navy dentist, Dr. Blume moved to Pensacola, FL, where she met her husband, Don, a Marine Corps aviator.  They got to move together to Kaneohe Bay, HI, where they were stationed on a Marine Corps base. Dr. Blume got to be a dentist and play Marine part-time doing field exercises and things of that nature. While in Hawaii, Dr. Blume and her husband had their first child, Clara, who is …proud to tell you she was born in Hawaii! While Major Blume was in Afghanistan, Dr. Blume and Clara moved to Corpus Christi, TX. There, Dr. Blume was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and Major Blume joined them several months later. While in Corpus Christi, they welcomed their son, Briggs, making him the only native Texan in the family! Dr. Blume resigned from Naval service after 7 years to make sure she wouldn’t be separated from her children.  One parent deploying was enough for the Blume family! Dr. Blume entered a private practice in Corpus Christi in 2006 and stayed for two more years. In 2008, the Blume family moved to San Antonio so Dr. Blume could specialize in pediatric dentistry. In previous practices, it was noticed that most of the kids were funneled to Dr. Blume and those were the patients that were the most special to her. For that reason, Dr. Blume decided to become an expert in the field through specialization. She came back to The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio because the program here is so well respected, and Dr. Blume was the President-Elect for the Dental School Alumni Association at the time. During residency, Dr. Blume maintained a 4.0 GPA, served as the Alumni Association President and emerged as the resident to see babies affected by cleft lip and palate when the program director was unavailable. Dr. Blume has gained recognition for her passion for babies affected by cleft lip and palate, which earned her a spot as the pediatric dentist on the craniofacial anomalies team at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital. The team is composed of different types of medical specialists and they meet monthly to see babies and children affected by head and neck disabilities or disfigurements. This is a faculty position for Dr. Blume, and will maintain her relationship with the University. In July 2011, Dr. Blume’s research about the treatment of babies affected with cleft lip and palate was published in the Texas Dental Journal. In June 2011, Dr. Blume was also voted by her peers as one of the top pediatric dentists in San Antonio as seen in SA Scene Magazine!