Gerald Tussing, DDS, MSD, is a graduate of Iowa University with a DDS degree received in 1959. He has five years of general practice dentistry in the US Navy from 1959 to 1964. Dr. Tussing started advanced training in periodontics at UNMC in 1964 and graduated with a master's degree in 1967.

After receiving his master's, Dr. Tussing began academic teaching in 1967 and was Chairman of periodonitcs from 1968 to 1986. He combined periodontics, endodontics and oral surgery into a single department, surgical specialties. He chaired that department from 1986 to 2006.