Dr. Short was born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Boston University, where he received a B.A. in biology and graduated with distinction in biology in 1976. In the years following college, he pursued his interest in health care by working for research facilities, both at Boston University School of Medicine and Boys Town of America research facility at St. Johns Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Boston University's Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 1982.

Dr. Short has received cosmetic training at the Las Vegas Institute. He is also Invisalign-certified and has been recognized as a Preferred Provider. He is dedicated to a lifetime of continuing education, as is evidenced by earning his Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Short has lectured in the use of the CEREC® CAD/CAM technology to dentists in the Boston area.