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Office of the Dean

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Dean John A. Valenza, DDS, FAGD
The William N. Finnegan III Distinguished Professor in the Dental Sciences




Dean’s Academy of Distinguished Scholars
Directory

Responsibilities of the dean include providing vision and leadership in directing, coordinating and integrating the teaching, research, practice and service missions of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. In consultation with faculty and administrators, the dean has overall responsibility and authority for:

  • Strategic planning and operations.
  • Continuous quality improvement of curriculum and instruction.
  • Fiscal planning, resource acquisition and management, including budget preparation, supervision and utilization.
  • Student affairs, including admissions and enrollment management, financial aid, counseling and other student support services and activities.
  • Space and facilities planning and management including capital projects.
  • Academic program development, evaluation and revision.
  • Personnel administration, including faculty and staff appointments, retention and development.
  • Fundraising, alumni affairs and public relations.

The dean serves as spokesperson for the faculty and represents the School of Dentistry within the wider UT System, the academic and professional community and the business community. The dean is responsible for advocating for dentistry and maintaining relationships between the School of Dentistry and local, state, regional, national and international agencies and organizations.

He's the first School of Dentistry dean on social media. For news, updates and commentary about the school, dentistry and life in general, follow @jvalenza on Twitter and @j_valenza on Instagram.

Student & Academic Affairs

The Office of Student and Academic Affairs provides student and academic services for applicants, current students, and faculty. Student Affairs is responsible for admissions, student records, student life, and support services. Academic Affairs focuses on planning, developing and evaluating academic programs and policies. The Office of Student and Academic Affairs is committed to the pursuit of excellence in all of the School of Dentistry’s student and academic activities.

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Annual Security Report

The UTHealth Houston Annual Security Report is available online. Paper copies are provided upon request. The report contains information on campus crime statistics and security measures. You can contact The University of Texas Police Department at 713-792-2890 to obtain a copy of the report.

View Report

School of Dentistry Catalog
Advanced Education Manual
Thesis Format Manual

Dean's Academy of Distinguished Scholars

The Dean's Academy of Distinguished Scholars is a formal organization developed to demonstrate the School of Dentistry’s ongoing recognition of and commitment to excellence. The academy recognizes and rewards faculty members who exhibit excellence and/or extraordinary scholarship in teaching, education, research, or mentoring. Academy members serve as professional role models and mentors for faculty, residents, fellows, and students.

Winners of Dean's Excellence Awards automatically become members of the Dean's Academy of Distinguished Scholars. Candidates are nominated by department chairs or fellow faculty members. If accepted, new members are admitted for five-year terms, but may be admitted again in different categories, extending their membership.

Candidates who receive the UTHealth Houston President's Scholar Award or who are accepted to The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, MD Academy of Health Science Education automatically become members of the Dean’s Academy at the School of Dentistry.

 

Bylaws of the Academy

Officers

2021-2022
President: Dr. Ana Neumann
President-Elect: Dr. Walid Fakhouri
Executive committee members: Dr. Marilia Sly, Dr. Margo Melchor, Dr. Scott Makins
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2020-2021
President: Dr. Kurt Kasper
President-Elect: Dr. Ana Neumann
Executive committee members: Dr. Walid Fakhouri, Dr. Margo Melchor, Dr. Marilia Sly
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2019-2020
President: Dr. Dharini van der Hoeven
President-Elect: Dr. Kurt Kasper
Executive committee members: Dr. Cameron Jeter, Dr. Marilia Sly, Dr. Margot Melchor
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2018-2019
President: Dr. Ariadne Letra
President-Elect: Dr. Dharini van der Hoeven
Executive committee members: Dr. Kurt Kasper, Dr. Cameron Jeter, Dr. Gena Tribble
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2017-2018
President: Dr. Juliana Barros
President-Elect: Dr. Ariadne Letra
Executive committee members: Dr. Kurt Kasper, Dr. Dharini van der Hoeven, Dr. Gargi Mukherji
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2016-2017
President: Dr. Ransome van der Hoeven
President-Elect: Dr. Juliana Barros
Executive committee members: Dr. Dharini van der Hoeven, Dr. Gargi Mukherji, Dr. Ariadne Letra
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Lisa Cain

2015-2016
President: Dr. Lincoln Edwards
President-Elect: Dr. Ransome van der Hoeven
Executive committee members: Dr. Dharini van der Hoeven, Dr. Gargi Mukherji, Dr. Cameron Jeter
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Karen Novak

2014-2015
President: Dr. Rade Paravina
President-Elect: Dr. Lincoln Edwards
Executive committee members: Dr. Ransome van der Hoeven, Dr. Ana Neumann, Dr. Veronique Delattre
Ex-officio members: Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Karen Novak

Membership in the Dean's Academy of Distinguished Scholars may be achieved in three ways:

Inducted as charter members (2008)

Harold A. Henson, RDH, MEd, PhD
Darla K. McKitrick, RDH, MS
Jayne McWherter, RDH, MEd
Donna Warren Morris, RDH, MEd
June M. Sadowsky, DDS MPH
Rick Silverman, DDS
James Wilson, DDS

Inducted upon admission to The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education 

Shalizeh (Shelly) Patel, DDS, MEd (2020)
Donna P. Warren Morris, RDH, MEd (2019)
Ryan Quock, DDS (2018)
Jacqueline T. Hecht, PhD (2013)
Catherine M. Flaitz, DDS, MS (2010)
Paula N. O'Neill, MEd, EdD (2008)
John A. Valenza, DDS (2007)
John McMahon, PhD (2006)
Leslie Roeder, DDS, MS (2006)

Inducted as UTHealth President’s Scholar Award recipients

Mark Wong, DDS, FACS, FACS (2018)
Donna Warren-Morris, RDH, MEd  (2017)
Jacqueline T. Hecht, PhD (2014)
Paula N. O'Neill, MEd, EdD (2011)
Catherine M. Flaitz, DDS, MS (2004)

Inducted as Dean’s Excellence Award recipients

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF APPLICATION
Marilia Sly, DDS, MSD (2022)
Walid Fakhouri, MSc, PhD (2021)
Juliana Barros, DDS, MS (2020)
Joe C. Ontiveros, DDS, MS (2019)
Margo Y. Melchor, RDH, EdD (2019)
Maryam Tabrizi, DMD, MPH (2018)
Rade D. Paravina, DDS, PhD (2017)
Cameron B. Jeter, PhD (2017)
Gene C. Stevenson, DDS, MS, MPH (2016)
Kurtis Kasper, PhD (2016)
June M. Sadowsky, DDS, MPH (2015)
Samuel Dorn, DDS (2014)

FOR ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION
Sheila H. Koh, DDS (2012)
Yunzhi “Peter” Yang, MS, PhD (2011)
Rade D. Paravina, DDS, MS, PhD (2010)
Chung H. Kau, BDS, MScD, PhD (2009)

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF DISCOVERY
Simon Young, DDS, MD, PhD (2022)
Bing-Yan Wang, DDS, MS, PhD (2021)
Daniel Harrington, PhD (2020)
Chun-Teh Lee, DDS, DMSc, MS (2020)
Walid D. Fakhouri, PhD (2019)
Junichi Iwata, DDS, PhD (2017)
Ariadne Letra, DDS, MS, PhD (2016)
Kalu U.E. Ogbureke, BDS, DMSc, JD, MSc (2015)
Renato Silva, DDS, MS, PhD (2014)
Nadarajah Vigneswaran, BDS, DrMedDent, DMD (2013)
Gena D. Tribble, PhD (2013)
Pauline “Jackie” Duke, PhD (2012)

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF INNOVATION
The Clinical Simulation Team (2018), shared by:
   Deborah Franklin, DDS, MA; Gargi Mukherji, DDS; Donna Warren Morris, RDH, MEd; Harold Henson, RDH, PhD; Darla McKitrick, RDH, MS; Joanna Allaire, RDH, MDH; Alan E. Levine, PhD
Ana Neumann, DDS, MPH, PhD (2012)
Sergio Ortegon, DDS, MS (2011)
Donna Warren Morris, RDH, Med (2010)
George D. Suchko, DDS (2009)

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF INTEGRATION
Chalie Streckfus, DDS, MA (2022)
Amity Gardner, DDS (2020)
Dharini van der Hoeven, MSc, PhD (2018)
Ransome van der Hoeven, PhD (2018)
Ana Neumann, DDS, MPH, PhD (2018)
Kurt Kasper, PhD (2017)

FOR MENTORING
Gargi Mukherji, DDS (2022)
Margo Melchor, RDH, MEd, EdD (2021)
Ezinne Ogbureke, BDS, DMD (2021)
Shalizeh (Shelly) Patel, DDS, MEd (2019)
Hank I. Bussa, Jr., DDS, MS (2017)
Harold A. Henson, RDH, MEd, PhD (2016)
C.D. Johnson, DDS, MS (2015)
John R. Klein, PhD (2015)
Robin Weltman, DDS, MS (2014)
Sheila H. Koh, DDS (2011)

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING
Charlie Streckfus, DDS, MA (2022)
Karo Parsegian (2021)
Carolyn Huynh, DDS, MEd, EdD (2020)
Ashley Clark, DDS (2019)
Maria Gonzalez, DDS, MS (2019)
Marilia Sly, DDS, MSD (2018)
The Tobacco Dependence Education Team (2018), shared by: 
     Ngozi Nwizu, BDS, MMSc, PhD; Victoria Patrounova, RDH, MHA; Richard Halpin, EdD; Charles Streckfus, DDS, MA
The Anatomy Team (2017), shared by:
     Carla Rogers, PhD; Robert Spears, PhD; Raymond L. Warner, PhD, MA
Ezinne Ogbureke, DMD (2017)
Victoria V. Patrounova, RDH, MHA (2017)
Juliana A. Barros, DDS, MS (2016)
Harold A. Henson, RDH, MEd, PhD (2015)
Karen Novak, DDS, PhD (2015)
Rade D. Paravina, DDS, PhD (2015)
Shalizeh (Shelly) Patel, DDS (2015)
Ryan Quock, DDS (2015)
Clinical Applications Team 1 (2014), shared by:
     Ted Pate, PhD; Gena Tribble, PhD; Art Jeske, PhD, DMD; Lincoln Edwards, PhD, DDS; Cameron Jeter, PhD; Charles Streckfus, DDS, MA; Dharini van der Hoeven, PhD, MSc; Deborah Franklin, DDS, MA; Ransome van der Hoeven, PhD 
Gene C. Stevenson, DDS, MS, MPH (2013)
Shawn S. Adibi, DDS, Med (2012)
Veronique F. Delattre, DDS (2012)
J.G. “Jay” Welch, DDS (2011)
Raymond G. Koeppen, DDS, MS, MBA (2010)
Janet C. Grobe-Hood, DDS, Med (2009)

FOR VOLUNTEERISM
Liann Marruffo, DDS (2022)
Sam Winkelmann, DDS, MS (2021)
Don Le, DDS (2012, 2019)
Nina Leifeste, DDS (2015)
Giancarlo Romero, DDS, MSD (2015)
Jerry Long, DDS (2013)
Ryan Quock, DDS (2013)
Charles Hoopingarner, DDS (2011)
Jay Elliott, DDS (2010)
Lawrence A. Friedman, DDS (2009)

FOR CLINICAL SERVICE
Diana Arriaga, DDS, MEd (2022)
Marie Latortue, DDS (2022)

Office of Development

Giving

Gifts to UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry make a difference in the lives of patients, students, educators, researchers, and – most of all – to the donors themselves. Our Office of Development specializes in matching dreams with opportunities in ways that maximize the positive impact for everyone involved.

By supporting the school with personally meaningful gifts, donors may also achieve certain tax or investment benefits. Our development team can provide guidance about planned giving; gifts of stocks, securities and real property; and other ways to give that impact the school’s three-part mission of education, patient care, and research.

The Office of Development also works to build a continuing relationship between alumni and the school, so that graduation day is not the end of the connection, but merely a new beginning.



“Our school depends on the support and generosity of our alumni, friends and others if we truly want to be a world-class institution. These additional dollars are difference-makers to the school, and we hope also in the lives of our donors.”

— Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81
The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston

Learn More

Finance and Administration

Guided by the policies and procedures of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and UT System, the associate dean for management provides financial analysis and reporting, advises the dean on ways to optimize operations and services, and is responsible for the coordination and administration of the operational and financial affairs of the school. 

Responsibilities include advising, assisting, and monitoring the school's business activities including finance, human resource management, contractual operations, equipment and inventory management, information systems, and space needs.

Directory

Patient Care

The Office of Patient Care is responsible for dealing with the needs of all patients at the School of Dentistry and its off-site clinics and hospital affiliations. From the initial contact through assessment and ongoing care, the Office of Patient Care is there to answer questions and deal with any issues patients may have.

The Office of Patient Care has two primary divisions:  Clinical Services and Patient Services. The office is also responsible for clinical education, quality improvement, and community outreach.  

We always have our patients' best interests in mind and will enforce their rights and ensure their privacy as patients of the School of Dentistry. 

Directory
Community Outreach



Professional Development
& Faculty Affairs

Dr. Lisa Cain Dr. Harold Henson
Center for Teaching and Learning
Endowment Appointment Process
Directory

The Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs was established to provide leadership, advocacy, support and assistance to administration and faculty in improving the quality of teaching and learning. Additionally, the office focuses on developing or enhancing leadership skills, communication, faculty development, research, academic skills, and interdisciplinary activities.

These goals are accomplished through a spirit of collaboration with all involved, while supporting the overall mission and goals of the School of Dentistry in pursuit of excellence of teaching and learning, education, research, patient care and institutional development. In 2013, the office established a new Center for Teaching and Learning, focused on supporting our dental educators.

Research

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry's Office of Research provides support, liaison and guidance for all clinical, basic and student research efforts.  The office directs and maintains laboratories, in addition to managing intra- and extramural grant submissions.  The school's biomedical research focuses on the craniofacies with emphasis on normal and abnormal development, nonsyndromic oral clefts, tooth agenesis, oral carcinogenesis, mucosal immunity, autoimmunity, molecular imaging of cancer, biomaterials, biomarker discovery, pathogenesis of periodontal disease and tissue regeneration.

The School of Dentistry's location in the Texas Medical Center provides unparalleled opportunities for collaboration with local, national and international research partners. The integration with the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences provides exceptional resources for planning clinical trials, biostatistics, bioethics, epidemiology, and core facilities for various types of biological assays. We also assist in the research for the Center for Craniofacial Research and the Houston Center for Biomaterials and Biomimetics.

Directory



Strategic Planning

The Office of Strategic Planning is responsible for applying the strategic-planning process to various UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry activities. Through interaction with professional dental organizations, the strategic planning team identifies professional trends that impact dentistry and dental education. The team advises the dean and the School of Dentistry faculty.

The office also serves as administrative liaison and resource for the Outcomes Assessment Committee. The office leads and oversees the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Self-Study process and the ADA-CODA Accreditation Site Visit. The office is responsible for writing reports required by the dean, the health science center, the American Dental Education Association and other entities.


Directory
UT System Strategic Initiatives
UTHealth Houston Strategic Directions

Contact us for a copy of the print edition or to submit questions and comments.

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
& INFORMATICS

Technology Services & Informatics front window
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Technology Services and Informatics (TSI) provides support for students, faculty and staff in the areas of library services, clinical and educational technology, media production and web services. It is also home to the informatics research group, which provides support and assistance with data collection, analysis, presentation and visualization.

TSI is the driving force behind technology innovations at the School of Dentistry. From technology assessments and implementation to training and hardware support we have a guiding hand in all aspects of technology. This ensures a consistent and professional level of support throughout the school and means that our systems are integrated correctly and are the most appropriate available for the required task.

Communications

UTHealth Houston has a communications team at each of its schools, with members of the Media Relations Team (based at University Center Tower) assigned to specific schools as well.

School of Dentistry Communications

Kyle Rogers
Marketing & Communications Manager
713-486-4559

Dylan Allen
Communications & Marketing Coordinator
713-486-4029

This office is the contact for:

  • Sharing news, photos, links in School of Dentistry publications
  • General coverage of dental school events and activities 
  • School of Dentistry and UT Dentists social media
  • UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry logos
  • PACE Center inquiries and job postings
  • General inquiries

UTHealth Houston Media Relations

[email protected]
or 24-Hour Media Hotline
713-500-3030

This office is the contact for:

  • Journalists (print, broadcast, digital, etc.) interested in news stories
  • Access to UTHealth Houston experts to interview
  • Any UTHealth Houston employee who has been contacted by the media for work-related issues

Contact Us

Parking and Public Transportation

The map above shows locations of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry and its off-campus clinics. Please click the arrow button at the top left of the map to see a list of locations.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry is located at the corner of Cambridge Street and East Road in Houston. Surface lot parking is available across the street for up to $10 per day. 

Metro Bus 60 and Bus 297 (which both connect to the TMC Transit Center) stop near the School of Dentistry, Cooley Center, and UT Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences Building. The Woodlands Express also stops in front of the school. 

General Information

Main Campus
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
7500 Cambridge St.
Houston, TX 77054
[email protected]
Automated Line: 713-486-4000

After Hours Emergency
Student Clinics
Contact Student Provider
If Student Not Available Call
713-486-4000 Option 1

Student & Academic Affairs:
713-486-4151
[email protected]

UTHealth Registrar:
713-500-3361
[email protected]

Library & Learning Commons:
713-486-4094

UT Dental Bookstore:
713-486-4450
bkstr.com/utdentalstore

General Practice

University Dental Center
(Care by Faculty & Residents)
UT Professional Building
6410 Fannin St., Suite 310
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-500-7171

Student Specialty Clinics

Pediatric Dentistry: 713-486-4334

Special Patient Clinic: 
713-486-4296

Graduate Specialty Clinics

Endodontics: 713-486-4230

Pediatric Dentistry: 713-500-8220

Periodontics: 713-486-4048

Prosthodontics: 713-486-4347

Orthodontics: 713-486-4190

Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery:
713-486-4125

Faculty Practice/Graduate

UT Dentists
Inside UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
7500 Cambridge St., Suite 1210
Houston, TX 77054
Phone: 713-486-4444
www.utdentists.com

UT Dentists Imaging
Inside UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
7500 Cambridge St., Suite 1210
Houston, TX 77054
Phone: 713-486-4444
Go.uth.edu/Imaging

UT Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Scurlock Tower, Suite 1900
6560 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-790-4600
www.utoralsurgery.com

UT Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
Inside UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
7500 Cambridge St., Suite 6110
Houston, TX 77054
Phone: 713-486-4411
Go.uth.edu/Pathology

UTHealth Pediatric Dentistry
Inside UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
7500 Cambridge St., Suite 3410
Houston, TX 77054
Phone: 713-500-8290
Predoctoral Clinic: 713-500-8290
Go.uth.edu/kidsteeth