ADEA features Dean John A. Valenza in ‘5 Questions With’

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, was recently interviewed by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), where he shared his perspective on the evolving role of dental professionals and the challenges facing dental education.

In the feature, 5 Questions With, ADEA shines a spotlight on various members, asking them five questions (both professional and personal), giving us all a chance to get to know one another better.

In the interview, Valenza highlighted a range of topics in dental education, including combating misinformation, faculty recruitment, and the impact of artificial intelligence on practice models. Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism about the profession’s ability to adapt and innovate.

1. What’s the one piece of advice you would give to anyone in dental school?

Be sure this is not only what you want to do, but also that you know what it means to be a dental professional. That is, as those of us in the profession know, we are not just in the “dental business,” we are in the “people business.”

2. What’s the biggest challenge facing dental education today?

The biggest challenge today is all of the challenges — trust in decision-makers, misinformation/disinformation, research funding, student loans, use of fluoride, immigration concerns, the cost of dental education (both for students to attend and schools to operate), faculty recruitment and retention, AI and its impact and changes in the dental practice model — just to name a few! As an optimist, I believe we will find solutions to these challenges, but not all at once, and not before new challenges come on the scene.

3. What gives you the most satisfaction professionally?

Seeing others succeed! Especially by applying new knowledge and skills, and being able to say, “I can do that!”

4. What do you look forward to outside of work?

Spending time with my wife and family, getting some exercise (we walk and cycle) and trying to work on my bucket list, which, at the moment, has about 35 items on it.

5. What’s your favorite vacation spot — and why?

Hmmm, if I had to pick just one, it would probably be Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada. What a beautiful town, about 40 minutes north of Niagara Falls, on Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. Among other attractions, it has playhouses, water sports, parks and wineries. And speaking of wineries, one of our favorite activities is the bicycle wine tour.