In conversation with Karl Self, DDS, MBA, 2024 Professor of the Year

Karl Self, DDS, MBA, associate professor, recent Interim  Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and director of the Division of Dental Therapy, is the 2024 Century Club  Professor of the Year.

Instituted by Dean Erwin Schaffer, DDS, in 1967, the Century Club Professor of the Year Award recognizes one faculty  member each year for their outstanding contributions to  the school in the areas of education, research and service. The award is one of the school’s greatest traditions and the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member. The honoree is selected by a committee chaired by the previous year’s award recipient, with faculty representation from each department and student participation from the graduate, dental, dental therapy and dental hygiene programs.

Self earned his DDS from the School of Dentistry in 1984 and his MBA in Strategic Management and Organization  from the Carlson School of Business in 1992. 

Self is a leader in the field of dental therapy—empowering oral health professionals who extend dental health to under- served populations by providing educational, clinical and therapeutic patient services as part of the dental care team. He pioneered a national curriculum for dental therapists and led the way for the School of Dentistry to be the first US dental school with a CODA-accredited Dental Therapy degree program. Self is an expert and national leader,  providing guidance on dental therapy curriculum and the role of dental therapists in the oral health care team at  professional meetings and congressional hearings. He also provides consultation to state health departments in addition to helping other dental therapy stakeholders plan implementation of dental therapy educational programs.

We spoke to Self about what receiving the award meant to him.

What does it mean to you to be named Professor of the Year?

I was very excited and I am deeply honored to have been selected as Professor of the Year. This award is truly one of the highlights of my career. Having my contributions to the School of Dentistry recognized in this way means so much  to me. It’s a privilege to be thought of as being in the  company of this distinguished group of professors who  share a commitment to excellence in education, research  and student success.

As you reflect on your contributions to dental  education, patient care and research, which aspects have you most enjoyed?

I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to  engage in so many different aspects of dental education  and research. From didactic to preclinical to clinical teaching, to program development, to curriculum oversight, I can honestly say I have most enjoyed the journey itself. Within that journey, it has been extremely rewarding to have been instrumental in growing the dental therapy profession both here in Minnesota as well as nationally. I have been so lucky to be able to engage in establishing a dental profession focused on meeting the health needs of underserved populations. In addition to knowing that this positively impacts patient’s lives, I am so pleased to have had  the opportunity to develop an academic foundation for dental therapy, develop a research framework and begin to build the evidence base for this evolving profession. I have truly enjoyed my work in laying a foundation of program development and scholarly activities for dental therapy which can be expanded and enhanced by future educators and researchers.

What is your favorite thing about being a professor?

My favorite thing about being a professor is interacting  with both students and colleagues. With students I enjoy watching them learn new, often difficult concepts that they will ultimately incorporate into their vision of improving  the health of individuals and the communities they live in.  It’s great to be able to play a small part in their journey  toward becoming a professional. As for my colleagues, I would not be where I am today without the help and collaborations of my faculty and staff colleagues. No one person has all the knowledge and skills required to solve complex problems and continuously improve how we educate students and make innovative discoveries. Everyone I have worked with has enriched my understanding of my role as a professor and has created opportunities for me to improve my research and teaching.

This article initially appeared in the 2025 edition of Dentistry Magazine