Dentistry Magazine 2023 | A message from the Dean
Headshot of Dean Keith Mays standing in front of the School of Dentistry sign

Greetings from the School of Dentistry!

This past year has brought many successes and reasons to celebrate the mission-oriented work we engage in at the School of Dentistry every day.

This past year we:

  • Provided 100,469 patient appointments in our clinics
  • Established a new Special Healthcare Needs Clinic in Moos Tower
  • Supported twice as many student-led initiatives to promote oral health in the local community, including Give Kids a Smile
  • Received CODA accreditation for our Dental Therapy program
  • Established an Oral Health Educator Certificate Program
  • Received numerous awards, recognizing the accomplishments of our faculty and students
  • Celebrated the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics’ (MDRCBB) 30-year anniversary with a global symposium
  • Produced 119 publications, with 38 faculty collaborations
  • Redefined our research clusters, which span disciplines to bring the latest knowledge and advancements into our classrooms in Minnesota and beyond

Last year I shared that our path out of the pandemic was to Recover, Restore, Grow. As you can see from this list of accomplishments, the growth journey has begun. We continue to provide patient-centered care, while seeking to be fully engaged with our community. As you can see from the abbreviated list above, the last 12 months have produced vibrant growth as we moved beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

In these pages you will read about the significant contributions of our faculty to oral health education; our staff’s commitment and leadership at the national level; community building and gatherings that have enhanced our connectedness across all our of stakeholders; accomplishments of faculty, staff and students; a glimpse into our students’ commitment to oral health and community service; and our expansive research initiatives.

I am truly grateful for how each member of our community makes the School of Dentistry a better place and daily contributes to positive experiences for our learners and patients. I look forward to you reading about what’s happened within and outside of Moos Tower.

Sincerely,
Keith A. Mays, DDS, MS, PhD
Dean
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

This story originally appeared in the 2023 edition of Dentistry Magazine.

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