Endodontics alumnus Hargreaves becomes dean of UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

Ken Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, Certificate in Endodontics ’93, became the dean of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry on May 1, 2025.

Hargreaves grew up “during the race to space with Russia,” a time where science and math were prioritized and encouraged. Fond memories of competing in science fairs and making model rockets brought him to an undergraduate degree in neurobiology, and a conversation with his family dentist about the role of science, health care and art in the profession encouraged him to pursue a DDS degree. 

While in dental school at Georgetown, engaged in clinical activity and down the road from the National Institutes of Health, Hargreaves found a love for research into dental pain. He pursued a PhD and joined the NIH in pain research before joining the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as as associate professor and receiving his Certificate in Endodontics. 

“Minnesota was a wonderful place to live, and we have many good friends that we still visit,” he recalled. “The University was a powerhouse in neuroscience and pain research, so it was a great place to treat patients, teach students and run a research program. I learned many things at the U—in particular, the importance of building teams, time management, balancing work-life issues and an enduring love of endodontics.” 

Hargreaves’ history of studying pain and neurology positioned him quite well for endodontics. “Endodontics is biologically focused and requires high technical finesse, combined with an understanding of apical periodontitis and how it is influenced by systemic diseases or drugs,” he explained. “Many patients think of root canals and pain as synonyms, though the opposite is true! It is a wonderful field for folks who want to better diagnose or treat patients in pain—especially using effective non-opioid medications.” 

He joined the faculty of UT Health San Antonio in 1997 and served as chair of the Department of Endodontics for 25 years. “The opportunity to serve our school as dean is truly satisfying, though some days are richly textured in experiences,” he reflected. 

As dean, Hargreaves looks forward to “working in teams as both a member and a leader in preparing our school for new generations of learners, patients, scientists and educators. Here, we make lives, and smiles, better,” he said. 

And though he has been in San Antonio for more than two decades, the University of Minnesota still holds a special place in his heart. 

“I am a proud alumnus of the University of Minnesota,” he said. “Being an endodontist has fundamentally changed my life, my family’s life and now my grandchild’s life. That enduring gift came from my training in Minnesota. I represent one of literally thousands of graduates from the School of Dentistry that have treated hundreds of thousands of patients and changed lives in so many places. The legacy of Minnesota lives on.”