Shuman named Director of Hospital and Special Care Dentistry

Stephen Shuman, DDS, MS, becomes Director of the Division of Hospital and Special Care Dentistry effective July 1, 2022. 

In the role of Division Director, Shuman will lead our efforts to care for patients with conditions that may limit their ability to receive routine dental care in traditional ways. This includes overseeing care provided through the Oral Health Services of Older Adults Program and our General Practice Residency program. In concert with the division faculty, Shuman will work to innovate and improve care delivered in these unique programs while supporting the mission and vision of the school and reinforcing our core value of Service to All Communities.

Shuman received his dental degree from Temple University and completed his Fellowship and Master of Science in Geriatric Dentistry at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He joined the school’s faculty in 1989 and is now professor and director of the Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program and Dental Director for the Walker Methodist Dental Clinic at Walker Methodist Health Center in Minneapolis, where he teaches geriatrics, conducts research and practices clinically.  

Shuman served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry for 10 years and was President of that organization from 1998-99. His teaching and clinical programs have been recognized nationally and at the state and local levels, including the American Dental Association’s national Geriatric Oral Health Award and the 2016 Innovation Award from LeadingAge, the national association of over 6000 non-profits representing the entire field of aging services.  He was the School of Dentistry’s 2016 Century Club Professor of the Year and is only the 8th dental professional to be inducted as a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. 

Shuman’s entrance into the role comes as James Gambucci, DDS, MPH, enters his retirement. Gambucci served at the School of Dentistry for 35 years in several key roles, including director of the Division of Hospital and Special Care Dentistry, director of the General Practice Residency program and Group Director and faculty in the school’s Comprehensive Care Clinics. Gambucci received his DDS from the School of Dentistry and a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. 

“As we welcome Dr. Shuman, I want to thank Dr. Gambucci for his service to the School of Dentistry,” reflected Brent Larson, DDS, MS, director of advanced education at the School of Dentistry in an announcement of the change. “Dr. Gambucci’s contributions are numerous and notable. I would also like to personally thank Dr. Shuman for his willingness to serve the School of Dentistry in this leadership position.”