John A. Valenza, D.D.S.

Interim Dean John A. Valenza, D.D.S., is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. He is a 1981 graduate of the Dental Branch and completed a residency in general practice at The University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital in Tennessee. Dr. Valenza practiced full-time in the Nashville, Tenn. area from 1982-1987 while also serving as part-time faculty at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.

In 1987, Dr. Valenza was appointed to the full-time faculty at the UT Dental Branch to initiate a general practice residency (GPR) program with Hermann Hospital, serving as the program's director until 1996. During that time, the program was nationally recognized as one of the premier GPR programs in the country. From 1994-96 Dr. Valenza also served as director of Advanced Education and Extramural Affairs.

In 1996 Dr. Valenza was named associate dean for patient care, a position he held until 2004. During this time, he was responsible for many new and innovative changes to the school's patient care arena, such as establishing a Division of Patient Services, introducing a computerized clinic information system, clinical credentialing of faculty, clinic rounds, the current mobile dental van and expansion of community outreach programs and clinics. During 2002-04, Dr. Valenza also served as acting chair of a new Department of Diagnostic Sciences, bringing together several existing divisions, faculty and staff and overseeing the initiation of a number of new courses and clinics.

Dr. Valenza has served as executive associate dean of the Dental Branch since 2004. In this position, he was directly responsible for several initiatives for the school in 2004-06, such as initiating a faculty practice, developing a simulation clinic, converting to electronic patient records and digital radiography, and obtaining new equipment for Dental Branch clinics. Dr. Valenza is responsible for general support of the school's educational programs as well as technology and informatics via oversight of two divisions of the school: Educational Support Services and Educational and Technology Services. Dr. Valenza currently leads the school's efforts for the design and construction a new replacement building. As part of preparing for the new building, he has overseen the progress of five task forces charged with evaluation of the school's academic, patient care, preclinical/simulation, research and technology programs. The building project is currently in the design phase with construction scheduled to begin sometime in late 2009 or early 2010, with an expected completion date of mid-2012.

He is an active member of UT*Dentists, the school's faculty practice, teaches both undergraduate and graduate students, and conducts clinical research, primarily in dental informatics and clinical care. He has made numerous national presentations on clinical education, dental informatics and the use of technology in patient care, authored/co-authored numerous papers, chapters and reports, and received grants totaling more than $1.5 million.

Dr. Valenza is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Greater Houston Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Education Association, American Association of Hospital Dentists, and The University of Texas Academy of Health Science Education. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.