A. General Information

The UTHSC-Houston Dental Branch was founded in 1905 and has graduated more than 5,000 dentist, 85% of whom practice in Texas. The school provides education and training in dental health care, from a certificate in dental hygiene through the professional doctorate in dentistry (Doctor of Dental Surgery degree) to the Master of Science degree or a post-graduate certificate in these specialties:
Some 382 students are enrolled at the Dental Branch, while nearly 1,500 dental health practioners a year are trained in new techniques and outcomes of dental research through continuing education programs.

B. Dental Branch Administration

Interim Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, DDS, MS
Executive Vice-Dean
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Leslie O. Fullerton, DDS, MSD
Leslie Roeder, DDS
Associate Dean for Clinical Education Robert Kaminski, DDS, EdD
Associate Dean for Management Ernest S. Delaune, III
Associate Dean for Patient Care John Valenza, DDS
Associate Dean for Educational Research & Professional       Development Paula N. O'Neill, EdD
Associate Dean for Research John M. Powers, PhD
Associate Dean for Continuing Education and
    Alumni Affairs 		Leslie O. Fullerton, DDS, MSD
Assistant Dean for Planning and Academic Studies Janice P. Bilan, MBA
Associate Dean for Student Affairs H. Philip Pierpont, DDS
Chair, Basic Sciences Karen Storthz, PhD
Chair, Restorataive Dentistry and Biomaterials Peter Triolo, DDS
Chair, Dental Public Health and Dental Hygiene
Chair, Diagnostic Sciences		 Martin Hobdell, BDS, MA, PhD
John A. Valenza, DDS
Chair, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Mark E. Wong, BDS
Chair, Orthodontics Jeryl D. English, DDS, MS
Chair, Pediatric Dentistry Susan Seybold, DDS, MPH
Chair, Prosthodontics Thomas Huff, DDS
Chair, Stomatology John Ludington, Jr., DDS, MS
Director, School of Dental Hygiene Nina Bay Infante, MS

C. Academic Departments

The Dental Branch is composed of eight academic departments including:

  1. Basic Sciences
  2. Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials
  3. Dental Public Health and Dental Hygiene
  4. Diagnostic Sciences
  5. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  6. Orthodontics
  7. Pediatric Dentistry
  8. Prosthodontics
  9. Stomatology including the Divisions of:
          Endodontics
          Periodontics
        
The following portions of the Faculty Guide will present documents to assist all faculty in gaining information relating to academic life and career advancement at the Dental Branch. All career advancement documents are anchored to the Dental Branch Mission Statement, the Strategic Plan, and departmental goals and objectives. The Guide begins with a New Faculty Orientation Checklist which must be completed in the first few weeks of any new faculty member’s employment at the Dental Branch.