Celebrating Our Program: 100 Years of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency was launched in 1923 by Dr. Frances J. Reichmann and is one of the oldest oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies in the western United States. The program continues to excel as its field celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2023.

Throughout the past 20 years, the program has been under the leadership of Kevin Smith, D.D.S, FACS, FACD, where he serves as residency director. Dr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1984 before coming to the college to earn his doctorate of dental surgery degree in 1988. He went on to the V.A. Medical Center in Houston and completed his residency from the University of Texas at Houston in 1993. He then opened a private practice in Oklahoma City in 1994.

While Dr. Smith was in dental school, he had several mentors across varying departments before settling on oral and maxillofacial surgery as his specialty. He was influenced by many former faculty members of the college: Dr. Betsy Brackett (prosthodontics), Dr. Herbert Shillingberg (prosthodontics), Dr. Frans Currier (orthodontics), Dr. Richard Mathewson (pedodontics) and Ms. Jane Amiee (periodontics/ dental hygiene). He credits these individuals and their influence as the inspiration to be an excellent resource for students and residents when he became the residency director.

Dr. Smith has worked with many influential people throughout the span of his professional career at the college. He said, “Dr. Steven Sullivan has been an amazing colleague, business partner and chief encourager; we navigated being shorthanded and taking call every other week for nearly eight years, and the OMS residency has flourished and grown in residents and faculty.”

As the residency director, Dr. Smith has mentored 58 residents and 11 cleft lip and palate fellows. He has worked on more than 1,500 Oklahoma and 500 international clef lip and palate patients thus far in his career. “Seeing all the cleft kids grow up is the most rewarding part of my job," said Dr. Smith. “It has been an honor to help these kids and families reach their fullest potential.”

Looking to the future, the college named Fabio Ritto, D.D.S, M.D., M.S., Ph.D., the new program director in 2022. Dr. Ritto completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency from Rio de Janerio State University Medical School at Gama Filho University in Rio de Janerio. He later earned his Ph.D. at Campinas State University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Ritto came to the college in 2020 as a clinical assistant professor.

Dr. Ritto hopes the program continues to be one of the nation's top programs. He believes the program can provide the residents with an excellent educational experience in the full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery.

“Dr. Smith was among the first surgeons in the world to perform neonatal mandibular distraction,” said Dr. Fabio Ritto. “In fact, he developed the most popular mandibular distraction devices available on the market, not to mention the many articles and book chapters he has authored.

“As a humanitarian, Dr. Smith was part of many mission trips and started the Smile for a Child Foundation, which helps kids with facial differences,” said Dr. Ritto. “In the operating room, he provides a true learning environment for residents and fellows education, always knowing that Dr. Smith is there if things get complicated. In his personal life, Dr. Smith leads by example on how to balance work, family and activities such as sailing, fishing and hunting to keep the tranquility he is known for. I'm committed to keeping up the excellent work and continuing to inspire residents and fellows in the different areas of their lives.”

“It is a great honor and responsibility to take on the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program director position after Dr. Smith,” said Dr. Ritto. “Dr. Smith has led the program for over 20 years and through four successful accreditation cycles, on top of running an incredibly busy Cleft & Craniofacial practice. He truly leads by example, not only due to his professional skills, but also because of his life vision. Professionally he has long been an international reference in the treatment of Cleft & Craniofacial deformities.”

Dr. Ritto states there are many oral and maxillofacial surgeons at the college who help make the residency program a success. “Since Dr. Paul Tiwana came to the college, he has been dedicated to expanding the surgical scope of the program. New surgical areas were added, including the treatment of craniosynostosis at Saint Francis Hospital, and the hiring of Dr. Matthew Radant, a former college OMS resident specializing in head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstruction surgery,” said Dr. Ritto.