PENN DENTAL MEDICINE
Profile at a Glance Founded in 1878, Penn Dental Medicine is among the oldest university-affiliated dental schools in the country with a history deeply rooted in forging precedents in education, research, and patient care.
$120M
$20.91M
Total annual budget in FY22
Research money awarded in FY21
813 STUDENTS 550
students in the four-year DMD program
41,259
65,289
23,555
Patients served in 2021 within the School’s care centers & Penn Dental Family Practice
Hours of clinical care in the community by students in 2021
Virtual & on-demand program attendees/ registrants at 326 CDE programs in 2021
124 in the 2 1/2-year Program for
Advanced Standing Students (PASS)
139 in the Graduate & Advanced
Dental Education, programs: 127 in the specialty programs, 12 in the DScD plus certificate program, 8 in the DScD stand-alone program, 40 in the MSOB plus certificate program, and 4 in the MOHS programs.
1,021 FACULTY/STAFF/ STUDENT WORKERS PHYSICAL CAMPUS
MORTON AMSTERDAM DEAN
Located at 240 S. 40th Street, the dental campus includes the Robert Schattner Center & Pavilion, the Thomas W. Evans Building, and the Leon Levy Building.
Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, has served as the Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Dental Medicine since 2018. He is the 12th dean in the School’s history.
483 faculty members, including 52
full-time standing, 47 full-time nonstanding, 274 part-time, and 110 adjunct
343 staff members, including 336 full-time and 7 part-time
195 work-study students *Unless otherwise noted, figures as of 2/10/2022
Centers
ADVANCING SCIENCE, EDUCATION, PATIENT CARE Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH) The School’s first policy center, the CIGOH is devoted to finding innovative solutions to transform the way educators, practitioners, and policy makers address the challenges of achieving equitable oral health. Launched in spring 2021, it will develop and examine evidence-informed interventions, guidelines and policies to improve oral health care services from local to global levels.
Center for Clinical & Translational Research Advancing clinical and translational studies within the School, the Center provides centralized support to researchers within Penn Dental Medicine who conduct human subjects research. The highly specialized team provides clinical research support and services spanning the full spectrum of a study from conceptualization to closeout for industry, federal, and foundation sponsors.
Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD)
Care Center for Persons with Disabilities
A partnership between Penn Dental Medicine and Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the CiPD is focused on leveraging cutting-edge yet affordable approaches to accelerate discovery and translation of new therapies, diagnostics, and devices to address unmet oral health needs. Also central to its mission is training the next generation of leaders in dental, oral, and craniofacial research and oral health care innovation.
Designed to meet the oral health care needs of people with physical and intellectual disabilities, the Care Center not only provides a home for treating patients and educating students, but will also be a site for developing new products and approaches to care. Penn experts are collaborating with scientists on the design and implementation of products to enhance oral care in people with disabilities.
Digital Design and Milling Center & Center for Virtual Treatment Planning Digital dental technologies are fully integrated at Penn Dental Medicine with both of theses centers outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and technology for training students, conducting research, and delivering seamless and cutting-edge patient care. The one center focuses on chairside CAD/CAM applications with the other addressing complex cases and full-mouth restorations.
Education
TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS DMD Program The four-year predoctoral DMD program and curriculum reflects Penn Dental Medicine’s commitment to both oral science and oral health care. Beginning in the first year of study, basic sciences and clinical experiences are closely linked, while early involvement in practice settings helps students integrate classroom instruction with delivering evidence-informed, patient-centered clinical care. Students can pursue added study in areas of interest through a competitive honors program in research and a variety of clinical specialties. And, close ties with other Penn schools allow for dynamic dual-degree options for those exceptional DMD students able to meet the application standards of both programs.
Graduate Dental Education Programs Postgraduate students can complete specialty training in endodontics, oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatrics, periodontics, periodontics/ orthodontics, and prosthodontics.
Program for Advanced Standing Students (PASS) The two-and-a-half year PASS program enables graduates of foreign dental schools to earn a DMD, allowing them to take licensing exams in any U.S. state. PASS students are fully integrated into the predoctoral class, joining the second-year class in January.
Biodental Consortial Programs Qualified high school students may apply to accelerated programs at five participating universities, leading to a combined bachelor’s and dental degree in seven years. Accepted students enter Penn Dental Medicine after their third year of undergraduate study and receive a bachelor’s degree from their undergraduate institution after completing the first year at Penn Dental Medicine.
Continuing Dental Education An ADA CERP-recognized provider of continuing education, Penn Dental Medicine offers robust programming of online, in-person, and hands-on courses and symposia.
Advanced Graduate Degree Programs • M aster of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB), designed for students who are interested in integrating more extensive research into their postgraduate education. Enrollment is limited to individuals concurrently in one of the graduate dental education specialty programs. • D octor of Dental Sciences (DScD), preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry as clinical or basic science researchers. It can be pursued concurrently with or without a specialty program certificate. • M aster of Oral Health Sciences for both predental track students looking to enhance their credentials for applying to a DMD/DDS program and another track for non-U.S.-trained dentists preparing to successfully apply to a U.S. dental school. • M aster of Advanced Dental Studies (MADS), a oneyear hybrid program that includes an interactive online platform as well as on-campus clinical rotations, is directed to both domestic and international dentists. MADS is designed for clinicians who wish to enhance their knowledge in a clinical discipline or improve their qualifications when applying to U.S. residency programs. The program also serves international dentists with U.S. specialty degrees whose home country requires a Master’s degree for recognition of the specialty or U.S. graduates of specialty programs who wish to refresh their knowledge in their field through a structured program.
Research
TRANSLATING SCIENCE TO PRACTICE Robust Research Enterprise
Student Research
Penn Dental Medicine has a rich history as a researchintensive institution and continues to be an international leader in the generation of new knowledge and treatment modalities to improve oral health. With its own basic science faculty (unusual among dental schools nationwide), the School’s research enterprise is broad and encompasses many areas of contemporary biomedical investigation with emphasis on both basic and clinical scientific research.
DMD students are encouraged to engage in research activities through a variety of programs:
Among Penn Dental Medicine’s leading research programs are investigators studying topics within periodontal disease, oral mucosal diseases and bone disorders, oral facial pain, advanced dental materials and devices, and oral and systemic health, among others. Collectively, Penn Dental Medicine’s research spans scientific disciplines to translate new knowledge into clinical therapies that expand our understanding of oral diseases and advance patient care.
Scholarly Activity
590+ ARTICLES published by full-time faculty on their research in 2021
23 PATENTS awarded to faculty for their research over the past five fiscal years (FY17-FY21)
#3 RANKING in National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funding of dental schools nationwide in FY2020
• Summer Research Program, which allows students to choose from faculty preceptors in the basic or clinical sciences, collaborating on faculty-sponsored research over the summer break • I ndividualized research projects that students initiate with faculty • L eonard Davis Summer Research Fellowship, doing health services and health policy research • Honors Programs • Dual-Degree Programs Students present their research at the School’s annual Research Day, Advances in Clinical Care and Education (ACCE) Day, and through the School’s AADOCR Travel Award program, awardees (students and junior researchers) present their work at the annual AADOCR meeting. Penn Dental Medicine offers advanced research training to postgraduate students through its MSOB and DScD programs.
Patient Care
SERVING THE COMMUNITY, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Clinical Care Centers at Penn Dental Medicine Penn Dental Medicine students and faculty are a major provider of clinical care to residents of West Philadelphia and the Philadelphia community at large. A full range of general and specialty services are provided at Penn Dental Medicine, including treatment for medically complex patients, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. The teaching clinical care centers within the School include: • P redoctoral Comprehensive Care clinics (Robert I. Schattner Clinic and Henry Schein Cares Clinic) • B rainerd F. Swain Orthodontic Clinic • S yngcuk Kim Endodontic Clinic • O ral Surgery Clinic • S aito Pediatric Clinic • D . Walter Cohen and Morton Amsterdam Periodontal Clinic • W illiam W.M. Cheung Advanced Dental Care Clinic • P ersonalized Care Suite, clinical arm of the Penn Dental Medicine Center for Persons with Disabilities, serving medically complex patients and persons with disabilities • V ulnerable Populations Clinic, serving refugees, survivors of psychological and physical violence, and intimate partner violence
Community Care Centers Students and faculty treat patients in local community settings via: • P enn Dental Medicine at Puentes de Salud, serving the Latino immigrant community • P enn Dental Medicine at LIFE, serving the elderly • P ennSmiles mobile vehicle, serving school children Expansion to several new sites is in development.
Penn Dental Family Practice Penn Dental Medicine also operates two group, interdisciplinary care practices through the Penn Dental Family Practice. These practice locations serve faculty and staff of the University of Pennsylvania and the Health System, as well as the general public. The locations include: Locust Walk 240 South 40th Street 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19104
University City 3737 Market Street 10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19104
VISIT US AT www.dental.upenn.edu
VISION STATEMENT
Board of Advisors
To transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research.
David Tai-Man Shen, DMD, D’79, GD’81, Chair Nancy L. Baker, Esq. Stanley M. Bergman Dirk Brunner, MSC, MBA Julie Charlestein William W. M. Cheung, DMD, D’81, GD’82 Joanne Chouinard-Luth, DMD, D’79 Terry A. Dolan, DDS, MPH Matthew J. Doyle, PhD Patrik Eriksson Allen Finkelstein, DDS Ruchi Goel, WG’04 C. Mitchell Goldman, WG’75 Steve Kess Anne E. Klamar, MD Anne Koch, DMD, D’77, GD’93 Haruo Morita Vincent Mosimann Joan O’Shea, MD Daniel W. Perkins Lewis E. Proffitt, DMD, D’73, WG’80 Garry Rayant, BDS, DDS, LDSRCS, GD’77 Maria Ryan, DDS, PhD Tony Saito, DMD, D’95 Ken Serota, Esq. Alfred L. Spencer, Jr. Larry Turner, Esq. Robert Zou, WG’94
MISSION STATEMENT • F oster a humanistic environment where each individual in our diverse community is valued, respected and empowered. • T reat our patients with compassion and respect, and provide exceptional evidence-informed care. • H onor Penn Dental Medicine’s legacy through transformative initiatives to solve the complex problems of today and tomorrow. • S hape the global dental profession by teaching evidence-informed knowledge and providing opportunities to pursue individualized development for life-long learning. • P romote interdisciplinary collaborations that accelerate innovation and scientific discovery to address unmet needs in health. • M entor exceptional leaders in education, research and oral health.
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS Martin D. Levin, D’72, GD’74, Chair, Dean’s Council Scott Chanin, D’83, President, Alumni Society
School Leadership
Department Chairs
Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD Morton Amsterdam Dean
BASIC & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES Robert P. Ricciardi, MA, PhD Acting Chair Henry Daniell, PhD Vice Chair
Faizan Alawi, DDS Associate Dean, Academic Affairs Hydar Ali, PhD Associate Dean, Faculty Diversity & Mentorship Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, PhD Assistant Dean, Academic Initiatives Bruce Brandolin Assistant Dean, Intramural Practice and External Partnerships Patricia Corby, DDS, MS Associate Dean, Translational Research Maren Gaughan Associate Dean, Leadership Giving Joan Gluch, RDH, PhD Associate Dean, Academic Policies Dana Graves, DMD, DMSc Vice Dean, Research & Scholarship Uri Hangorsky, DDS, MS Associate Dean, Student Life Kevin M. Holland Associate Dean, Finance and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Jordan-Scuitto Associate Dean, Organizational Effectiveness
CORE VALUES
Liz Ketterlinus Vice Dean, Institutional Advancement
The School’s core values are consistent with the Penn Compact 2022:
Syngcuk Kim, DDS, PhD, MD (Hon) Associate Dean, Global Affairs Mark Mitchell Assistant Dean, Admissions
INCLUSION We value diversity and respect for all
Sinem Esra Sahingur, DDS, MS, PhD Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Student Research
INNOVATION We expand knowledge through cutting edge research; We use the latest technology and evidence-informed practices in teaching and clinical care IMPACT We provide high quality comprehensive dental care in all clinics; We make a difference in educational, research and clinical outreach initiatives locally and globally
Najeed Saleh, DMD Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs Thomas P. Sollecito, DMD Associate Dean, Hospital and Extramural Affairs Kim Wolcott Chief of Staff, Senior Director, Faculty Affairs
VISIT US AT
www.dental.upenn.edu
ENDODONTICS Bekir Karabucak, DMD, MS Chair ORAL MEDICINE Thomas Sollecito, DMD, FDS, RCSEd Chair ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY & PHARMACOLOGY Anh D. Le, DDS, PhD Chair ORTHODONTICS Chun-Hsi Chung, DMD, MS Chair PERIODONTICS Rodrigo Neiva, DDS, MS Chair PREVENTIVE & RESTORATIVE SCIENCES Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD, Prof Dr med dent Chair DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH Joan Gluch, PhD, RDH, PHSHP Division Chief DIVISION OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Betty Hajishengallis, DMD, DDS, PhD, MSc Division Chief DIVISION OF RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY David Hershkowitz, DDS, AAS Division Chief