Dr. David Levy

At age 8, Dr. David Levy knew he wanted to be a dentist.

Now the Eastman Institute for Oral Health’s associate director of Institute Projects has more than 45 years in pediatric dentistry behind him. He recently stepped down as the institute’s chief quality, compliance and safety officer and medical director, where he blended his passion for the field with clinical and academic education that has impacted dentists from around the world.

“Dr. Levy’s leadership and unique skillset and experience in both academia, private practice and public health allowed us to expand the office significantly over the past 11 years he served in this role,” said Eastman Institute for Oral Health Director Dr. Eli Eliav. “Dr. Levy is an enthusiastic advocate and mentor and was able to develop successful collaborations throughout the medical center and university.”

Dr. Levy’s dedication has led to multiple awards, including the 2019 Award of Merit from the Seventh District Dental Society. In 2022, his unwavering commitment to dental education and community service earned him recognition as one of the Rochester Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes in the Lifetime Achievement category. In addition, he is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

A critical piece of that preparation took place at EIOH, where Dr. Levy, a Boston native, attended a specialty residency-training program while earning an advanced academic degree in Public Health.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Levy has successfully treated thousands of anxious children, teaching them coping skills and using behavior modification techniques to reduce their stress level in the dentist’s chair.

And he has been a constant supporter of community health.

Dr. Levy was director of a pediatric dental clinic in an impoverished area of rural Maine, providing care to including Native Americans from the Penobscot Nation and other underserved youth. He also served as director of three dental clinics in urban Rochester, and provided dental care in mobile vans to Rochester city schoolchildren and the children of migrant workers in Geneseo.

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