UTHealth Houston 

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) is headquartered in the largest medical complex in the world, the Texas Medical Center. Each year, UTHealth Houston educates and trains more than 5,000 future physicians, nurses, biomedical researchers, dentists, public health professionals, and informaticians through its seven schools. Its students, faculty and staff deliver care through 1.8 million outpatient visits annually, and in partnership with the many affiliate hospitals across the region for complex, acute care. UTHealth Houston’s seven schools provide cutting-edge, innovative and integrated health education and attract top students from across the state and around the world.  

• Mission: As a comprehensive health science university, the mission of UTHealth Houston is to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences, and build and model the best practices in clinical care and public health. It advances the quality of human life by enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injury, as well as promoting individual health and community well-being
• Vision: Excellence above all in the quest to be an acknowledged leader in the collaboration to treat, cure, and prevent the most common diseases of our time through education, research, and clinical practice.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry 

Founded in 1905, the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (UTSD) is one of the oldest health-related schools in Texas and has graduated more than 10,000 dentists, dental hygienists and postgraduate generalists and specialists since its inception. The School of Dentistry offers 11 accredited programs: DDS, dental hygiene, two primary care general residency programs, and advanced education programs in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics, as well as dual-degree programs in partnership with the UTHealth School of Public Health and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and a joint certificate program with MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students and residents gain clinical skills at on-site clinics, hospitals and through community outreach programs, including Give Kids A Smile, Give Vets A Smile, and Give Seniors A Smile events. The school provides over 305,000 square feet of clinical simulation and learning space and an additional 20,000 square feet of lab and research space. Each year, the School of Dentistry provides reduced cost dental care to thousands of indigent patients.

Position Summary

With over half a century of experience, UTHealth Houston is one of the nation’s most comprehensive health centers and the State of Texas’ resource for health care education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center and across the state, UTHealth Houston’s students, residents, faculty, and staff are creating a healthier future for all — in more than 7 million square feet of state-of-the-art clinical, research, training, and administrative space across 127 buildings.

Since its founding in 1905, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston has graduated over 10,000 dentists, dental hygienists, and postgraduate generalists and specialists through 11 accredited programs and two dual-degree programs.

Reporting to the President of UTHealth Houston, the Dean for the School of Dentistry will build upon an established and successful program, leading its next phase of growth and development. The Dean is responsible for advancing the School’s mission of excellence in education, patient care, research, and service. The Dean will set a bold, forward-thinking vision that positions the School of Dentistry at the forefront of dental education and oral health research. They will champion improving oral health in Texas through initiatives that address emerging trends in the field while integrating cutting-edge technologies and prepare graduates for future success in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

The Dean will strengthen existing partnerships while forging new collaborations and innovation. The ideal candidate will be an experienced, inclusive, and collaborative leader showcasing their commitment to advancing the future of UTHealth Houston’s School of Dentistry. They will work collaboratively with all students, faculty, staff, alumni, organized dentistry, and industry partners. Through their strategic and visionary leadership, the Dean will elevate the School’s impact and enhance its visibility.

The ideal candidate will be a nationally recognized leader with a proven track record of academic achievement, clinical excellence, and progressive administration experience. They will be both a visionary and strategic leader that will foster an environment that supports expert practice and research focused on contemporary health care needs, thus assuring that the school continues to provide educational programs of high quality and effectiveness. The Dean will help advance research initiatives, lead clinical operations in alignment with the school’s academic mission, further the educational goals of the school, and strengthen philanthropic support and alumni engagement.

Key Responsibilities

The Dean, School of Dentistry will: 

• Provide leadership to the School in all academic matters, including research and curricular initiatives, as well as faculty recruitment and development, to strengthen the School’s reputation in academic, clinical, scholarship, and service excellence.
• Advance research initiatives, including interdisciplinary and translational projects, and secure additional extramural funding to support scholarly activity.
• Lead clinical operations in alignment with the School’s academic mission, ensuring high-quality patient care and financial sustainability.
• Strengthen philanthropic support and alumni engagement and represent the School both internally and externally to its stakeholders.
• Manage fiscal and human resources effectively of the School, ensuring operational excellence and long-term growth.
• Promote collaborative relationships with other Schools at UTHealth Houston to further the goal of program development, interdisciplinary education, research, and patient care.
• Foster an environment of high ethical standards and professionalism.
• Ensure that all educational programs offer a positive learning experience and deliver high-quality, innovative opportunities that facilitate the transition from student to professional placing emphasis on interprofessional education.

Experience and Professional Qualifications 

The next Dean for the School of Dentistry will be a nationally recognized scholar and leader in academic medicine, one who is passionate about the academic mission, vision, and values of UTHealth Houston and has a deep understanding of academic health science centers and how they succeed in an evolving health care environment. 

• A proven track record of successful leadership in dental education, research, clinical care, and administrative management, working with colleagues and other organization to achieve that end.
• Demonstrated success as an educator and ability to excite students about oral health, practice, research, service, leadership opportunities, and advanced dental programs.
• A deep understanding of current healthcare issues and trends in oral health and dental education and the experience necessary to transform current practices.
• The ability to imagine and explore new possibilities, while also supporting existing and important initiatives that are currently in development within the School.
• An understanding and embracing of the central role of faculty, staff, and students within the university community and be personally engaged in the education process and student life experiences and activities.
• Experience working effectively with boards, senior management teams, community leaders, government officials, and consumer groups to achieve results.
• A passion for innovation and a commitment to advancing research and scholarly excellence.
• A track record of recruiting, retaining, and developing high-performing and engaged faculty and leadership teams.
• Experience managing financial and budgeting operations of a higher education institution of similar size, scope, and complexity to the School of Dentistry at UTHealth Houston.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and deploy resources effectively and efficiently.
• A track record of engaging with donors and other constituents to advance philanthropic efforts.
• Experience with (dental school) accreditation requirement and processes.
• The skills to navigate the organizational, political, and fiscal realities unique to a major public research university, and to make changes to improve current practice, including effective advocacy for the resources required to uphold mandates and achieve aspirations.

Personal Characteristics and Attributes

• Skilled at motivating individuals, teams, and an entire organization to perform at a higher level that embraces change.
• Strong business acumen with an ability to interpret financial indicators in making sound decisions.
• A person of high integrity, sound judgment, and strong work ethic.
• Ability to anticipate and innovate, creating new ways for an organization to be successful, looking ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Possesses a strong executive presence and a leadership style that is humble, authentic, inspirational, and aspirational, politically astute with a high level of emotional intelligence.
• A highly effective communicator and listener at all levels of an organization as well as within the community.
• A strategic thinker with knowledge and experience in advancing the goals of public research universities.
• Ability to collaborate and build consensus with the interpersonal and communication skills required to form productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Fundraising capacity, enthusiasm, and skill for serving as a key spokesperson. Possesses a keen appreciation for and experience with all aspects of fundraising.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills to work and engage multiple and varied constituencies.

Education 

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.