Avishai Sadan Named Dean of USC School of Dentistry

On behalf of University of Southern California President Steven B. Sample, Executive Vice President and Provost C. L. Max Nikias has announced the appointment of Avishai Sadan as dean of the USC School of Dentistry, effective August 1, 2009.

Sadan will also hold the G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery Dean’s Chair in Dentistry.

Sadan will join USC from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, where he serves as associate dean of clinical affairs and professor and chairman of the department of comprehensive care.

“We are delighted to have Professor Avishai Sadan join USC,” said Nikias. “He has distinguished himself at Case Western as a successful administrator and inspiring leader, and we look forward to his service at the USC School of Dentistry as the school continues its mission of educating the finest clinicians, advancing research, and enhancing public health.”

Sadan brings strong experience in clinical practice and research to USC. At Case Western, he merged the former departments of restorative dentistry and general dentistry, restructured all preclinical courses to align with contemporary restorative approaches, reorganized all clinical procedures, and streamlined all preclinical and clinical operations. In his role as chair, of the department of comprehensive care, he has supervised all departmental research activities, the school’s biomaterials laboratory, and the clinical trials in the D.M.D. clinics research.

Sadan is the former editor-in-chief of Quintessence International and of Quintessence of Dental Technology (QDT). He has served on the editorial boards of other journals, and has published and lectured nationally and internationally on biomaterials, fixed prosthodontics, and esthetic and implant dentistry.

“With the great privilege of joining one of the world’s finest schools comes the huge responsibility of maintaining its high level of excellence,” said Sadan. “In a highly competitive environment, the school will continue to reinvent itself using its biggest assets: its outstanding students, world renowned faculty, and the most committed and proud core of alumni any school has.

We will continue to attract the best candidates, graduate the finest clinicians, generate meaningful and exciting scientific discoveries, and be a resource for the betterment of our community through our strong community outreach.”

Sadan received his B.Sc. and D.M.D. degrees from Hebrew University’s Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem, where he also completed an internship in maxillofacial prosthodontics and oral medicine. He received his training in prosthodontics from the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Dentistry and has also completed a fellowship at LSU in prosthodontics, emphasizing esthetic and implant dentistry.

Sadan is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Prosthodontists, the Academy of Osseointegration, the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society, and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

About the USC School of Dentistry

Since its establishment in 1897, the USC School of Dentistry has maintained a legacy of clinical excellence through education, research, patient care and service to the community and the profession. Through undergraduate, pre-doctoral and continuing professional education, the school has provided professional leadership to educate and graduate competent health professionals, researchers and educators with the skills and abilities necessary to facilitate sustained success into the future.

The school is also a leader in problem-based learning pedagogy, and is a major recipient of federally-sponsored biomedical research funds, ranking among the elite of all dental schools. The School of Dentistry has been home to breakthroughs in craniofacial development, tissue engineering, tooth regeneration, biomineralization, occupational science and physical therapy among other areas, along with professional changing clinical innovations.

In addition, tens of thousands of people have received oral healthcare through the school’s dental clinics, mobile clinics, and community-based health programs. Since 1965, the mobile clinic, the flagship program for the School of Dentistry Community Health Program, has served more than 81,000 low-income children from urban and rural areas of the state-from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border-providing more than $1.5 million in free oral health care each year. In many ways, the School of Dentistry reflects the vibrant mix of scholarship, professional training, and important community work that characterizes USC.

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