A Career in Dental Education

Abstract

For many oral health professionals, an academic career is both appealing and meaningful because it provides the opportunity to impart professional knowledge and skills to the next generation of oral health professionals. An academic career combines clinical skills development with the rewards of teaching others. This chapter will provide the background and context for choosing an academic career, with its many options for development and professional satisfaction. The intention is to make the academic career path more transparent and understandable as an additional choice for any oral health professional. This also entails describing the opportunities to take on leadership and management roles such as becoming a dental Dean or Head of School.

Appendix

Dean Search Announcement: XYZ School of Dentistry

The Dean of the XYZ School of Dentistry reports to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. Appointments are reviewed every 5 years. The Dean plays a key leadership role in advancing the mission, operations and service of the School, with complete responsibility for personnel, general administration and management, budget, academic and development functions.

• Key Priorities:

  • Set strategic direction for the School based on an assessment of strengths and needs relative to the university’s priorities and the unique roles that XYZ assumes within the state university system;

  • Develop a clear identity for the School;

  • Recruit, retain and engage the best faculty members, enhance their career development and empower them to participate in school governance;

  • Promote quality, innovation and scholarship in Dental education and practice arenas;

  • Play a key role in raising funds for a development campaign;

  • Increase research activities and grow the school’s externally funded research portfolio, and prominence within the Dental science community;

  • Prepare for accreditation;

  • Ensure sound financial and operational management;

  • Provide oversight regarding the role and activities of the Dental Faculty Practice;

  • Facilitate collaboration with other university schools/units, clinical entities, XYZ Health Care and community-based agencies to foster interprofessional education, research, clinical, community outreach and other school priorities.

• Specific Responsibilities: Executive Leadership—Provide leadership for strategic planning; Provide leadership in the development, implementation and review of academic, administrative and governance policies and procedures in all major areas of operation; Provide leadership, instructions, guidance and/or counsel to school faculty members, staff and administrators, resolving problems at the school level; Provide leadership in establishing the school’s objectives and develop and manage all resources essential to the achievement of these objectives; Interpret and implement university policies at the school level.

• Academic Oversight: Recruit and retain top faculty members and Department Chairs who will achieve high standards of excellence and will enhance the cultural and ethnic diversity of the School and University; Evaluate faculty members for appointment, tenure and promotion, in accordance with the School’s appointments, promotion and tenure committees; Provide leadership and oversight to academic programmes. Encourage, review and support continuous improvement of programmes and curriculum; Evaluate and approve all curricular changes, advising functions and student recruitment and retention actions and initiatives; Promote and provide oversight to research programmes and grants; Plan and report research activities.

• Financial Management: Oversee the financial management of the school; Develop, monitor and advise sub-units on budgets and fiscal management; Allocate current expenses, capital equipment and personnel budgets; Manage school-wide resource acquisition and utilization.

• External Relations: Serve as the primary advocate and spokesperson for the school; Lead and direct school outreach activities, including serving as a principal representative of the school in relation with local external constituencies (e.g. advisory boards, alumni, legislators, media, community leaders, business and professional organizations, etc.); Cultivate and solicit individual donors, foundations and corporations; Lead the school’s development efforts and ensure that campaign priorities are consistent with the school’s academic vision; Represent the school to the university administration and at appropriate university bodies, committees and councils.