UCSF Names Michael Reddy as Dean for School of Dentistry

An internationally renowned periodontics specialist, Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, has been appointed dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry, one of the preeminent graduate dental schools in the nation.

Reddy joins UCSF from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry, where he has been on the faculty since 1989 and served as dean for nearly seven years.

“We are extremely pleased that Michael Reddy is joining UCSF as the dean of the School of Dentistry,” said UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS. “He brings great vision and energy to this leadership position that will enable the school to grow, building on its strong history and advancing its position as a global leader in dental education and public health, clinical practice, and scientific discovery.”

Reddy assumes his new position June 1, 2018. He will join Hawgood’s Chancellor’s Cabinet, which consists of the deans of UCSF’s other professional schools – medicine, nursing and pharmacy – and the Graduate Division, the chief executive officer of UCSF Health, vice chancellors and other leaders of the university.

Reddy’s vision is to build upon the UCSF School of Dentistry’s reputation as the preeminent research and clinical dental school in the country by expanding its research program, developing more diverse revenue sources, increasing philanthropic efforts, enhancing curriculum innovation, and orchestrating integrated, collaborative practice opportunities. With a lifelong commitment to equity and inclusion, exemplified through very successful efforts at UAB, Reddy is intent on strengthening UCSF’s culture of diversity to embrace the contributions of each individual and looks forward to fostering a collaborative environment for faculty, staff, students and trainees to succeed.

“Dentistry, like life, is about relationships,” Reddy said. “I believe in building a culture that embraces the uniqueness of each individual and fosters a collaborative environment for faculty, staff and students to succeed. Hiring, retaining and promoting exceptionally talented colleagues from different racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds leads to diversity of thought and results in greater success. UCSF does this better than almost any institution, so I look forward to exploring the climate to make sure all are engaged and energized by opportunities at the School of Dentistry.”

Reddy Succeeds Featherstone

Reddy succeeds John D.B. Featherstone, MSc, PhD, who led the dentistry school as dean from September 2008 through December 2017 and as interim dean from July 2007 through August 2008. Under his leadership, the School of Dentistry expanded scholarships and support for students and faculty, launched UCSF Dental Center, initiated bold curriculum reform, and maintained the school’s No. 1 ranking in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding.

A member of the school’s faculty for more than 20 years and chair of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences from 1996-2005, Featherstone retired as dean and professor in early January 2018 and remains as professor emeritus.

Mark Kirkland, DDS, FACD, associate dean for clinical affairs and professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences in the School of Dentistry, has served as interim dean from Jan. 1, 2018, and will continue in that role until Reddy’s arrival.

“We are very grateful to Mark for guiding the School of Dentistry during this interim period, keeping it focused on its mission,” Hawgood said. “We also are grateful to John for his decades of leadership, innovation and dedication, both to the school and to UCSF. His accomplishments as a faculty member and dean have made a significant impact on research, dental care and the UCSF community.”

The University conducted an extensive national search and recruitment effort before selecting Reddy, who will report to Hawgood and hold a tenured faculty appointment as professor of orofacial sciences while serving as dean.

“More than 130 individuals were contacted for this position, with 15 considered true candidates or active prospects,” said B. Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD, dean of the UCSF School of Pharmacy and chair of the search committee. “The committee worked hard to identify a diverse group of final candidates in both gender and ethnicity. From this deep pool, Michael Reddy’s innovative approach to dentistry and leadership in research stood out and resulted in him being the best person to lead the UCSF School of Dentistry into the future.”

Longtime UAB Dentistry Faculty Member

Reddy is the eighth dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, Alabama’s only dental school, serving as its interim dean from June 2011 and dean since March 2012. He was chair of the Department of Periodontology from 2004-11, former assistant dean for Planning and Clinical Activity, and senior scientist in multiple UAB research centers, including the centers for Metabolic Bone Disease and for Aging.

Upon becoming dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, Reddy worked with a core leadership team to create vision, mission and value statements and develop a five-year strategic plan, with the resulting vision focusing on “leading oral health.” The result was an increase from 15th to first among U.S. dental schools in National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funding for 2012, increased alumni association membership, significant growth in clinical revenue and patient satisfaction, and higher student academic performance.

An internationally recognized master clinician in periodontal therapy and dental implants, Reddy’s research focuses on interrelationships between oral infections and overall health and regenerative medicine approaches in the oral cavity.

Reddy has received continual NIH funding for more than 25 years and been awarded nearly 60 funded or currently funded grants as an investigator or co-investigator. An examiner for the American Board of Periodontology, he has served as a member or committee chair of national and international associations and societies, including the Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation. He is a recipient of the Clinical Research Award from the American Academy of Periodontology and the William J. Gies Annual Periodontology Award from the William J. Gies Foundation for the Advancement of Dentistry of the American Dental Education Association, Inc.

Reddy is an associate editor of the Journal of Periodontology and editor of Clinical Advances in Periodontics and formerly served on the editorial boards of the Journal of the American Dental Association and Journal of Dental Education. He has contributed more than 130 original reports, eight book chapters, 136 abstracts and papers, and nearly 160 invited lectures and presentations.

Focused on Education, Integrating with Other Schools

In his new role, Reddy’s responsibilities include advancing the UCSF School of Dentistry’s outstanding professional and graduate-level education and internationally known research programs.

Dental schools nationwide are being tested by the rising cost of educating students, faculty development and recruitment, and integrating oral health into overall health care. Reddy believes the UCSF School of Dentistry can be a leader in responding to these challenges by educating senior dental students, postdoctoral students and residents in patient-centered delivery systems where faculty practice in teams with pre- and post-doctoral students and other health professionals. Closer integration with the UCSF schools of medicine, nursing and pharmacy through clusters or research centers also will strengthen research programs and possibly reduce operating costs.

“I am honored to be a part of the UCSF School of Dentistry’s rich history in generating new knowledge and educating the next generation,” Reddy said. “UCSF is known for a culture of collaboration as scientists, clinicians, educators and students working together to translate new discoveries into treatments. The University is outstanding, the people are fantastic, and the culture is great – if you add the opportunity to live in the Bay Area, it’s about as good as it gets.”

Reddy earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hartford. He obtained his Doctorate of Dental Medicine and certificate in periodontology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and a Doctorate of Medical Science at Harvard University.

Reddy will earn an annual total salary of $425,000 and is eligible for standard pension and health and welfare benefits.

Currently, Reddy lives in Birmingham with his wife, Alyssa, and their three children. A well-known pediatric neuro-oncologist, Alyssa will join UCSF as a professor of neurology and director of the Neurofibromatosis Program in the Pediatric Brain Center on July 1.

UC San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It includes top-ranked graduate schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy; a graduate division with nationally renowned programs in basic, biomedical, translational and population sciences; and a preeminent biomedical research enterprise. It also includes UCSF Health, which comprises three top-ranked hospitals, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland, and other partner and affiliated hospitals and healthcare providers throughout the Bay Area.

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