Finding a Way: Dean's Message
In the first year of my deanship, I found myself surrounded by faculty, students, staff, and fellow academic leaders wanting to introduce me to the beauty of this campus, this city, and this outstanding dental school – UCLA Dentistry. I have been warmly welcomed by the entire community to what has now become my home.
This magazine is a new communications piece for us, with a goal of giving the dental school community and beyond a glimpse into what sets our professional health sciences school apart from the rest. I already know what makes this a wonderful place, but it is important that we share our stories with our current stakeholders as well as those who may not be familiar with this amazing place of dental training and education, innovative research, quality patient care, and dedication to public service.
In this inaugural issue, you will have the opportunity to meet three of our premiere researchers, who are searching for a cure to conquer cancer. Their research roads to discovery are among many that you will read about in future issues. Next, you will be introduced to four of our bright, talented dental students, whose diverse pathways to dentistry were a little different from their colleagues’. This June also marked the retirement of one of our most beloved and valued academic leaders, Dr. Ronald Mito, whose road to leadership is inspirational. We will also give you a glimpse of our premiere community-based dental center, the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center, which has been a resource for the community for nearly 50 years. Lastly, we will highlight our very first female alum, Dr. Margaret Pan Quon, a retired endodontist who has discovered another art form in retirement.
It’s an honor to be leading this dental school and I look forward to finding ways to further our growth and development.
If you have an idea for a story or just want to send me your thoughts about what we featured in this piece, please do not hesitate to email us at info@dentistry.ucla.edu. Your opinion and thoughts matter and are important to us.
Sincerely,
Paul H. Krebsbach, DDS, PhD
Dean and Professor