Page 3 - Dentistry Magazine 2021

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Dear School of Dentistry community,
I bring you greetings from the School of Dentistry. As we near the beginning of the
spring semester and approach nearly two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am struck with pride and gratitude. Through challenging times, our students, faculty,
staff and community came together in incredible ways. This edition of Dentistry Magazine tells their stories.
This issue of the magazine may look different than previous ones. We are working to streamline and improve our communications with you, making sure we share the most relevant and timely information with you.
This also marks my first magazine since I have had the honor of serving as dean of the school. I am looking forward to getting to know you better and hearing about your School of Dentistry experience as soon as it is safe. In the meantime, I encourage you to get to know me better in the Q&A on page 5.
Within these pages, you will learn more about how the School of Dentistry made it through the most difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic. You will read about our students’ and faculty’s accomplishments, and you will hear from your Alumni Society Board president on how you can stay connected to your School of Dentistry family.
You will learn how our donors helped us raise over $27 million across ten years of the Driven. Campaign, supporting students, faculty and staff with research, scholarship, capital improvements and more. You will also learn more about our priorities as a school and my hopes for the future.
As dean, it is my responsibility to ensure we are creating a humanistic, academically rigorous environment, where the next generation of oral health professionals can thrive. We will continue to prioritize research, with a goal of reaching the top ten of the NIDCR rankings. We will maintain stringent standards for the health and safety of our patients and ourselves. We will continue refining our strategic plan, preparing students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care in an efficient and effective manner.
Perhaps most importantly, we will continue our commitment to supporting students.
As the cost of dental education rises, I am making scholarship giving a highlight of my fundraising goals. Supporting our students through scholarship giving will allow us to recruit and retain a diverse, talented group of oral health care leaders who are passionate about their role and eager to serve their community without undue burden. You will hear more about this goal in the months to come.
I look forward to welcoming you back to campus with open arms soon. In the meantime, I hope this magazine serves as a fond reminder of your dental school experience.
Stay safe and healthy.
Keith A. Mays, DDS, MS, PhD
Dean
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
DENTISTRY 2021 >>>