Dr. Andrea Esteves appointed Dean pro tem, Faculty of Dentistry
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Andrea Esteves as Dean pro tem of the Faculty of Dentistry, commencing August 28, 2023.
Dr. Esteves, Clinical Professor in the Department of Oral Health Sciences, currently serves as Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs, a role she's held since 2011. She completed her DDS degree at the State University of Londrina in 1989 and her MSc at UBC in 1994. As a graduate student, she taught in a number of DMD courses and modules, including prosthodontics, and joined the faculty ranks as Clinical Assistant Professor in 1996. Dr. Esteves soon took on the role of clinic manager and was a key member of the planning team for the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre, where she has now been clinic director since 2009. She has been involved in many of the Faculty's geriatric dentistry research projects, providing support as a clinician. She has served as President and Past-President of the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry.
I am grateful to Dr. Esteves for her willingness to lead the Faculty while the search for the next Dean continues.
Regarding the search, the President's Advisory Committee has recently held confidential interviews with a number of excellent candidates and will be inviting a short-list of candidates to UBC to meet with members of the Faculty and the University's senior administration in September. Further information on this next confidential phase of the search will be forthcoming once the candidates and dates are confirmed.
As you know, Dr. Mary MacDougall will be stepping down as Dean when her pro tem term ends on August 27, 2023. During her time as Dean, Dr. MacDougall oversaw the launch of the Faculty’s strategic plan; established the Patterson Dental Learning Centre; expanded research positions and total faculty numbers; created an International DMD Program; increased Indigenous enrolment; implemented digital dentistry creating a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory; upgraded the 144 dental chairs in the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre; and garnered the largest donation in the Faculty’s history.
I am grateful for her continued dedication to the Faculty and wish her well in her next endeavours.
Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President Academic, UBC Vancouver