I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Hannu Larjava as Dean pro tem for the Faculty of Dentistry, for a one-year term effective August 28, 2026.
Dr. Larjava graduated from the University of Turku, Finland, with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and a PhD. After completing his specialization in periodontics, he undertook postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute before joining the University of Alabama at Birmingham as an Associate Professor. Dr. Larjava joined UBC Dentistry in 1993 as the Chair, Division of Periodontics and Director, Graduate Periodontics. He currently serves as the Associate Dean, Research. His CIHR-funded research focuses on scarless wound healing and on pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
Dr. Andrea Esteves, who has served as Dean pro tem since August 28, 2023, will be concluding her term on August 27. I want to thank Dr. Esteves for her leadership and service in guiding the Faculty over the last three years. During this time, the Faculty completed accreditation site visits for seven undergraduate and graduate programs plus two residency programs, revamped the DMD curriculum, and restructured its research enterprise. Working with the dental clinic team, she implemented the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and in partnership with Health Canada, secured funding for strategies that will sustain a continuous flow of patients receiving care in the Faculty’s clinical facilities. Dr. Esteves has been instrumental in helping the Faculty raise $13-million during her term, establishing a strong foundation for the Faculty to move forward. Following her time as Dean pro tem, Dr. Esteves will continue to serve as Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs.
The search for the next Dean, launched in October 2025, has concluded without an appointment. We will share more information about the next phase of the search in the coming months.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Larjava on his appointment. His leadership experience, research expertise and deep knowledge of the Faculty will be valuable assets in this role, and we look forward to working closely with him and the Faculty of Dentistry’s leadership team over the next year.
Janice Stewart
Acting Provost