Samuel Dorn, DDS, will retire from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry effective Jan. 16. Dr. Dorn has been a professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics for seven years, providing leadership, mentorship and service to students, faculty and patients.
“Dr. Dorn is a recognized leader across our profession and in the specialty practice of endodontics,” Stephen Pachuta, DDS, dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, said. “We have been incredibly fortunate to have Sam as a member of our leadership team. As department chair and program director, his contributions made a significant impact to the education and clinical practice of our predoctoral students and our postdoctoral residents. He has indeed helped to shape the next generation. We wish Sam and Lindy much happiness as they begin a well-earned, and very well-deserved, retirement.”
Dorn earned his dental degree from the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry, and then served as a captain in the Dental Corps of the U.S. Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. He continued his training at Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, New York, where he completed a residency in endodontics. He is a board-certified endodontist, an honor achieved by less than a half percent of all dentists.
Prior to joining the faculty at WVU, Dorn spent over 50 years working in faculty and private practices in New York, Florida and Texas.
Dorn has been a member and served as president in several professional dental organizations including the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), International Federation of Endodontic Associations, Asian-Pacific Endodontic Confederation and Florida Association of Endodontists. He also held leadership roles in the American Board of Endodontics, AAE Foundation, American Dental Association and American College of Dentists, among many others. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and Fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy. He has also received numerous awards from various organizations including the 2013 Coolidge Award for lifetime achievement, the highest award presented by the American Association of Endodontists.
Throughout his career, he has served in numerous editorial positions and published many research articles. He has been actively involved in several educational organizations including having served as a site visitor for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and several task forces for the American Dental Education Association. He has also traveled extensively in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America to lecture on emerging topics in the field.
At WVU, Dorn has been instrumental in increasing interest in the endodontics advanced education program, resulting in nearly 300 applications for three positions in the program for the past few years.
Dorn and his wife, Lindy, are outstanding stewards of the School and were inducted into the WVU School of Dentistry Pylons Alliance Loyalty Society (PALS) in 2023 in recognition of their significant financial support. The Dr. Samuel and Lindy Dorn Endodontic Endowment supports a lecture series that will bring expert speakers from around the world to WVU to discuss their achievements in the field with residents – dentists training to specialize in endodontics – and alumni of the program.
He and his wife plan to travel and spend more time with their four children and six grandchildren.
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