Candidates for WVU’s dean of the School of Dentistry will begin the second round of virtual interviews on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The University community is invited to participate in the presentation portion to meet the candidates. Links to participate are provided below.
“We have had several exceptional candidates that have expressed interest in the leadership role of the School of Dentistry,” Dr. Louise T. Veselicky, associate vice president for Health Sciences academic affairs and chair of the search committee, said. “This is a pivotal time in the School’s growth trajectory, and the candidates that are interviewing must have the vision and unique expertise to lead the School of Dentistry into the future.”
The three candidates, and the dates of their visits, are:
Stephen M Pachuta, DDS, MS, ABGD
Interview Dates: Feb. 16-17, 2021
Candidate Presentation: Feb. 22 at 12:00 p.m.; Please use the Zoom link to participate.
Dr. Pachuta is a retired United States Navy rear admiral. He served as the 37th Chief of the United States Navy Dental Corps and retired from the Navy in December 2017, after 32 years of military service. He earned his doctorate degree in dental surgery from WVU and has held academic appointments at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He has also served as the director of health services and medical officer for the Marine Corps. His focus areas of experience include executive, organizational and strategic leadership and health care operations.
Fotinos S. Panagakos, DMD, PhD
Interview Dates: March 2-3, 2021
Candidate Presentation: March 2 at 12:00 p.m.; Please use the Zoom link to participate.
Dr. Panagakos is associate professor and interim dean of the WVU School of Dentistry. He earned doctorate degrees in dental medicine and philosophy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Dental School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (now Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.) He has held academic appointments with WVU and UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School and Medical School. He has served as the global director of scientific affairs and research relations for Colgate Palmolive Company and as vice president of scientific and clinical Affairs for Geistlich Pharma. He served for 13 years in the New Jersey Army National Guard and Army Reserve and retired as Major in 1999. His areas of research interest include the role of inflammation in oral and overall health, and the impact of nutrition on oral health and disease.
Angelo J. Mariotti, DDS, PhD
Interview Dates: March 11-12, 2021
Candidate Presentation: March 12 at 12 p.m.; Please use the Zoom link to participate.
Dr. Mariotti is professor and chair of the Division of Periodontology within the College of Dentistry at The Ohio State University. He earned his doctorate degrees in dental surgery and in pharmacology and toxicology from WVU. In addition to OSU, he has held academic positions at the University of Florida. He has served as the director of the advanced education program in periodontics and the graduate program in periodontology at both universities. His research interests are in the actions and interactions of sex steroid hormones on cellular proliferation and growth in sex accessory tissues and the oral cavity and issues related to dental health care economics.