Tom Sollecito, associate dean for academic affairs at the Penn School of Dental Medicine, will act as dean of the school until current dean Marjorie Jeffcoat recovers from an illness.
Jeffcoat was admitted to the emergency department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in July. She began treatment in HUP's intensive-care unit and temporarily relinquished her responsibilities as dean.
Acting in her place, Sollecito is no stranger to the Penn Dental community, having joined the faculty in 1993. His previous positions include chief of Penn Dental Medicine's Oral Medicine Service, director of Penn Dental Medicine's Oral Medicine Clinic, and director of Oral Medicine Residency at HUP. He also received the University's Lindback Award for distinguished teaching.
University President Amy Gutmann and Provost Ron Daniels wished Jeffcoat a "swift recovery."
