Feb. 19, 12 p.m.
Denis Kinane will become dean of the School of Dental Medicine beginning July 1, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Interim Provost Vincent Price announced today.
Until now, the Dental School has been led by Interim Dean Thomas Sollecito, who stepped in after former Dean Marjorie Jeffcoat retired in July 2008.
A search committee led by School of Medicine Dean Arthur Rubenstein recommended Kinane as a finalist to Gutmann, who selected him after an approximately eight-month search process that took place both within and outside the University.
"He's consummately interdisciplinary and international in his experience and outlook and has a dynamic personality," said Gutmann. "He has a deep understanding of the interdependence among the educational, research and clinical missions of a dental school and an unyielding commitment to the highest quality teaching, excellence in patient care and eminence in research."
Kinane is currently associate dean for research and enterprise at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, Ky., and a professor in the school's Department of Periodontics, Endodontics and Dental Hygiene, as well as a professor of microbiology and immunology in the university's School of Medicine.
Originally from Scotland, Kinane received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1980 and his Ph.D. in microbiology three years later from the University of Edinburgh.
During his tenure at Louisville, he worked to improve the dental school's research and professional standing and raised its ranking in research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from 37th to 12th.
He also recruited faculty and researchers from abroad, oversaw the creation of a new oral health and systemic disease research group and partnered with government and business leaders to increase commercial and technology opportunities for researchers in the dental field.
"Dr. Kinane is a strong advocate of closer ties among dental medicine, medicine and the basic sciences and of forging new linkages between dental schools, the community and business sectors," Price said in a press release.
Much of Kinane's research centers around gum disease and the links between oral and overall health. Clinical dental education also remains a focus for Kinane, who taught periodontics for more than 20 years.
Gutmann emphasized that Kinane brings an interdisciplinary vision for the future of the Dental School in reaching out to the School of Medicine and the Nursing School.
She added that she looks forward to seeing Kinane tackle increased research funding for the dental school and push forward on local and global engagement.
And his Scottish background, she said, also adds "an international diversity of accents to our executive team."
*This article was updated at 5:50 p.m. on 2/19/09 to reflect the fact that the search committee recommended Kinane as a finalist for the position but did not select him. President Gutmann made the final selection.
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