John Valenza, D.D.S., the executive associate dean and associate professor in the department of diagnostic sciences at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, has been named the school's interim dean, effective May 23, 2009, according to the university.
Dr. Valenza will transition into this new leadership role after the UT Dental Branch's commencement ceremony on May 22 when Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., steps down as dean to pursue her passion for academic oral pathology and pediatric dentistry. Dr. Flaitz served as interim dean for two years before being named dean in 2004, the same year she became the first dentist to receive the President's Scholar Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Flaitz will remain on the faculty, where she holds the William N. Finnegan III Development Board Professorship in the Dental Sciences. The university said it will work with a national search firm to identify a new dean of the Dental Branch.
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