The Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) School of Dentistry has appointed Eli Schwarz, DDS, PhD, MPH, as the new chairman for its community dentistry department. Dr. Schwarz recently joined the dental school, replacing interim chair Denice Stewart, DDS, MHSA, associate dean for clinical affairs.
Dr. Schwarz has a doctor of dental science and a doctoral degree from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and a master's degree in public health from the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School.
Dr. Schwarz was most recently a professor of population oral health at the University of Sydney Faculty of Dentistry and an adjunct professor in professional studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. Previous professional positions include professor and dean of the University of Sydney Faculty of Dentistry; executive director of the American and International Associations for Dental Research (AADR/IADR); professor of public health dentistry and dean of dentistry at the University of Hong Kong; chief dental officer for the National Board of Health in Denmark; and associate professor at the University of Copenhagen.
The OHSU dental school class of 2011 is the first required to complete a one-week community-based rotation, in addition to serving one week at the OHSU Russell Street Dental Clinic. All 74 students of the class have now completed care at one of 13 sites in communities ranging from private offices in two rural and remote cities to safety-net public health clinics in two additional cities. A handful of soon-to-be graduates sought more than one community-based rotation and several completed three or more.
