news Dr. Joel Berg continued from page 14
can Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He declared his intent to continue clinical practice as Dean, saying he planned to devote one day every other week to patient care at The Center. “I believe we remain one of the country’s premier schools of dentistry, but I hope for even more,” Dean Berg said in his initial message to the School. “I want UWSOD to be regarded as the absolute and unquestioned national leader in every aspect: clinical education, patient care, research and innovation.” Dean Berg said he would immediately focus on two areas: clinical operations and curriculum. He said that task forces are being appointed to evaluate those areas and make recommendations. The task forces will create plans over a period of about one year, he said, issuing interim reports about halfway through. Their final reports will include an implementation plan with phases and timelines. Dean Berg also said the School’s annual faculty retreat at the end of the year would be organized with a view toward “having the end in mind.” “We’ll be thinking about the design of the ideal dentist of the future – and that how we proceed in each way must add to the vision of this dentist,” he said. “If we’re going to sustain our excel-
“He is the right dean to innovate, inspire and make sure the University of Washington School of Dentistry continues to be the premier dental school in America.” —Dr. Doug Walsh, Past President, Washington State Dental Association lence, we need to make major changes in our clinical systems,” he said. Both clinics and curriculum will be deeply affected by new dental accreditation requirements, which will push dental schools toward more interprofessional education, along with other changes. “If we want to be a true leader, we should be looking at what we need to do to create the dentist of 2025,” Dean Berg said. The School also must focus more
Shortly before becoming Dean, Dr. Berg joins Interim Dean Tim DeRouen at an Executive Committee meeting.
10 DentalAlumninews
closely on process management – “How we do things” – and rethink many of its administrative functions, he said. “It’s good for our departments to have distinct identities for academic and clinical purposes and affiliations with professional dentistry. But our whole School is smaller than just one UW School of Medicine department like Pediatrics – it doesn’t make sense for us to go on operating the way we have,” he said. “We need to think about how we can be more centralized in finances, purchasing, human resources and other areas, and act as one unit.” Dean Berg said he planned to begin meeting quickly with small groups of faculty and staff to discuss his vision for the School and hear their views. He also said that there would be student representation on the curriculum and clinical task forces. “I want everyone’s voice to be heard,” he said. The Dean pledged to strengthen the School’s ties with alumni and the rest of the dental community, promising to be an active and visible presence. “We have a fantastic resource here, with some of the most loyal, passionate alumni of any dental school in the country. They have a personal stake in our success, and I want them to know how important their support is to me.” The School will be reaching out in other directions as well, Dean Berg said. “We also have a great resource in the UW itself. This is one of our country’s premier institutions of research and development, and we should be looking for more opportunities to collaborate on research and education with other parts of the university.” In addition, he said, the School will seek more ways to work with the dental and general business communities. “I think we all know by now that the old levels of state funding just won’t be coming back anytime soon, if ever,” he said. “But if we can be creative and innovative in forging new partnerships, we can still do amazing things.”
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