Accolades
We Salute You
The School of Dentistry salutes three long-serving educators who retired from the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry in 2024.
“Each completed successful careers in the military and then joined the School of Dentistry to selflessly teach young dental professionals. They have influenced thousands of our graduates as well as other faculty members. We are so grateful for their years of dedication,” said Scott G. Stafford, DDS, MBA, associate dean of patient care.
William D. Rose, DDS, served the school for 25 years in various leadership roles, including director of the Predoctoral Division and the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. A Diplomate of the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry and a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, he has received numerous awards for his teaching excellence and contributions to dentistry.
He is a respected member of multiple dental organizations and has co-authored a chapter in the textbook Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry, 3rd edition.
Edward F. Wright, DDS, MS, retired after 21 years as an expert in temporomandibular disorders (TMD). He directed courses and modules on TMD, dental anatomy and occlusion.
Wright’s career includes serving as head Air Force dentist for TMD and a two-year dental research fellowship. He has received numerous awards, authored over 90 publications, and co-authored the Manual of Temporomandibular Disorders, now in its 4th edition and translated into several languages.
Jose M. Gutierrez III, DDS, MS, served as a dental educator for 20 years. He retired as a clinical associate professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. An alumnus of the class of 1979, he returned to teach in 2003 after earning his certificate and Master of Science in Prosthodontics in 1995. Gutierrez directed and co-directed various prosthodontics courses and modules.
He had a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a general dental officer and chief prosthodontist, and earned several Meritorious Service medals and Air Force Commendation medals.
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF PATIENT CARE
SCOTT G. STAFFORD, DDS, MBA, was appointed associate dean of patient care on Aug. 1, 2024. Stafford has been a leader in the school for over 22 years, most recently serving as director for professional development and continuing dental education and as interim chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry.
Prior to working full time with the school, Stafford owned and operated four group practice locations in and around San Antonio. He also co-authored and has managed the Dental Practice Readiness Curriculum for the past 19 years to teach dental students management skills and economics related to the profession. The curriculum is used by over a quarter of U.S. dental schools.
After earning his dental degree in 1996, Stafford obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
SOHINI DHAR, BDS, MPH, DPH, assistant professor of comprehensive dentistry, was elected to serve as a director-at-large on the American Association of Public Health Dentistry’s board of directors. The academy’s work focuses on improving public oral health by developing and supporting effective programs for oral health promotion and disease prevention.
AMERICAN BOARD OF PERIODONTOLOGY PRESIDENT
ANGELA PALAIOLOGOU GALLIS, DDS, MS, professor of periodontics and director of the Graduate Program in Periodontics, served as president of the American Board of Periodontology for the 2023–2024 term. She has held several leadership roles within the American Academy of Periodontology and is known for her many contributions to advanced periodontics and patient care. Her research focuses on bone and soft tissue healing, periodontal regeneration and dental implants.
CHRISTUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALISM AWARD
JEFFREY MABRY, DDS, MS, clinical professor of developmental dentistry and director of the Dental Center for Children at CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, was recognized by the hospital for his demonstration of outstanding professionalism in values, ethics, high-quality patient care and safe practices.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF DENTISTS FELLOWSHIP
ROCHISHA SINGH MARWAHA, DDS, MPH, clinical assistant professor of comprehensive dentistry and assistant director of the Dental Public Health Residency Program, was inducted as a fellow of the International College of Dentists. This honor recognizes outstanding professional achievement, integrity, meritorious service, leadership and continued progress in the profession of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.
NOBEL BIOCARE BRÅNEMARK OSSEOINTEGRATION AWARD
DAVID L. COCHRAN, DDS, PhD, MS, MMSc, professor and chair of the Department of Periodontics, was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Nobel Biocare Brånemark Osseointegration Award. This award, given annually by the Osseointegration Foundation, honors an individual whose impact on implant dentistry is exemplary in the foundation’s mission categories: research, education and charitable causes.
TEXAS DENTIST OF THE YEAR
JON M. DOSSETT, DMD, FACD, FICD, MAGD, ABGD, assistant professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, was presented with the 2023 Texas Dentist of the Year Award by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. The honor is given to a dentist whose contributions to the profession, service to the community and dedication to principles of continuing education indicate character and excellence.
UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS
LEA EL HACHEM, DDS, MS, FICD, associate professor of periodontics, was presented with the 2024 Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence — Emerging. The honor recognizes faculty with fewer than 10 years of teaching experience who have demonstrated emerging excellence and innovation in teaching.
NIKITA B. RUPAREL, DDS, PhD, MS, associate professor of endodontics and director of the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics, received the 2024 Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching Excellence — Sustained. Awardees exhibit a depth of pedagogical excellence that has been sustained for 10 or more years and have been nationally recognized for innovative approaches that have been embedded in the educational practice in the discipline.
