The University of Louisville announced that John Sauk, DDS, MS, dean of the School of Dentistry since 2007, will step down at the end of 2015. During the remainder of his tenure, Sauk will guide the school through its accreditation process and site visit this September. He will then rejoin the faculty as a professor in the Department of Surgical and Hospital Dentistry, Oral Pathology section.

Under Sauk’s leadership, the School of Dentistry created a combined DMD/PhD program and initiated plans for a joint DMD/MBA program, with the School of Business. In addition, the school obtained a federal grant to foster interdisciplinary education among dental students with the School of Nursing under Sauk.

“Dr Sauk has greatly contributed to the success of the dental school and in building our health sciences,” said David L. Dunn, MD, PhD, executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville. “His leadership has paved the way for the academic achievement of our students and helped foster innovation in the profession that has helped grow our national reputation not only in dentistry, but academic health.”

Sauk received his DDS from the University of Detroit and his MS in pathology from the University of Minnesota. He served in the US Navy at the Naval Dental Research Institute before joining the University of Minnesota faculty. Sauk also served on the faculty of the University of Maryland.

According to a press release from the university, a committee to conduct a national search for a new dean will soon be selected.