Southern Illinois University named professor and associate dean Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, as the dean of SIU School of Dental Medicine.
Southern Illinois University has named Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, as the dean of SIU School of Dental Medicine (SDM) following a national search.
The appointment is subject to final approval by the Office of Human Resources and the Board of
“Dr. Drukteinis brings great enthusiasm and commitment to the School of Dental Medicine and their mission,” said Denise Cobb, PhD, SIU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “I look forward to partnering with him to support an even brighter future for this outstanding School. His interdisciplinary expertise, collaborative spirit, and deep commitment to improving equitable access to quality dental care will be critically important as we move forward. I also want to thank the search committee members for their work and their collaboration with Greenwood Asher.”
Drukteinis joined the SIU SDM faculty in 2019, serving as professor and associate dean for academic affairs.
In that role, he helped in the successful reaccreditation of SIU SDM and coordinated the delivery of didactic and clinical education programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also helped to develop new postgraduate residency programs in endodontics and orthodontics in the newly constructed Advanced Care Clinic, which also houses general anesthesia suites for the care of special needs and advanced pediatric dental patients.
“I look forward to continuing the progress in operationalizing these endeavors while continuing to deliver cutting-edge dental care to our community and high-quality education to our dental students,” said Drukteinis. “Through this role, I aim to help SIU SDM achieve the school’s vision to enhance the diversity of our campuses and deliver education in an environment of unquestionable inclusiveness with regard to race, gender, and ethnicity.”
A Bedford, New Hampshire native, Drukteinis earned his DMD from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1999 and General Practice Residency in Dentistry in 2000.
He was awarded a dentist-scientist training grant from the National Institutes of Health, earning a master’s in 2004, certification in periodontics in 2007, and a Doctor of Philosophy in materials engineering in 2012 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by board certification in periodontology.
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