New dean named for School of Dentistry

Peter M. Loomer, B.Sc., D.D.S., Ph.D., MRCD(C), FACD

Peter M. Loomer, B.Sc., D.D.S., Ph.D., MRCD(C), FACD, has been named dean of the School of Dentistry, UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, announced Oct. 8.

Dr. Loomer currently serves as chair of the Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and director of the Center for Global Oral Health Sciences at New York University College of Dentistry. He will assume his new position on Feb. 1.

Dr. Henrich described Dr. Loomer as “a distinguished educator, clinician and scientist” whose leadership will guide the School of Dentistry to “the brightest and most exciting times.”

Dr. Loomer said he was honored to be selected.

“I was extremely impressed with the school’s exceptional faculty, students and staff, and its educational, research and patient care programs are second to none,” he said. “I look forward to partnering with the School of Dentistry team, and the entire UT Health campus community, to build upon their many strengths and to develop new initiatives to improve the health of our communities and beyond.”

Dr. Loomer is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the top-ranked university in Canada. There he earned a B.Sc. (nutritional sciences/food chemistry) in 1984, a D.D.S. in 1988, a Diploma in Periodontics in 1993 and a Ph.D. in 1997 in the subject of oral microbiology and bone biochemistry.  After completing his DDS degree, he worked as a general practitioner in Toronto for five years.

Dr. Loomer has served in both public and private research intensive universities known for clinical and research excellence, including the University of California San Francisco and New York University.

Dr. Henrich noted that Dr. Loomer has extensive experience in leadership and administrative roles, including clinic administration and in academic programs. “His research program has been interprofessional and collaborative in nature, and he has built upon a team approach to further scientific discovery and improve community oral health,” Dr. Henrich added.

Dr. Henrich thanked Adriana Segura, D.D.S., for serving as the interim dean of the School of Dentistry since the retirement of Dr. William Dodge, and Carlos Rosende, M.D., and members of the search committee, for their guidance.



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