The UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry is now ranked 30th worldwide in the category of dentistry and oral sciences, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities’ 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, also known as the ShanghaiRanking.
Among eligible U.S. dental schools, it climbed to 12th place, making it the No. 1 dental school in Texas. The ranking highlights the school’s excellence in education, research and community impact, and places it among the top academic dental institutions globally.
“Our improved ranking reflects the commitment of our faculty to their students and the pursuit of impactful and meaningful research,” said Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, MBA, dean of the School of Dentistry.
Community connection
This focus on excellence extends far beyond rankings. As part of its mission to serve both local and global communities, the School of Dentistry launched three new research centers in 2024 to advance oral health and address critical challenges, said Brij B. Singh, PhD, the school’s associate dean for research.
“The centers are enhancing our investigative efforts and facilitating collaborative research that advances oral health and the understanding of oral disease,” he said.
The Center for Global and Community Oral Health, the first of the new centers, brings together existing initiatives to improve access to care, reduce oral health disparities and integrate oral health into broader medical care.
One such initiative within the center’s purview is the Phil and Karen Hunke Special Care Clinic, which opened in February 2024 to provide comprehensive dental care for individuals with disabilities and complex medical needs.
The center’s focus on addressing health disparities also aligns with the school’s Hispanic Center of Excellence, which recently received a $2.7 million grant renewal to increase underrepresented minority health professionals in dentistry.
Additionally, the school has expanded its global reach through a six-year partnership with Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences in Jordan, providing academic support to enhance dental education in the region.
Advancing research that matters
The school continues to empower its innovative research programming.
It named Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, a world-renowned expert in pain research and professor of endodontics, as the inaugural director of its new Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research. This multidisciplinary initiative intends to advance non-opioid pain management strategies, such as using omega-3 fatty acids to treat chronic pain and address critical health challenges in pain and addiction.
Additionally, the newly launched Center for Regenerative Sciences positions the school as a leader in regenerative dentistry and medicine, seeking to bring forth innovation in restoring oral and systemic health.
Faculty research is also pushing boundaries, such as a recent study by Yu Shin Kim, PhD, published in the Journal of Headache and Pain, which reveals how stress triggers inflammatory processes in the brain, leading to migraines. The findings offer hope for new treatments to prevent stress-induced migraines and alleviate the debilitating condition.
Another important study, led by Bennett T. Amaechi, PhD, BDS, MSc, professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, demonstrated that toothpaste containing artificial enamel, or biomimetic hydroxyapatite, is significantly more effective than fluoride in restoring tooth enamel, relieving sensitivity and preventing cavities. This discovery offers promising solutions for conditions like molar incisor hypomineralization.
Celebrating excellence
The School of Dentistry’s influence is also evident in the recent accolades received by its faculty and students. Leadership and excellence define those who are shaping the future of the dental profession.
Christina M. Meiners, DDS, FICD, clinical assistant professor and director of community learning, was honored as the 2024 Texas Dentist of the Year, a testament to her dedication to compassionate care and education. Meanwhile, David L. Cochran, DDS, MS, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Periodontics, received the esteemed Nobel Biocare Brånemark Osseointegration Award, recognizing his contributions to dental implant research.
Adding to the school’s recent leadership accolades, Angela Palaiologou Gallis, DDS, MS, professor and director of the Postdoctoral Periodontics Program, was appointed president of the American Board of Periodontology, highlighting her influence in shaping advanced periodontal education.
Similarly, Sohini Dhar, BDS, MPH, DPH, was elected director-at-large for the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, reflecting her commitment to public health advocacy.
Even the students at the School of Dentistry continue to rise to prominence, with the Academy of General Dentistry naming the school’s student chapter as the 2024 Student Chapter of the Year.
“What our school has achieved this past year exemplifies the collective impact of a community dedicated to innovation, education and service,” Loomer said. “We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a leader in our field.”