From the Dean's Desk: August 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Dental Pipeline Program Teaches Oral Health at an Early Age

The New Jersey Dental School's K-8th Grade Dental Pipeline Programs are specially designed for younger participants. The goal of each program is to provide an early introduction to a dental career and good oral health practices. Age appropriate, interactive and engaging these programs also minimize the devastating impact of oral health disparities through education.

Welcome to the New Jersey Dental School's Dental Express program for K- third graders. Pictured above are the Class of 2036, along with Nadege Dady, MS.Ed. (on right) and Rosa Chaviano-Moran, DMD (on left).

About Dean Cecile Feldman

Cecile Feldman, DMD, MBA, has served as dean of UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School since February 2001. Prior to that, she served as acting then interim dean of the school.

A 1984 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Feldman earned a Certificate in Advanced General Dentistry from Penn and an MBA in Health Care Administration from The Wharton School in 1985. She came to NJDS as a clinical assistant professor in 1988 and has served as a professor in the Community Health and Restorative Dentistry departments since 1998.

In 1990, Dr. Feldman became director of information services and quality assurance. She went on to serve as associate dean for planning and assessment, and in 1998 she became acting associate dean for academic affairs. Dr. Feldman’s accomplishments during that time include: designing the e-curriculum; revamping the clinical management information system; increasing research and clinical revenues; strengthening ties to surrounding communities; and expanding the school’s involvement in oral health education.

In 1998, as chair of the accreditation steering committee, she led NJDS to a successful Commission on Dental Education (CODE) site visit and repeated that success in 2005.

Dr. Feldman is a prolific researcher and has authored more than 80 articles, abstracts and book chapters. She has served as a reviewer and board member of the Journal of Dental Education, as well as a reviewer for Journal of the American Dental Association.

Her areas of expertise include quality assurance, outcomes assessment, health informatics, health services research, and health professions education. She is an adjunct professor in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Dental Care Systems and has been on the faculty of the Leadership Institute for the American Dental Education Association.