A new endowed chair at the UCLA School of Dentistry will support the recruitment and retention of a faculty member in oral and maxillofacial surgery and help ensure UCLA’s continued leadership in that field.
The Alumni and Friends Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Endowed Chair is the result of a fundraising effort launched by Dr. Howard Park, a graduate of the school’s postgraduate training program and a part-time faculty member. Led by Park’s efforts, 20 alumni and supporters — including BioHorizons, a Birmingham, Alabama-based maker of dental implants and biologics — funded the endowed chair, the school’s 11th.
“Our goal in establishing this chair was to make the UCLA School of Dentistry synonymous with the best and brightest research and education in oral and maxillofacial surgery,” Park said. “All of the donors to our campaign recognized the importance of the UCLA School of Dentistry faculty in shaping the field and making possible a true academic community. This chair was our way of giving back.”
The gift is part of the $4.2 billion UCLA Centennial Campaign, which is scheduled to conclude in December 2019 during UCLA’s 100th anniversary year.
“This chair is special in that it not only positions the School of Dentistry for the future; it also serves as a testament to the commitment and confidence that our alumni and supporters have in our missions of education, research, patient care and public service,” said Dr. Paul Krebsbach, the school’s dean. “An endowed chair serves as a powerful incentive for outstanding faculty members, and we are extremely grateful to Dr. Howard Park and Dr. No-Hee Park, our dean emeritus, for their leadership in this endeavor.”
