In Memoriam: William W. Dodge, DDS, former dean of UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

William W. Dodge, DDS, former dean of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry

 

Oversaw completion of Center for Oral Health Care & Research

William W. Dodge, DDS, former dean of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry who oversaw completion of the state-of-the-art Center for Oral Health Care & Research (COHCR) has died after an illness.

Dr. Dodge served the health science center for 40 years, and was dean of the dental school from 2013 to his retirement in 2018. In addition to establishing the COHCR, he is credited with important revisions to the dental curriculum, new research programs, expanded patient care, modernization of the school’s compensation plan and successful recruiting processes.

“We are deeply saddened by Bill’s passing, and we always will treasure his outstanding years of service and numerous contributions to the academic, research and clinical practice missions of the school,” said William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, president of UT Health San Antonio.

“Dr. Dodge was a highly accomplished educator, clinician and leader over his four decades at UT Health San Antonio and he will be greatly missed. His accomplishments are many,” said Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, who became dean of the dental school upon Dr. Dodge’s retirement. “We extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, Jill, and family.”

Dr. Dodge received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Trinity University in San Antonio and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He joined the health science center in 1978 after five years as a successful general dentist in San Antonio and two years as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps.

He was associate dean for patient care from 1996 through 2003, and vice dean from 2004 before becoming dean in 2013. His tenure as associate dean marked a period of unprecedented growth for the school’s dental clinical enterprise.

He was key in orchestrating the school’s Dental Faculty Practice Plan and the Predoctoral General Practice Groups, as well as the maturation of the overall dental practice plan. And he initiated the strategic and tactical plan for the COHCR, which today is recognized as one of the top dental school outpatient clinics.

“He was an advocate for the modernization of our clinical care processes and all the technologies that supported it moving forward,” said Gary Guest, DDS, associate dean for patient care in the School of Dentistry. “Bill was always forward-thinking. He possessed a super ability to digest complex problems and articulate the solutions to all cohorts.

“He exuded such a positive attitude and invested himself fully in everything he did,” Dr. Guest said, noting that he also was a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Services for Dr. Dodge will be held in San Antonio on Monday, June 20, at 1 p.m., at Alamo Heights Methodist Church, 825 Basse Road. Here is the obituary link.

The William W. Dodge, DDS Endowment for Excellence in Dentistry was established in 2016 by a grateful alumnus to honor Dr. Dodge and his tremendous contributions to the School of Dentistry. The endowment benefits the School of Dentistry’s greatest needs at the discretion of the dean. If you are interested in contributing to the endowment as a way to honor and remember Dr. Dodge, please visit the giving page https://makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu/dodge.



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