Thomas W. Braun, DMD, PhD,
Dean, School of Dental Medicine

Thomas W. Braun, DMD, PhD, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, was appointed Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in September 2000. Dr. Braun has served as president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and as president of both the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Great Lakes Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He served as chair of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation for two years, and has been appointed for his second term on the Pennsylvania State Dental Board. Clinical and research interests include surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorders, orthognathic surgery, reconstruction of facial deformities, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Dennis N. Ranalli, DDS, MDS
Senior Associate Dean, School Dental Medicine

Dennis N. Ranalli, DDS, MDS, professor of pediatric dentistry, serves as Senior Associate Dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He is also adjunct professor of pediatric dentistry at Case Western Reserve University and is a member of the Dean's Council at the University of Southern Mississippi College of Health. Dr. Ranalli has served as president of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honor dental society; president of the American Society of Dentistry for Children; and president of the Academy for Sports Dentistry. He is currently the team dentist for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. Clinical and research interests include prevention and management of sports-related traumatic dental injuries and concussions, as well as the intraoral manifestations of adolescent risk behaviors such as smokeless tobacco use, intraoral piercing, and the female athlete triad.

Kenneth R. Etzel, PhD, MS
Associate Dean, Office of Student Services and Admissions

Kenneth R. Etzel, PhD, MS, serves as Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Services at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He also serves as a member of the Department of Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Etzel received his PhD in physiology from Creighton University, an MS in physiology from the University of Wisconsin, and a BA in biology from St. Thomas College. He received his post-doctoral training in nutritional biochemistry at Rutgers University. Prior to his arrival at the University of Pittsburgh, he was a faculty member at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Etzel is a member of many professional organizations including the American Association of Oral Biologists, of which he is past-president, and has held several chair positions for sections of the American Dental Education Association. He currently serves as the University of Pittsburgh's faculty representative to the American Dental Education Association and consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association.

R. Donald Hoffman, DMD, PhD

Associate Dean, Office of Education and Curriculum

R. Donald Hoffman, DMD, PhD, associate professor of restorative dental sciences, serves as Associate Dean for Education and Curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Hoffman graduated in 1972 from the University of Pittsburgh. He was in private practice as a general dentist and held a part-time faculty position until 1989. This teaching led to increased time commitment and focus until Dr. Hoffman began a full-time career in dental education. He directed the School's Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program from 1989 through 2001, when he was appointed associate dean. Dr. Hoffman is a consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, and a Trustee to the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

Mary L. Marazita, PhD
Associate Dean, Office of Research

Mary L. Marazita, PhD, is professor and vice chair for the Department of Oral Biology in the School of Dental Medicine, professor of human genetics in the Graduate School of Public Health, and professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine. She serves as Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, and chair of the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Marazita is a founding fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics, and had served a six-year term as an elected member and secretary of the American Board of Medical Genetics. She served on many committees at the university, state, regional, national, and international levels. Dr. Marazita is widely published in many prominent scientific journals; primarily in her specialty of craniofacial genetics. Her research program includes studies of orofacial cleft families from many countries including China, Turkey, India, Hungary, Guatemala, Spain, the Philippines, and the United States. A particular interest is in expanding the phenotype of orofacial clefts to include subclinical manifestations. Another major research area is in the genetic factors contributing to oral health and to oral health disparities. Dr. Marazita participates in genetic studies of preterm birth, developmental anomalies, behavioral traits, and psychiatric disorders.

W. H. Milligan III, PhD, DMD
Associate Dean, Office of Clinical Affairs

W. H. Milligan, PhD, DMD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry. He serves as Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Milligan is chairman of the Clinical Affairs Committee, the Infection Control Committee, and the Instrument Committee; coordinator for two practice management courses; and director of the Sterilizer Equipment Evaluation Service for the School of Dental Medicine. He also coordinates the Success Seminars presented by the American Dental Association, as well as the Governor's School Program which is supported by the School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Milligan is a consultant for the American Dental Association in the capacity of test constructor for the Dental National Board Examination. He lectures for the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Akron and Canton Dental Societies, the Tenth District Dental Society of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, and the School of Dental Medicine as a course presenter for infection control and OSHA updates. Dr. Milligan is regional coordinator of the Business Affairs Financial Affairs Clinical Affairs section of the American Dental Education Association. He also provides lectures to the first professional dental students and is a representative for the Pennsylvania Dental Association's Environmental Task Force.

Mark W. Ochs, DMD, MD
Associate Dean, Office of Hospital Affairs and UPMC Dental Clinic

Mark W. Ochs, DMD, MD, attended the University of Pittsburgh for his undergraduate and dental education. In 1989, he completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery training and obtained his MD degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Ochs was an assistant professor and residency program director at the University of Florida in Gainesville from 1989 to 1992. He has been a full-time faculty member and program director at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Health System since 1992. Dr. Ochs is chair of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department and Associate Dean for Hospital Affairs and the UPMC Dental Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Academic and surgical interests include orthognathic surgery, facial trauma, bone grafting/reconstruction, and implants. He maintains an active clinical practice and is an invited lecturer nationally and internationally.

Robert J. Weyant, DMD, Dr PH
Associate Dean, Office of Public Health and Outreach

Robert J. Weyant, DMD, Dr PH, serves as Associate Dean of Public Health and Outreach and professor and chair of the Department of Dental Public Health and Information Management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He is also associate professor of epidemiology in the Graduate School of Public Health. He received both a masters’ degree in public health (1978) and a dental degree (1982) from the University of Pittsburgh; and a doctoral degree in epidemiology from the University of Michigan (1991). Dr. Weyant is a former Navy Dental Officer and VA dentist. He has been a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health since 1987 and is also a past president of the American Association for Public Health Dentistry.  Dr. Weyant currently serves on numerous local, state, and national committees aimed at reducing oral health disparities, increasing the dental workforce, and improving access to oral care. His research involves basic and social epidemiological research related to oral health disparities. He is presently PI or co-PI on several NIH-funded studies of oral disease etiology. Dr. Weyant also directs the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA), and oversees the joint degree program in public health.