Effective July 1, four faculty members of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine will be promoted from assistant dean to associate dean. Learn more about each faculty member below.
Manish Valiathan, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
Since 2018, Manish Valiathan, D.D.S., M.S.D., has served as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs. After receiving his dental and specialty training in orthodontics from the Manipal College of Dental Sciences in India, Dr. Valiathan served on its faculty. Dr. Valiathan later joined Case Western Reserve University, where he retrained and received his D.D.S. and M.S.D. in orthodontics. As of July 1, Valiathan is servingas the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.
Kristin Williams, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs
Since 2017, Kristin Williams, D.D.S., has served as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. Dr. Williams received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1989 from the School of Dental Medicine, and in 2005 she received her Master of Public Health degree from the School of Medicine. This year, Dr. Williams was awarded the Faculty Diversity Excellence Award from the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity. As of July 1, Williams is serving as the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
Suchitra Nelson, Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research
Since2015, Suchitra Nelson, M.S., Ph.D., has served as the Assistant Dean for Clinical and Translational research. Dr. Nelson received her master’s degree and doctorate in Epidemiology from Case Western Reserve University. In collaboration with MetroHealth, Dr. Nelson was recently awarded an NIH-NIDCR grant to test interventions that would lessen oral health disparities in older adults. As of July 1, Nelson is serving as the Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research.
Andres Pinto, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Since 2018, Andres Pinto, D.M.D., M.B.A., M.S.C.E., has served as the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. In 2013, Dr. Pinto joined the School of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania as the Founding Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences. A year later, he added to his responsibilities the role of founding Director of the Oral Medicine Fellowship and the Oral Medicine Program, where students are awarded Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degrees. Dr. Pinto was also instrumental in the expansion of other advanced dental education programs at the school. As of July 1, Dr. Pinto is serving as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
Courtesy of Laura Meyer, Internal Communications Manager, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Published on July 13, 2022