Extension of Professor Laura Tam as Interim Dean, Faculty of Dentistry (PDAD&C #23)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President and Provost
Date: March 2, 2023
Re: Extension of Professor Laura Tam as Interim Dean, Faculty of Dentistry (PDAD&C #23)

I am pleased to announce that the Agenda Committee of Academic Board has approved the extension of Professor Laura Tam’s appointment as Interim Dean, Faculty of Dentistry until June 30, 2024, or until a new Dean is appointed.  

As indicated in PDAD&C #44 (2021-22), Professor Tam was appointed as Interim Dean as of July 2022   while a search for a new Dean of Dentistry was underway. Despite an extensive process, we have been unsuccessful in appointing a new Dean, and thus, the President and I have decided to pause the search process for the time being. Since taking on the role of Interim Dean, Professor Tam has ably responded to the needs of the Faculty and its students and has successfully brought her leadership experience as Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education, and Director of the Comprehensive Care Program to the Dean’s Office. 

As a professor of restorative dentistry, Professor Tam has conducted clinical and laboratory research on a variety of topics in dental materials and published in journals such as Operative Dentistry and the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Her research in restorative dentistry explores vital tooth bleaching and dental restorative materials. In 2015, Professor Tam received the W.W. Wood Award for Excellence in Dental Education from the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry for the University of Toronto. 

I would like to thank the Advisory Committee for their diligent work and Professor Tam for taking on the interim leadership role at the Faculty during this transitional time. I also want to acknowledge the commitment of the entire Faculty of Dentistry in working together to deliver excellence in clinical care, education, and research over the course of this protracted decanal search.   

When the search resumes, we will advise the community and issue a call for nominations for a new Advisory Committee.