After more than a decade as dean of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Kenneth B. Chance Sr. (DEN ’79) will step down from the role Dec. 31.
“Ken has helped guide the School of Dental Medicine through a number of significant changes over the past decade, from the construction and opening of the Health Education Campus with Cleveland Clinic, including a new Dental Clinic, to navigating student education and patient care during a global pandemic,” said President Eric W. Kaler. “His leadership and dedication to his alma mater is commendable, and has set the dental school up for success.”
Chance, who earned his DDS from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in 1979, became the first dentist to serve on the university’s board of trustees in 2004. Nine years later, he stepped down from that role to become dean of his alma mater. This marked Chance’s second deanship—the first at Meharry Medical College, where he served for three years—making him the first Black dean of two U.S. dental schools.
In recent years, the dental school has made strides in technological advancement, including the $2.6 million upgrade to a simulation lab and the use of high-tech learning and clinical tools such as HoloAnatomy mixed-reality software and the Yomi robotic system to aid in surgeries.
In addition, the school has grown its fundraising efforts, significantly surpassing its goals, and strengthened its student recruitment, attracting some of the most highly qualified students in the school’s history. These students then gain the dental medicine skills and knowledge they need for successful careers under the school’s exceptional faculty: For example, the Class of 2023 achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the national board exam, with the Class of 2024 nearly reaching that mark.
Also under Chance’s guidance, the school has grown its community outreach. Through the Dental Clinic and the school’s six community dentistry programs, more than 35,000 patients from across Cleveland received more than $5 million worth of dental care last year.
“Ken’s commitment to advancing the school’s facilities, curriculum and community involvement has been critical to preparing students for successful careers in a wide range of dental specialties,” said Provost Joy K. Ward. “We are grateful for his leadership and commitment to Case Western Reserve.”
Chance, who was honored with the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004, endowed a lecture series at the dental school in 2021. His academic career included significant tenure at the University of Kentucky, where he was professor and chief of endodontics for 14 years. He has held numerous leadership roles throughout his career, including serving as the past president of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the National Dental Honor Society; as a distinguished practitioner in the National Academies of Practice in Dentistry; and as a Pew National Dental Leadership Fellow and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow and board member.
“It has been an honor to lead the School of Dental Medicine for more than a decade and to help shape dental students into healthcare leaders,” said Dean Chance. “I am incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished and am eager to see all that’s ahead for my alma mater. Following my service as dean, I look forward to continuing my contributions as a faculty member.”
The university will immediately begin a national search for Chance’s successor, Provost Ward said.