Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:
We are writing to share with you that Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, Dean of the College of Dental Medicine since August 2013, has informed us that he will be stepping down from his role as Dean and Senior Vice President of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, effective December 31, 2023.
Under Dean Stohler’s leadership, the College of Dental Medicine (CDM) has experienced a decade of growth and innovation, strengthening its leadership in dental education and clinical training. CDM’s curricular offerings have been transformed through a variety of initiatives and new programs, most notably, the Center for Precision Dental Medicine, a 15,000-square-foot space for high-tech learning that opened in 2017. During his tenure, CDM established the Center for Dental and Craniofacial Research, expanding its collaboration with the School of Engineering and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
CDM’s community engagement also flourished during Christian’s tenure. Columbia’s CDM is the largest provider of primary and specialty oral health care in Northern Manhattan, treating patients in Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood, and also serves patients in the South Bronx. This year, CDM opened its second mobile health clinic and doubled its capacity to deliver health screenings and low-cost dental care across our local service area. The two Mobile Dental Centers integrate primary medicine and oral health as they travel to neighborhood schools, Head Start programs, daycare centers, and other neighborhood locations. CDM’s commitment to diversity has been recognized with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
Roseanna Graham, DDS, PhD, has agreed to serve as Interim Dean following Christian’s departure. Roseanna is Chair of CDM’s section of Cariology and Restorative Sciences and Director of the College’s Division of Operative Dentistry. A graduate of CDM, Roseanna also holds advanced degrees from Teachers College. We will share details regarding the formation of a search committee to identify Christian’s successor in the coming weeks. Please join us in thanking Christian for his contributions to the College of Dental Medicine over the last decade and wishing Roseanna all the best in her new role.
Sincerely,
Minouche Shafik
President, Columbia University in the City of New York
Katrina Armstrong, MD
Chief Executive Officer, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences, Columbia University
