Interim dean announced for ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health
Posted: April 25, 2016
Don Altman, DDS, DHSc, EdD, MPH, MBA, MA, ’12, dean, A.T. Still University-College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS), has been appointed the interim dean of ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) effective May 10, 2016. Dr. Altman’s appointment follows the retirement announcement of current ATSU-MOSDOH Dean Chris Halliday, DDS, MPH. “Dr. Altman understands the University’s mission and ATSU-MOSDOH,” says ATSU’s Senior Vice President–Academic Affairs Norman Gevitz, PhD. “We are pleased Dr. Altman has accepted this interim assignment and confident his knowledge and career experiences will help him continue to advance our Missouri-based dental program until a new dean is named.” A dentist with more than 30 years of public health and community health center experience, Dr. Altman joined ATSU in 2006. Since then, he has served as chair of the Master of Public Health – Dental Emphasis program with ATSU-CGHS and as director of public health with ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. He operated five group practices in Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz., with more than 100 employees. In addition, he is a review team member and site visitor for the Council on Dental Accreditation. “I look forward to working with the great ATSU-MOSDOH students, faculty, and staff who have worked so hard to bring this new dental school to the state of Missouri,” says Dr. Altman. “I am confident we will continue to work together to provide a quality education so these future dentists can go into communities and make a difference.” Dr. Altman will relocate to Kirksville and St. Louis and serve in the interim position until a new dean is selected. Katherine Adler, DHA, FACHE, associate dean of academics and assessment, will assume the role of acting dean for ATSU-CGHS effective May 10, 2016.