Dean Murdoch-Kinch announced today the appointment of Dr. Paul Edwards as chair of the Department of Oral Pathology, Medicine, and Radiology. Dr. Susan Zunt, who served in the position for almost 20 years, retired as professor emeritus last month.

Dr. Edwards, a tenured professor, joined the IUSD faculty as an oral pathologist in 2013 from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where directed the Advanced Education Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. He began serving as IUSD academic dean in 2018, immediately commencing preparations for the dental school’s successful Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) site visit in 2021, originally planned for 2020 but delayed by the pandemic.

“Dr. Edwards is an experienced administrator, highly skilled clinician, and master teacher and scholar, with a national and international reputation for commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, dean. “He will carry on the proud legacy of leadership in the Department of Oral Pathology, Medicine and Radiology, which represents distinct clinical specialties and disciplines that forge the link between dentistry and medicine across our missions.”

Dr. Edwards holds master’s and DDS degrees from the University of Toronto. He operated a general dentistry private practice for nine years before pursuing advanced specialty training in oral and maxillofacial pathology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. He recently earned a master’s degree in business administration and is completing an MS in strategic management, both at Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
 
Dr. Edwards serves as ADEA’s associate editor for MedEdPORTAL and is president-elect of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

“I look forward to working with the very talented faculty and staff in the Department of Oral Pathology, Medicine, and Radiology by continuing to build on the exemplary leadership provided by Dr. Susan Zunt as chair over the past 20 years, as well as by her predecessors, Drs. Charles Tomich and William Shafer. In this new role, I pledge to recognize and support the contributions and interests of our staff and faculty as we advance the educational, research and service missions of IUSD and our community at large.”