Changes in Prosthodontics

Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, D.M.D., M.S.
Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, D.M.D., M.S.

Dr. Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw steps down as interim chair of the Department of Prosthodontics effective Friday, Sept., 5, and Dr. Robert Bates is assuming the chair responsibilities for the department.

As interim chair, Esquivel-Upshaw actively contributed to preparation for the 2008 accreditation site visit and worked closely with the departmental faculty to mentor senior students in preparation for graduation. She recently received a five-year, $620,000 grant from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for her study titled “Factors Influencing the Survival of Implant Supported All-Ceramic Prostheses.” The study is matched by industry support from Astra and Ivoclar Vivadent.

As part of this grant, she is working on her Masters in Clinical Investigation through the Advanced Postgraduate Program in Clinical Investigation program (APPCI).

“We are grateful to Dr. Esquivel-Upshaw for her interim leadership for our college during such a critical time as we prepared for our accreditation site visit and made the significant changes necessary to move to a new clinical education model for the D.M.D. program,” said Dean Teresa Dolan.

“I am also grateful to Dr. Bates for assuming the chair position. He will collaborate with Dr. Boyd Robinson as we continue our transition to the new clinical education model and will work with Dr. Edgar ONeill to ensure the continued success of the graduate prosthodontics program,” Dolan said.