Dean Isabel Garcia announced several leadership changes in the Department of Restorative Dentistry effective May 20, 2016. Nery Clark, D.M.D., who has been serving as interim chair of the department since October 2015, is retiring on May 27. Effective May 20, Deborah Dilbone, D.M.D., will take over as interim chair of the department and Alex J. Delgado, D.D.S., M.S., will assume the role of interim director of the department’s operative dentistry division.
“During her short term as interim chair, Dr. Clark’s commitment to the department, the college and the educational program has been evident. She approached her work with passion and energy, and ushered in positive changes that will make a long-term difference for pre-doctoral education and for clinical operations in the general dentistry and prosthodontic faculty practice. I am extremely grateful for her leadership and willingness to take on this responsibility during her last few months with the college. Dr. Clark’s clinical skills and devotion to patient care are well known; I have no doubt that her patients will miss her as much as we will,” said A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean.
Deborah Dilbone, D.M.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, has served as the Director of the Operative Division 
since January 2013. She earned her dental degree from UF in 1993 and became a visiting professor in the Department of Prosthodontics in 1994, a clinical instructor in the International Educated Dentists Program (IEDP) in 1997, and a clinical assistant professor in 2000. She has been a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry from 2008 to present. Dr. Dilbone worked in private practice before joining the IEDP program in 1997. She teaches pre-clinical, clinical and didactic courses with dental students from their first through their fourth years, and is a member of local, state and national dental organizations and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon in 2014.
“Her experience, in-depth knowledge of the department and strong relationships with faculty, students and across departments make her ideally suited to take on this role, which I have complete confidence she will carry out with great skill, care and sensitivity,” Garcia said.
Alex J. Delgado, D.D.S., M.S., clinical assistant professor, came to UF after three years at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill where he earned his certificate and master’s of science in operative dentistry. He earned his dental degree in 2001 from Universidad Santa María, in Caracas. He teaches didactic, preclinical and clinical fundamentals in restorative dentistry, and also practices in the college’s faculty practice and serves as the faculty advisor for the DMD class of 2018. He was recently selected as 2015-16 Clinical Sciences Teacher of the Year.