W. Stephen Howard, D.M.D., F.A.G.D., clinical associate professor in the UF department of restorative dental sciences, has been appointed the new director of the division of general dentistry effective April 22, 2016. He will be responsible for providing overall leadership to the division and overseeing the aspects of the predoctoral curriculum that fall in the purview of the division and facilitate professional development opportunities for division faculty. Howard will also continue his role as director of digital dentistry, guiding its growth in the DMD clinics and pursuing training opportunities for digital dentistry for clinicians and staff.
“Since joining the college, Dr. Howard has demonstrated a strong capacity for leadership and has taken on responsibilities as a matter of course, without being asked to step in and lend support. With 25 years of experience in private practice and six in academic dentistry, he is highly qualified to guide students through the learning necessary so, on graduation, they are fully prepared to deliver the highest quality care to their patients,” said A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean.
Howard joined the college in 2010, working part time as a visiting clinical assistant professor for the department of operative dentistry in the predoctoral clinics and in the pre-clinical area. In August 2011, he was named the operative clinical director. In August 2012 he became the team leader for team 7 and now works with Rosalia Rey, D.D.S., as a team leader for the DMD care group in clinic 3A. He also teaches in clinical operative dentistry courses and is the course director for Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, and serves on the college Student Admissions and Recruitment Committee, the Infection Control Subcommittee, Materials and Devices Committee and the Student Performance Evaluation Committee. He is the student advisor to the UF American Student Dental Association and to the student Academy of General Dentistry Fellow Track.
Howard earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama, in 1979 and his dental degree from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1983. After graduation, he worked in private practice in general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry in Leesburg and Inverness, Florida, until 2008. He has been active in organized dentistry at the local, state and national levels since 1983 and serves as a consultant and examiner for the North East Board of Dental Examiners and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments.