Aukhil Steps Down As Chair of Periodontology

Aukhil
Ikramuddin Aukhil, B.D.S., M.S., came to UF in 2005, as a professor and chair, from University of North Carolina School of Dentistry – Chapel Hill where he served on faculty since 1981. He attended Government Dental College in Bangalore, India, where he earned his dental degree and then completed a master’s in periodontology from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor in 1981.

After 17 years serving as chair of the Department of Periodontology, Ikramuddin “Ike” Aukhil, B.D.S, M.S., stepped down from his position on September 30 but is remaining on our faculty.

“I have been fortunate to have Dr. Aukhil on the college leadership team during my tenure as dean and benefited from his experience and insight. I am pleased that Wagner Duarte, D.D.S., Ph.D., has agreed to serve as interim chair until we complete a search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Aukhil. Dr. Duarte will continue as residency program director and Karin Schey, D.M.D., M.S., will become the assistant program director,” said A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.S., dean.

Aukhil came to UF in 2005, as a professor and chair, from University of North Carolina School of Dentistry – Chapel Hill where he served on faculty since 1981. He attended Government Dental College in Bangalore, India, where he earned his dental degree and then completed a master’s in periodontology from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor in 1981.

During his time as chair, Aukhil expanded and enhanced many aspects of the department including increasing the number of faculty members from six to 10, reorganizing and adding clinicians to the department’s faculty practice, and overseeing development of a research program that, when he started, had no federally-funded research grants.

He also launched internships and fellowship programs for the department, and initiated an implant elective through a partnership with ASTRA in 2008 which is still ongoing today through funding from ASTRA/Dentsply Sirona. In addition, he worked with colleagues in prosthodontics to complete fundraising that allowed for a comprehensive renovation of space for the shared periodontics/prosthodontics resident clinic, which today has state-of-the-art equipment and technology, including digital scanners and 3D printers.

Aukhil also focused on increasing diversity within the department in terms of faculty, staff and graduate program residents.

“Thank you to everyone who will assist us during this transition and to Dr. Aukhil for his dedication to the department, the college and to UF over these years,” Garcia said.