EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., June 11,
2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Southern Illinois University School of Dental
Medicine (SIU SDM) Dean Bruce
Rotter, DMD, MS, announced his retirement today, effective
December 2021. Rotter was named SDM
dean in Nov. 2012 after serving as
interim dean for more than a year.
An SIU SDM Class of 1982 alumnus, Rotter joined the SDM as a
faculty member in 1993. He brought a unique perspective to the
dean's position, fully participating in the SDM's progress as a
student, faculty member and administrator.
"On behalf of SIUE and the SIU School of Dental Medicine, I want
to thank Dean Rotter for nearly 30
years of service," said Chancellor Randy
Pembrook. "Bruce has an incredibly informed perspective
having been a part of SDM as a student, faculty member and
long-serving administrator. In particular, I want to commend
Dean Rotter and the School for their
dedication to the community as evidenced by their free clinics for
Veterans and the Give Kids a Smile Program which annually provide
more than $100,000 of free dental
service to valued constituencies, as well as their work at the WE
CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. We
wish Bruce and his wife, Cindy, best wishes as they plan for
retirement in 2022."
Rotter was SDM associate dean for academic affairs for six years
prior to serving as interim dean. He joined the SDM faculty as an
assistant professor in 1993, was named associate professor in 1997
and professor in 2009. During that time, Rotter created and
administered one of the first implant fellowship training programs
in the country. That program led to the creation of a freestanding
implant clinic, which he designed, helped develop and directed.
Highlights of Rotter's distinguished career include:
- Three times led the School through reaccreditation from the
Council on Dental Accreditation.
- Jan. 2021, Appointed Cornell
Thomas, DDS, as SDM chief diversity officer and director of the
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to increase
concentration on diversity, equity, inclusion and well-being.
- Nov. 2020, was elected vice chair
of the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA), the national
programmatic accrediting agency for dental and dental-related
education programs at the post-secondary level.
- Nov. 2020, launched SDM clinical
endodontic training graduate program.
- April 2019, SDM received a
$2 million grant from the Illinois
Children's Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF). The SDM is building a
medical operating suite with general anesthesia capabilities for
children with special dental care needs within a new Advanced Care
Patient Clinic.
- Feb. 2017, SDM showcased its
renovated clinic in University
Park on the Edwardsville
campus, expanding the scope of the SDM's available care, providing
that care to a greater demographic and esnuring an even higher
level of training to SDM students.
- March 2014, SDM's new and
expanded presence in Alton earned
an Award of Achievement from Pride, Incorporated, a local nonprofit
organization dedicated to community beautification. The award
recognized the construction of the School's Multidisciplinary
Simulation Laboratory and adjacent space, an 18,000-square-foot,
$9.5 million project.
Throughout his academic career, Rotter continued to be active in
the private practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery in order to
maintain his knowledge and skills while bringing that experience to
the academic setting. He has worked with Southern Illinois Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, Ltd., in Belleville and Glen
Carbon since 2002 until his appointment as dean. He also has
served the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in St. Louis as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon
and/or consultant since 1994.
A member of 15 dental professional associations, Rotter has been
elected to fellowship by the American College of Dentists, the
International College of Dentists, and
the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Rotter has been associated with more than a dozen hospitals
throughout his career including affiliations with St. Anthony's
Medical Center in Alton,
Belleville Memorial Hospital, Healthsouth Surgical Center in
Belleville and the Veteran's
Administration Medical Center in St.
Louis.
The SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately
35,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in
Alton and East St. Louis. In addition, students offer
oral health treatment, screenings and education to more than 10,000
people annually through a wide variety of off-campus community
outreach events. These opportunities provide students the training
they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists. The
School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for
residents of southern and central Illinois, and the St. Louis metropolitan region.
Media Contact
Doug McIlhagga, SIUE,
618-650-5600, dmcilha@siue.edu
SOURCE SIUE