by Terri Hunter-Davis
Leon AssaelLeon Assael, DMD, has joined the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences of the UCSF School of Dentistry.
Dr. Assael assumes the position of director of community-based education and practice, leading our externship program. He comes to UCSF from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, where he served as dean from 2012-17.
A graduate of Columbia University, Dr. Assael earned his doctor of dental medicine from Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine. He also holds a certificate in medical management from the Gatton School of Business, University of Kentucky. Dr. Assael completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Vanderbilt University, and served as dean in the College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky until 2003, when he was appointed professor and chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the School of Dentistry at Oregon Health & Science University.
Dr. Assael serves on many professional organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Hispanic Dental Association. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons awarded Dr. Assael the Board of Trustees special recognition award in 2010; he also is the recipient of the national Gies award for vision from the American Dental Education Association. He currently serves as chair of the ADEA board of directors.
