Richard Robert, DDS, MS, the longtime UCSF School of Dentistry professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), passed away on Nov. 21. He was 78 years old.
Dr. Robert’s professional journey began working as an educator at Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco, which later became part of UC San Francisco. During that time, he also cared for patients as a part-time private practitioner. Dr. Robert’s career as an educator and clinician spanned 27 years, most recently contributing his expertise as a Health Sciences Clinic Professor-Fiscal Year at UCSF and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at a Bay Area private practice.
His impact at the School of Dentistry was profound, as he dedicated himself to guiding and mentoring residents specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as dental students. Dr. Robert brought particular expertise in anesthesia education and made significant contributions to instructional content in orthognathic surgery, surgical anatomy and emergency simulation.
In the eyes of his colleagues, Dr. Robert was not only a mentor, but also an extraordinary friend.
“He dedicated his entire life not only to providing excellent patient care, but to training and educating our residents with a level of commitment unlike any other. He was an absolute gem of a human being in every way possible,” said Sohail Saghezchi, DDS, MD, FACS associate clinical professor of OMFS.
Memorial arrangements will be announced in the near future.
