The University of North Carolina School of Dentistry and the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health announced the establishment of a new dental public health professorship on June 5. Made possible by Dr. Chester Douglass and Mrs. Joy Douglass, the R. Gary Rozier and Chester W. Douglass Distinguished Professorship in Dental Public Health will support a jointly appointed faculty member, as yet unnamed, who specializes in dental public health.

[Photo: Dr. Gary Rozier (left) is acknowledged by Dr. Chet Douglass at a dinner celebrating Rozier’s career. Ms. Jeanette Rozier looks on. Photo by Mr. Tom Fuldner]

The professorship, which honors Dr. Gary Rozier, professor of health policy and management at the Gillings School and a respected national leader in dental public health, was announced after a day-long symposium held at both schools, during which panel discussions addressed the future of dental public health. At a dinner planned to celebrate his career, Dr. Rozier learned that the professorship would bear his name as well as Douglass’s.

“Dr. Gary Rozier exemplifies what it means to be a gentleman and a scholar,” said Barbara K. Rimer, Alumni Distinguished Professor and dean of the Gillings School. “His scholarship is legendary, impressive in both the quantity of his publications and the depth and breadth of his research impact. He is a great example of how academic research can benefit people in our communities. Gary also is an outstanding mentor and colleague, gracious, kind, a notably great collaborator and a generous citizen of the university and his profession.”

Through his research at UNC – which spans 38 years – and strong collaborations with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies, Dr. Rozier has created a legacy of impact, demonstrated through scores of peer-reviewed publications.

Read more: http://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/new-professorship-in-dental-public-health-established/