Rossouw Is New Orthodontics Chair

Dr. Paul Emile Rossouw, formerly chairman of the Department of Orthodontics at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, has joined the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry as chairman of the Department of Orthodontics.

Rossouw’s first day at the School was Feb. 1. Dr. Ceib Phillips, professor of orthodontics, had served as interim chair of the department since October 2008, when Dr. Camilla Tulloch retired; Tulloch had served as department chair since July 2001 and had been a member of the orthodontics faculty for more than two decades.

Rossouw, who has more than two decades of experience within academic and clinical orthodontics, is a five-time graduate of the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, with a B.Sc. in chemistry and physiology, a B.Ch.D.  in dentistry, a B.Ch.D. (honors) in children’s dentistry, an M.Ch.D. (cum laude) in orthodontics and a Ph.D. in dental science. Additionally, he received an orthodontics certificate from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2006.

With his arrival at UNC-Chapel Hill, Rossouw has now led orthodontics education at four universities – and within three countries. He was named acting head of the University of Stellenbosch’s Department of Orthodontics in 1987, with that appointment becoming permanent in 1989. He later left South Africa to head the Department of Orthodontics for the University of Toronto, from 1992 through 2000. While at the University of Toronto, he also directed the Burlington Growth Centre (2000-2002) and was a private practitioner.

He joined Baylor College of Dentistry as professor and clinic director in the orthodontics department in 2002 and held this position until he was appointed chairman of Baylor’s orthodontics department in 2004.

Rossouw has served as a visiting orthodontics professor in Sweden, Brazil and Japan and has authored dozens of papers in peer-reviewed journals. His professional interests include clinical orthodontics, biomaterials and jaw growth. His areas of research concentration include the evaluation of standardization in orthodontic materials, the longitudinal study of craniofacial growth of normal subjects and the stability of orthodontic treatment results.

“We are truly privileged to welcome Dr. Rossouw as the School of Dentistry’s new orthodontics chairman,” said Dean John N. Williams. “His career has been defined by research and clinical excellence, and he also understands first-hand how the advances in research inform patient care.

“Our School of Dentistry’s orthodontics department is committed to delivering the very best in education, research and patient care. I am appreciative of Dr. Phillips’ interim leadership, as well as the dedication orthodontics faculty, staff and students have demonstrated during this lengthy search process. Dr. Rossouw joins a dynamic orthodontics program with a bright future.”