James Parker Appointed New Director for Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program

Effective November 1, 2012, Dr. James Parker began his appointment as director of the UNC School of Dentistry Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program. Parker is also a professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry.

“It is my privilege to announce that we’ve selected Dr. James Parker as our new director for our AEGD program,” said UNC School of Dentistry Dean Jane Weintraub. “We look forward to his work continuing the great reputation of our AEGD program.”

Parker, recently retired from the U.S. Army Dental Corps, earned his D.D.S. in 1986 at Baylor College of Dentistry. The following year, he completed his AEGD program through the Army and went on to pursue his prosthodontics residency, which he completed in Fort Gordon, Ga. in 1994. Parker remained active in his service to the Army and, after finishing his prosthodontics training, eventually served in positions as the chief of prosthodontics, deputy commander of several units, prosthodontic mentor in two AEGD two-year residency programs, and the commander of the Dental Activity at Ft. Stewart, Ga. Most recently, Parker served in the U.S. Army as deputy commander of the USA-DENTAC and a comprehensive care dentist and prosthdontist at the Army base in Camp Zama, Japan. During his time in the Army, Parker was decorated with the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Medal, among other military awards.

The AEGD program director position opened up when the program’s current director, Dr. Frank Brantley, announced his plans to retire at the end of the calendar year.
“We’re grateful for the more than 30 years of service by Dr. Brantley, who built the AEGD program into the successful, respected program that it is today,” said Weintraub, “We’re fortunate for the dedication he’s demonstrated to our school through the years and we wish him well in his retirement.”