Faculty and Staff, Operative Dentistry

Heymann Named First Hinman Distinguished Professor

Dr. Harald Heymann, professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry, has been named the first Thomas P. Hinman Distinguished Professor in Restorative Dentistry.

“It is an absolute honor to be named the first Hinman Distinguished Professor,” said Heymann. “I’m humbled by the recognition and grateful for the support.”

The professorship, established by the Hinman Dental Society, is designed to offer support to a faculty member in the Department of Operative Dentistry. The society has a long-standing history of supporting the UNC School of Dentistry, including the previous establishments of the Thomas P. Hinman Continuing Education Scholarship Fund and the Thomas P. Hinman Distinguished Lecture. In sum, the Hinman Dental Society has contributed more than $600,000 to the school.

“It is our privilege to endow a professorship in restorative dentistry at UNC and we couldn’t be more pleased that Dr. Heymann, a true pioneer in restorative dentistry, is the recipient of this honor,” said Dr. Paul G. Isler, Hinman Dental Society chairman of the trustees.

Heymann earned his D.D.S. from the school in 1978, after which he joined the UNC School of Dentistry faculty. During his first few years on the faculty, Heymann also pursued his M.Ed. at Carolina, which he completed in 1980. As a faculty member, his achievements have been numerous and significant, including being honored with the 2006 John C. Brauer Award by the UNC Dental Alumni Association for his service to the school and to dentistry. He has also served the department as both former graduate program director and former department chair.

He holds memberships in the Academy of Operative Dentistry, the International Association of Dental Research and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, of which he’s a past president. Heymann serves as the current editor-in-chief of the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry.

Heymann has been active in the clinical research of esthetic restorative materials and participates in the UNC Dental Faculty Practice with a primary focus on esthetic dentistry. He is the author of more than 190 scientific publications, a number of textbook chapters on esthetic techniques and is co-editor of Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry – one of the best-selling dental textbooks worldwide. He has given more than 900 lectures on various aspects of esthetic dentistry worldwide. He serves as a board member of the Clinical Research Associated Foundation and is a recipient of the Gordon J. Christensen Award for excellence as a continuing education speaker.