Weintraub Installed as President of National Research Organization

Jane Weintraub, DDS, MPH, R. Gary Rozier and Chester W. Douglass Distinguished Professor, was installed as the 51st president of the American Association of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) on Friday, March 25 at the organization’s annual session.

As president, Weintraub will lead AADOCR for the term of one year. By doing so, she is overseeing the largest division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). The AADOCR boasts roughly 3,100 members across the United States.

Prior to her induction as president, Weintraub gave her president-elect address at the beginning of the meeting. She highlighted the importance of the AADOCR membership fully embracing and living the spirit of its new byline, “Science First.” She also encouraged members, that even in a hybrid meeting environment, to “be joyful [during the meeting], in person or via the online chat box, to meet new colleagues and renew friendships, and share those ‘eureka’ moments of discovery.”

“Being installed as the president of such an influential and respected organization is truly one of my greatest honors,” said Weintraub. “I am thrilled to be able to serve the research community in this capacity and look forward to working with my colleagues in new ways during my tenure as president of AADOCR.”

Weintraub is the fourth faculty member from the UNC Adams School of Dentistry to be named president of AADOCR, following James Bawden, DDS, PhD (1984), Steven Offenbacher, DDS, MS, PhD (2000), and Tim Wright, DDS, MS (2019).

“The UNC Adams School of Dentistry and its employees take great pride in its service to the research missions of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We are always honored, but not surprised, to have our faculty represented among the leadership of national and international research organizations, such as AADOCR,” said Shannon Wallet, PhD, associate dean for research, discovery and innovation. “Such representation is important for us to continue to be integral in shaping the future of oral health, overall health, health literacy and health advocacy. As have the other UNC Adams faculty before her, I am confident that Dr. Weintraub will represent UNC and serve AADOCR well. I am more than excited to see what her leadership will bring to the many fields within dental oral and craniofacial research.”

Weintraub earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Stony Book University and her Master of Public Health and postdoctoral fellowship from Harvard University. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and is the second dental public health specialist to serve in the role of president for AADOCR.

The AADOCR is a nonprofit organization with over 3,100 members in the United States. Its mission is to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health; to support and represent the oral health research community; and to facilitate the communication and application of research findings.

Photo courtesy of AADOCR.