UMKC School of Dentistry appoints Marsha Pyle dean

Kansas City, Mo.鈥擠r. Marsha A. Pyle is the new dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, UM announced April 2.

Dr. Pyle is currently vice dean at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, a professor in the department of oral diagnosis and radiology, and director of the Training Center for Geriatric Oral Health. She begins her tenure at UMKC Aug. 10.

“I look forward to joining the dedicated group of faculty, staff, students and alumni who have distinguished the school and provided exceptional support,” said Dr. Pyle, who served as the 2007-08 chair of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. “This is a very exciting time for the school and its programs as we work together for the continued growth in goals for the future.”

Dr. Pyle has held numerous board and leadership positions on national, state and local organizations, including the ADA and American Dental Education Association, and currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Dentists. In 2003-04, she participated in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellowship Program, a national program that supports senior women faculty as they prepare for institutional leadership positions at schools of dentistry, medicine and public health.

Dr. Pyle is the recipient of several distinguished honors, including the Ohio Dental Association’s Humanitarian Award (2000), the ADEA Presidential Citation (2006) and CWRU School of Dental Medicine’s Distinguished Alumnus Award (2008).

She earned her D.D.S. degree from CWRU and completed a general practice residency at the Carl Stokes VA Medical Center and a fellowship in geriatric dentistry at CWRU. In addition to academia, Dr. Pyle has worked as consultant to government and corporate entities. In 2008, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland appointed her to a three-year term on the state’s Dentist Loan Repayment Board.

“I am extremely pleased that we were able to attract someone of Dr. Pyle’s stature and experience as dean of our outstanding School of Dentistry,” said Gail Hackett, Ph.D., UMKC executive vice chancellor and provost. “I have every confidence that Dr. Pyle will be able to lead the school to even higher levels of distinction.”

In an announcement, Dr. Hackett also extended “special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Nancy Mills, who has been serving as interim dean of the School of Dentistry and will continue in that capacity until Dr. Pyle’s arrival.”