Chief Dental Officer

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry invites an innovative, collaborative, and visionary clinical leader to serve as its inaugural Chief Dental Officer (CDO), a pivotal leadership role arriving at a moment of historic growth, strategic transformation, and renewed commitment to advancing oral health. Reporting directly to the Dean, the CDO will provide patient care and serve as the senior clinical executive responsible for shaping the college's clinical vision for its faculty practice, leading its expanding care-delivery enterprise, and elevating its excellence in patient care, community engagement, and academic-clinical integration.

As Oklahoma’s only dental school, the College is revitalizing its mission to expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and serve communities across the state—from metropolitan centers to rural regions—through high-quality, patient-centered, evidence-based dentistry. The Chief Dental Officer will champion this mission as an entrepreneurial leader, advancing accessibility, excellence, and innovation by shaping clinical operations, care models, and community partnerships. Joining the College during the development of a new state-of-the-art faculty practice, the CDO will play a central role in launching the clinic, strengthening clinical standards, recruiting and developing faculty, and deepening integration with the OU Health system. By fostering collaboration across health professions and representing the College in systemwide clinical and population health strategy, the CDO has a unique opportunity to elevate oral health standards and expand access to high-quality care for Oklahomans statewide.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in direct patient care, clinical leadership, operational oversight, and strategic planning within a complex healthcare or academic health sciences environment. This individual will work closely with faculty clinicians, program leaders, and system partners to ensure patient-centered, high-quality, and financially sustainable clinical operations that align with the College’s educational mission and service commitments.

Candidates must hold a DDS or DMD degree, be eligible for licensure in Oklahoma, and bring substantial experience in clinical practice and leadership. Experience with faculty practice development, clinical operations, or health‑system integration is highly desirable.

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry has retained the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below. 

Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Jay Torio is leading this search with Kristin Benoit and Maria Peña.