Announcement: Dr. Maria Jacinta Santos extended appointment as Assistant Dean, Learner Experience (Dentistry)
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Maria Jacinta Santos has agreed to an extension of her appointment as the Assistant Dean, Learner Experience (Dentistry), at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective March 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.
In this role, Dr. Santos will engage with, assist and support the well-being of Dentistry learners through the development of a comprehensive wellness curriculum and maintaining a close working relationship with the Learner Experience office and relevant committees.
Dr. Santos completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1988 at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, before obtaining her Master of Science in Dental Clinics in 1999 and joining the faculty as an Associate Professor in 1993. She earned a PhD in Operative Dentistry in 2003 from the University of Sao Paulo, where part of her research studies were conducted at the University of Toronto. In 2006, Dr. Santos became licensed by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and joined the faculty at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
Dr. Santos is an Associate Professor in Restorative Dentistry who also serves as the Chair of Operative Dentistry and the Chair of the Internationally Trained Dentists (ITD) Program Committee at Schulich Dentistry. Additionally, she is a committee member within the Scholarships and Awards Committee.
Dr. Santos brings a breadth of experience to her new role. She is passionate about ensuring students are set up for success not only academically but in all aspects of their lives and their wellbeing. She encourages her students to develop respectful, ethical and caring attitudes with all individuals.
She was awarded the WW Wood Award for Excellence in Dental Education in 2021, placed first nationally and within North America at the Dentsply Clinical Case Contest in 2019, and received the Schulich Dentistry Professional Development Award in 2017. Dr. Santos remains an Honorary Member of the Brazilian Dental Association.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Santos on her re-appointment.
John Yoo, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
Bertha Garcia, MD, FRCPC, MEd
Acting Vice Dean, Dentistry
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
Sandra Northcott, MD, FRCPC
Associate Dean, Learner Experience
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
