New dean has extensive experience with clinical training, education and operations at all levels
Steven E. Haas, D.M.D., J.D., MBA, will be the new dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Haas comes to UMKC from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, where he serves as associate dean for clinical affairs and interim chair of the Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry. He received his D.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, his J.D. from Touro College Law Center in Huntington, New York, and his MBA from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. He will begin his tenure on Aug. 16.
“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the UMKC School of Dentistry, a more than century-old institution known for cutting-edge research, pioneering work in diversity and inclusion, proud and dedicated alumni and a commitment to exceptional clinical instruction,” Haas said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the school’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students to build on that record of achievement, as we look towards 2030 and beyond. These are exciting times ahead and I am grateful to take this journey with you.”
Haas has deep knowledge of dental education accreditation and compliance, as well as innovative clinical educational practices, according to Jennifer Lundgren, Ph.D., UMKC provost and executive vice chancellor.
“He values science and research and the importance of evidence-based clinical decision-making,” Lundgren said. “Steven is committed to improving the experiences of under-represented students, faculty, staff and patients in the School of Dentistry and in advancing the university’s goals of increasing diversity among our faculty and staff.”
According to Lundgren, Haas will focus on improving diverse representation and inclusivity within the school; growing research; interprofessional collaboration; and innovation and advancement in the clinical practices and in community outreach, particularly with communities of color and other under-represented communities in the greater Kansas City region.
The UMKC School of Dentistry has a deeply rooted reputation for innovative leadership in dental education. For more than a century, the school has led the way by preparing the next generation of oral health care professionals, conducting cutting-edge research, delivering high-quality care to patients and allowing professionals to elevate their careers through continuing education and practitioner training programs. The passionate commitment to oral health care of the faculty, students and staff is on display daily inside sophisticated classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories and bustling practice clinics providing care to more than 73,000 patients annually.