Assistant/Associate Professor, School of Dentistry, Division of Dental Hygiene

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is located in downtown Richmond, Virginia. With a 132-year history, Virginia’s only dental school provides opportunities for selected, qualified individuals to study dentistry and oral health through a doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S) program, graduate specialty training programs and a dental hygiene program. The VCU School of Dentistry is one of a small number of dental schools in the country affiliated with an academic medical center, the only dental school in the Commonwealth, and the second oldest dental school in the U.S. It is one of five health sciences academic programs on the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus of VCU.

Chief Purpose of this position:

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry is seeking applicants for a full-time faculty position for the Dental Hygiene Program in the Department of General Practice. The primary responsibility of this role is teaching and clinical instruction to prepare baccalaureate dental hygiene students by providing didactic and clinical instruction, directing projects, participating in the development and revision of curricula and mentoring students. This position also supports the predoctoral dental program through didactic and clinical instruction of dental students.

Position Responsibilities:

Faculty members are expected to:

• Teach in an integrated curriculum system that includes undergraduate, graduate and professional education
• Foster transformative learning that is informed by interdisciplinary and translational research, teaching, and creative expression
• Engage in ongoing professional development to maintain a broad knowledge of evidence-based research in teaching
• Serve on committees within the School of Dentistry and the University as assigned including service as a member of the
• Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee
• Provide continuing education for healthcare professionals as requested
• Provide service to the community and the profession to support the program's mission and goals
• Support the Dental Hygiene Program Director, Department Chair and the Dean in University related projects as requested

Required Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or higher in dental hygiene education or a related field
• Graduate of a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
• Current license or eligibility for licensure to practice dental hygiene in Virginia
• Certification in local anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation
• Current CPR certification
• Demonstrated ability to teach dental hygiene
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical dental hygiene practice
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated potential for leadership
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience teaching in a dental hygiene education program

ORP Eligible: Yes