Dr. Joseph Chasteen, a beloved former faculty member and leader at the School, passed away on April 7, 2025, at the age of 82.
Dr. Chasteen’s career in dentistry and education spanned decades and left a lasting impact on every institution he served. After earning his DDS from the University of Michigan in 1967, he served as a Captain and general dentist in the U.S. Air Force in Turkey, where he was also appointed Director of Continuing Education. He later returned to Michigan to begin private practice and teach at both the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College.
In 1984, Dr. Chasteen became Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry. Five years later, he was recruited to the University of Washington School of Dentistry, where he served as the School’s first Associate Dean for Clinic Operations. Over his 17-year tenure, he also held roles as Director of Educational Technology and Director of the Practice Management Course, before retiring in 2006.
Dr. Chasteen was a visionary leader who modernized clinical operations and championed innovations that continue to benefit students and patients today. He led the transition from paper to digital patient records, established the School’s first Patient Relations Office, and authored the original Clinic Policy Manual—laying the foundation for standardized, school-wide clinical practices. He also introduced home-based cubicles in the predoctoral clinics, improving efficiency and patient privacy, and implemented voicemail systems for students to enhance communication with their patients.
Colleagues remember Dr. Chasteen not only for his professional accomplishments but for his warmth, humor and genuine care for others. He was known for his friendly greetings in the hallways, his thoughtful mentorship and his ability to bring people together. One colleague recalled how his leadership during accreditation inspired staff to go above and beyond—even scrubbing baseboards—to ensure the School was ready. Another shared how his simple gestures of kindness made them feel respected and valued from day one.
Dr. Chasteen believed in his team and held high expectations, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration and mutual respect.
He is remembered not only as a dedicated educator and administrator but as a mentor, colleague and friend. His legacy lives on in the systems he built, the students he taught and the many lives he touched.
Dr. Chasteen is survived by his wife, Donna, who also worked at the School in graduate Endodontics and is fondly remembered by the students she supported.
He was truly one in a million, and he will be dearly missed.