Welcome to the 2023 UW School of Dentistry Strategic Planning Oversight Committee (SPOC) page. Here, we will keep you informed of the planning process and how you can be involved in shaping the future of the UW School of Dentistry!
Our Purpose
Under our charge from Dean Ritter, we will clarify our mission and develop a new vision of the future of our school. We will design a strategic plan to guide UWSOD toward that new vision. Our goal is to exceed our school’s past successes to make an even greater impact on oral health education, oral and craniofacial research, person-centered healthcare, and community service. The new strategic plan will articulate our:
- Shared purpose (a mission statement),
- Shared aspirations (a vision statement),
- and importantly our shared values.
This will communicate who we are and why we are here, as well as where we are headed as a school, so we make wise decisions for our future.
Who We Are
Sara Gordon
Representing Faculty and Administration/ Curriculum
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Committee Chair
Douglass Jackson
Representing Faculty, Administration/DEI, and Outreach
Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Committee Vice-Chair
Janelle Brewer
Representing Classified Staff and Clinics
Dental Clinic Supervisor
Chao (Teddy) Dong
Representing Students
Predoctoral Student, Class of 2025
Maggie Helsel
Representing Professional Staff and Communications
Director of Marketing
Melanie Lang
Representing Faculty and Alumni
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
LaMar Lowe
Representing Professional Staff, Clinics, and Finances
Director, Patient Revenue Cycle Operations
Alireza Sadr
Representing Faculty and Research
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry
Ana Lucia Seminario
Representing Faculty Council and Global Research
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health
Our Committee’s Guiding Principles
We respect dissent:
- We assume positive intentions, not bad intentions, in anyone’s statements.
- There should be no silent dissent on the committee – we speak up in real time.
- All SPOC members will listen carefully to what is being said by our colleagues with the intent of understanding.
We are inclusive:
- All SPOC members are empowered to speak and be heard.
- All SPOC members are equal.
- Stakeholder voices are equal in discussions.
We are practical:
- We aim to be realistic.
- We are respectful of UW and community culture.
- We are accountable, as a group, to UWSOD.
How You Can Be Involved
March & April
Key Leader Interviews & Focus Groups
COMPLETED
April 1 – 10
All students, faculty, staff, patients, and alumni take the online survey
COMPLETED
April – May
Participate in workgroups to develop the goals and comment on drafts
June and after
Help us implement our new strategic goals and fulfill our new vision
Past Announcements
Strategic Planning Update-April 19, 2023 (PDF)
Dean Ritter’s Announcement to the Community 2-14-2023 (PDF)