OU announced the appointment of Paul Mullasseril, a former associate dean of the College of Dentistry OU for clinical and preclinical education as the college dean in a press release last week.
Replacement of the former and current dean executive Director of the American Dental Association Raymond Cohlmia, Harroz said Mullasseril’s experience as an educator, clinician and leader in organized dentistry makes him “an excellent choice to lead the college,” the statement said.
After serving as director of OU Health Dentistry, Mullasseril said in an interview with The Daily that he was “up to the challenge” of replacing Cohlmia, who he said was a “dynamic” and “high-energy” dean. .
Mullasseril was born in Mumbai, India, and completed his dental education at the University of Bombay in 1988, the statement said. Mullasseril’s career in OU began when he completed his postgraduate training in maxillofacial prosthesis by graduating in 1994.
Four years later, he joined the faculty of the Department of Removable Prosthesis at the OU College of Dentistry, then was Director of the Department of Maxillofacial Prosthetics from 2002 to 2008.
Although Mullasseril accepted a position at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, Washington in 2008, he said in the statement that he returned to OU College of Dentistry within a few years because “Oklahoma felt more like at home”.
In 2011, Mullasseril was appointed chair of the restorative dentistry department and was appointed director of the faculty dental clinic a year later, the statement said. In 2015, he was appointed Assistant Dean for Clinical and Preclinical Education and also holds the Connie and Herbert T. Shillingburg Chair in Fixed Prosthodontics.
From 2020 to 2021, Mullasseril served as president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, where he worked with lawmakers to develop legislation that “will benefit the oral health and well-being of the citizens of Oklahoma,” according to the press release. Working with the ODA and the Dale Graham Veterans Foundation in Norman, he also coordinated the College of Dentistry’s very first clinic to provide free dental care to select Oklahoma veterans in March.
The press release indicates that Mullasseril also presented “continuing dental education” nationally and internationally on the topics of removable prostheses and implant dentistry.
As future dean, Mullasseril said in the statement that his goal is to expand access to high-quality dental care at an affordable cost for Oklahoman.
“I am very touched and delighted to take on this role as the OU College of Dentistry has had a significant impact on my life and career,” Mullasseril said in the statement. “I look forward to working with the outstanding academic leadership and faculty and staff of the College of Dentistry as we remain committed to providing our students with superior clinical and practical training, preparing them to excel as clinicians, advocates of patients and leaders within the profession. “
In an interview, Mullasseril said he plans to frequently evaluate the College of Dentistry curriculum to ensure students are prepared for changes and new technologies in dentistry.
“Our school is traditionally known as one of the best clinical schools in the country,” said Mullasseril. “I want to make sure that we maintain that and that we develop some of the other areas that I am looking at in terms of development.”
Mullasseril said he wanted to make sure the College of Dentistry is the “torchbearer” in making sure oral health is accessible to everyone in Oklahoma, in an interview. He said the college is opening a dental clinic in OU-Tulsa, which is expected to launch in June 2022.
“It’s my job to make sure it’s a successful business so that we can then expand to other areas of the state that lack access to health and dental care for the people of. Oklahoma, ”Mullasseril said.
