ECU dental school dean named president-elect of international group

Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, has been elected president-elect of FDI World Dental Federation, the premier representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide.

Chadwick will serve as president-elect for two years before taking the helm of the global Switzerland-based organization whose mission is to lead the world to optimal dental health. FDI’s membership comprises nearly 200 national member associations and specialist groups in more than 130 countries.

Dr. Greg Chadwick (Contributed photo)

“I really am delighted to play a lead role at this level, advocating for oral health on a worldwide basis,” Chadwick said. “This opportunity builds upon my experience with the School of Dental Medicine, which focuses on improving oral health and providing access to oral health care for rural and underserved areas. I see this opportunity as a continuation of promoting prevention, education and leadership — the same thing FDI is doing on a global scale.”

Chadwick was elected Sept. 29 during FDI’s 2021 World Dental Congress, which was held virtually.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Chadwick to his new leadership role as president-elect,” said incoming FDI President, Professor Ihsane Ben Yahya. “He has been a long-serving, trusted and dedicated member of the FDI family, and I look forward to joining forces with him and our members worldwide to ensure oral health becomes a global health priority. Every person has the right to good oral health and to live a full, happy and healthy life. Together, with the support of FDI Council, we can work towards making that a reality.”

Chadwick’s priorities as president-elect include supporting Ben Yahya and focusing on the organization’s mission amid challenges brought on by the pandemic, as well as maintaining a strong and relevant FDI.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted patients all over the world causing many to cancel basic care and delay urgent care, Chadwick said. Part of FDI’s leadership strategy will be to guide patients back to their dentists and to restore dental practices and professional organizations to full strength.

Chadwick said he will also work to solidify FDI as the global voice of dentistry through actively addressing the most pressing topics in oral health care. “One of the overarching goals of FDI’s strategic plan, ‘Vision 2030,’ is a global view of how FDI can achieve its mission of leading the world to optimal oral health,” he said. “We have a rare opportunity to capture the momentum of our Vision 2030 and WHO’s goal of integrating oral health in general health policy.”

Chadwick has been involved in FDI leadership since 2000, when he attended the group’s Congress in Paris as a delegate for the American Dental Association (ADA). He most recently served as treasurer of FDI, a position he held until this year, and prior to that, he was the Speaker of the General Assembly for six years. He served as president of the ADA in 2001-02 and as president of numerous other dental organizations, including the North Carolina Dental Society, the Second District Dental Society and the Southern Endodontic Study Group.

Chadwick, a native North Carolinian, earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1973 from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a fellow of the American Colleges of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

He worked as an endodontist in private practice in Charlotte before heading into dental education. He served for 18 years as a part-time clinical professor at his alma mater and for 14 years as chair of the endodontic section at Carolinas Medical Center, where he served on the faculty for over 25 years.

Chadwick joined the effort to create the ECU School of Dental Medicine in the early 2000s. He was hired as associate vice chancellor for oral health in 2005 and twice served as the school’s interim dean and as associate dean for planning and extramural affairs before being named dean in September 2012. Under his leadership, ECU graduated its inaugural class in 2015 and established the first of the community service learning centers in 2012, a year after those first students began classes.

“Having one of our university’s leaders selected for a top role in an international professional organization is an affirmation of ECU’s focus not only on professional expertise but on leadership contributions to the community and beyond,” said Dr. Ron Mitchelson, ECU’s vice chancellor for health sciences. “Dr. Chadwick has led the dental school from its creation, through milestones of its mission and toward a bright future providing dentists for our state. He will continue to do so, but will now also apply his knowledge and expertise to a global community of dentists working to improve oral health all over the world.”

During his career, Chadwick has earned numerous professional and academic awards, including the UNC Board of Governors’ 2017 Gov. James E. Holshouser Award for Excellence in Public Service, awarded to one faculty member from the UNC System who exemplifies public service toward improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians. He was also selected by a 24-member Board of Regents from all 17 districts in the International College of Dentists USA Section as Outstanding Dental Leader in 2015.

Founded in 1900, FDI fosters best practices in oral health science and education by sharing knowledge in preventive care, diagnosis and treatment, continuing education programs, projects, awareness campaigns and policy statements. FDI also organizes congresses and publishes the International Dental Journal.

FDI also leads global advocacy efforts to increase oral health literacy and achieve political commitment and action on oral health in all countries. The organization pushes for oral diseases to be recognized and addressed as serious global health concerns. The organization works with United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organization and other non-governmental organizations, international partners, governments and corporate partners to improve the oral health of people all over the world.