Chief Dental Officer

Position Summary

The Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as Chief Dental Officer (CDO). Reporting directly to the Dean and serving as a member of the School’s executive leadership and cabinet, the CDO provides strategic leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for all clinical operations of the School of Dentistry, including predoctoral (DDS), graduate specialty clinics, faculty practices, and hospital-based clinical programs. The CDO is accountable for advancing the School’s clinical mission in patient care, education, quality, safety, compliance, and financial sustainability, while ensuring full alignment with academic priorities, accreditation standards, and the health system environment.

Scope Of Responsibilities

• All School of Dentistry clinical operations, including:

  • Predoctoral (DDS) comprehensive care and specialty clinics
  • Graduate and postgraduate specialty clinics
  • Faculty practice operations
  • Hospital-based dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery programs
  • Community-based and extramural clinical education sites
  • Clinical faculty and staff practice environments

• Ensure efficient, effective, and standardized clinical operations while allowing appropriate differentiation among programs.

• Oversee clinic scheduling, space utilization, staffing models, and clinical workflows to optimize educational value and patient access.

• Establish and maintain a robust clinical quality and patient safety framework across all clinics.

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, infection control, billing, documentation, and risk management requirements.

• Promote continuous quality improvement and evidence-based clinical practice.

• Provide executive oversight of clinical financial performance, including revenue cycle integrity, cost management, and productivity.

• Partner with finance, operations, and department leadership to ensure sustainable clinical margins that support the School’s academic mission.

• Use data analytics and performance dashboards to monitor access, productivity, outcomes, and patient experience.

• Ensure that clinical operations support high-quality clinical education for DDS, allied dental, and graduate programs.

• Collaborate closely with Academic Affairs, department chairs, and program directors to align clinical experiences with curricular and competency requirements.

• Support innovation in clinical education, including digital dentistry, interprofessional care, and emerging care models.

• In collaboration with the Chair of Comprehensive Care and Allied programs, lead, mentor, and evaluate clinical leaders, including assistant deans, clinic directors, and faculty leaders.

• Foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion within clinical environments.

• Partner with Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs on recruitment, development, evaluation, and succession planning for clinical faculty leadership.

• Advance strategic partnerships that enhance clinical education, patient care, and institutional reputation.

• Represent the School nationally in forums related to academic dentistry, clinical education, and health system integration.

Basic Qualifications

• DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree

• Eligible for unrestricted dental license in Indiana

• Record of progressive leadership in academic dentistry, health systems, or complex clinical enterprises

• Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-site or multi-program clinical operations

• Strong understanding of dental education, accreditation, faculty practice, and hospital-based care

• Proven ability to lead strategic change, manage complexity, and align clinical and academic missions

Key Competencies

• Strategic and systems thinking

• Executive leadership and change management

• Financial acumen and operational excellence

• Collaborative leadership across academic, clinical, and administrative domains

• Commitment to quality, safety, equity, and patient-centered care

Additional Qualifications

• Advanced degree in health administration, business, public health, or education (MBA, MHA, MPH, EdD, or similar)

• Experience as an associate/senior associate dean, chief dental officer, department chair, or comparable executive role

• Experience working within large academic health centers, public health or large group practice organizations, or integrated health systems