Clinical professor named as holder of Washington Dental Service Endowed Chair

James Steiner, right, reviews the work of second-year dental student Jason Bourne.

Dr. James Steiner, clinical professor of endodontics, has been named to hold the Washington Dental Service (WDS) Endowed Chair in Dentistry at the School of Dentistry.

Recognized for his outstanding career in academia and private practice, Steiner received a unanimous recommendation from the school’s department chairs, who served as the selection committee. The chair will support Steiner as a senior faculty member in providing education and conducting clinical research on the delivery of oral health care, including efficient and effective business practices.

Steiner first came to the UW in 1966 as assistant professor and director of graduate training in the Department of Endodontics. He then left in 1971 to serve as associate professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics at Louisiana State University. After maintaining a private practice for 12 years, Steiner served as chair of the endodontics section at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry.

In 1992, Steiner returned to the UW. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award from students in 1994 and has also received outstanding teaching awards at Louisiana State University and UCLA.

Steiner’s four main areas of research include preparation of students for the private practice environment, new computer approaches to teaching, endodontic instrumentation, and the biology of root and pulp tissue. With this appointment, Steiner will be looking for creative solutions that will help dentists become better business managers.

The WDS chair was established last year with a $2 million gift from Washington Dental Service—the largest single gift to the school. It is the school’s first endowed chair.

“Dr. Steiner’s exceptional accomplishments in teaching, patient care and service make him well deserving of this appointment,” said Dean Paul Robertson. “We are thankful for the support from Washington Dental Service to help our school continue its excellence in dental education.”

Washington Dental Service, a nonprofit organization, is the state’s oldest and largest provider of prepaid dental benefits. It now serves more than one million people throughout Washington state through a network of nearly 2,800 participating dentists. The organization pioneered dental coverage nationally in 1954, at a time when most people considered tooth decay inevitable and private insurers considered dental coverage too risky. It is a founding member of Delta Dental Plans Association, a nationwide network of dental plans in all states. ¶

Julie Rathbun