Sam Dworkin becomes School of Dentistry’s latest WDS Distinguished Professor

Samuel F. Dworkin

Dr. Samuel F. Dworkin, professor of oral medicine at the School of Dentistry and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UW School of Medicine, has been selected as the new Washington Dental Service Foundation Distinguished Professor in Dentistry.

Dworkin is the fourth faculty member in the School of Dentistry to receive this honor. As holder of this prestigious appointment, Dworkin’s primary responsibility is to plan an international symposium on issues related to state-of-the-art dentistry.

The Distinguished Professorship was established in 1985 with funds provided by the Washington Dental Service Foundation and matched by the state of Washington.

Dworkin, who joined the UW faculty in 1974, currently heads the Orofacial Pain Research Group in the Department of Oral Medicine. A pioneer in biobehavioral research on chronic pain, Dworkin headed the first major population-based study in the United States on temporomandibular disorders (TMD). He also led the way in developing an internationally used diagnostic system that integrates both biologic and psychosocial assessment into the diagnosis of TMD.

Dworkin is a charter member of the International Association for the Study of Pain and American Pain Society and member of other associations including the American Dental Association, American Association of Dental Schools and International Association for Dental Research.

“Dr. Dworkin has gained an international reputation for his work here at the School of Dentistry and it’s fitting that he should receive such a distinguished appointment,” said Dr. Paul Robertson, dean of the School of Dentistry.

The Washington Dental Service Foundation was established in 1985 to improve the quality of dental health, education and scientific knowledge for the benefit of the public and the dental community.

“The endowed professorship is just one of many significant contributions made by the Foundation to programs in the School of Dentistry that have benefited both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students, as well as faculty, staff and alumni,” Robertson said.

Past distinguished professors in dentistry were Dr. Charles L. Bolender, Dr. Karl-Ake Omnell and Dr. Roy C. Page. Past symposia have featured experts in their fields and drawn attendees from around the world. ¶