Anil Kishen, a world-renowned innovator in the field of endodontics, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Dentistry.
Currently an associate scientist in the department of dentistry at Mount Sinai Hospital and the U of T Faculty of Dentistry's associate dean of graduate education, Professor Kishen is an expert in oral microbiology and immunology whose research explores developments in bioactive nanobiomaterials and phototherapeutics to fight oral infections and improve patient outcomes.
(photo by Jeff Comber)
He will assume his new role on July 1, 2025 for a five-year term.
"I am tremendously honoured to be appointed dean of the Faculty of Dentistry," said Kishen, who joined U of T in 2009 and holds the Dr. Lloyd and Mrs. Kay Chapman Chair in Clinical Sciences and a Canada Research Chair in Oral Health Nanomedicine. "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead such an exceptional community of faculty, students and staff in advancing dentistry scholarship, practice and community engagement".
"My goal is to position the Faculty of Dentistry as a global leader in dentistry education, research and patient care, leveraging the extraordinary breadth of research, teaching excellence and diversity of our community."
Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost, congratulated Kishen on his appointment.
"Since joining the Faculty of Dentistry more than 15 years ago, Professor Kishen has distinguished himself as a prolific researcher and skilled academic leader. His commitment to excellence and a visionary future will be vital to the Faculty of Dentistry's success in the years ahead."
Young also thanked Professor Laura Tam for her exceptional service as interim dean since July 1, 2022.
As an endodontist who specializes in treating dental infections and helping people save their natural teeth, Kishen's research team at U of T investigates topics in dental infections and chronic wounds, including analyzing interactions between host tissue and harmful bacteria.
He has published more than 250 journal articles, 24 book chapters and three books, and is co-inventor of 12 patents. His work, meanwhile, has resulted in several prestigious awards including the National Dental Research Award from the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) and the Association of the Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD), the WW Wood Award from ACFD and the Louis I Grossman Award from the American Association of Endodontics (AAE).
He is also a prominent advocate for dentistry research and, as a past president of CADR, contributed to the development of Canada's first-ever National Oral Health Research Strategy.
With degrees from the University of Madras, the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Kishen said he looks forward to harnessing the U of T Faculty of Dentistry's breadth of expertise to foster collaboration, develop new specializations and generate innovative curriculums.
"We are the only dentistry faculty in Canada to offer all 10 nationally recognized clinical specialties, with a dental hospital, clinicians, research labs, basic scientists and administrators all hosted in one building," Kishen said. "This makes for a unique environment to do a lot of great work."
To that end, Kishen envisions the faculty developing centres of excellence focused on specific domains - for example, advanced orofacial pain, craniofacial health, special needs dentistry and preventive dentistry.
"These centres would be designed to bring people together to tackle critical research questions in oral health, advance novel innovations and treatment strategies, boost community engagement and expand international collaborations," said Kishen. "I'm very excited to leverage the expertise and enthusiasm of our faculty in this manner to foster collaboration and break down barriers".
"Looking to the future, I would also like us to integrate more digital technologies into our teaching and clinical practice."
Kishen noted there is an urgent need to advance research and increase accessibility to oral health treatment. He pointed to surveys showing widespread self-reported oral health problems in Canada, with 11 per cent of seniors reporting living with toothlessness, 22 per cent of Canadians experiencing regular oral pain and 16 per cent of Canadians avoiding certain foods because of mouth problems - with a higher risk of oral pain and dental problems among lower-income Canadians.
"As the premier post-secondary institution in Canada, it is important for our faculty to play a leadership role in addressing these challenges," said Kishen. "Our role extends beyond educating students and advancing research - we have a responsibility to engage with communities and have an impact".
"The Faculty of Dentistry has been excelling for 150 years - our challenge and opportunity is to build on that excellence and take our impact to another level."
