“I am pleased to announce Dr. Hill as the new Dean of the School of Dentistry,” said Interim Provost Kathryn Cardarelli. “As a distinguished alumnus of the University of Louisville, Dr. Hill brings exceptional expertise and leadership in dental education, along with a deep understanding of UofL’s unique values. I am confident that under Dr. Hill’s guidance, the School of Dentistry will continue to thrive and innovate in patient care, research, and community service.”

Hill said she’s enthusiastic about leading one of the nation’s oldest dental schools into the future. “I am truly honored by the confidence that leaders including President Bradley, Interim Provost Cardarelli and the Board of Trustees have shown in me,” said Hill. “I am fully committed to continuing the school’s legacy of service to the community and educational innovation that goes back to the 1800s.”

A native of Estill County, KY, Hill obtained her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and attended the UofL School of Dentistry, earning her DMD in 1987. She then earned a certificate in general practice residency at the UofL School of Dentistry and completed her residency in periodontics at the University of Kentucky in 1990.

Before joining the UofL School of Dentistry full-time, Hill worked in private practice in Elizabethtown, KY.

Hill has published extensively on oral health, with an emphasis on periodontal research. She is also active in dental and dental education organizations, holding leadership positions including��commission on change and innovation liaison and women’s liaison for the American Dental ����ֱ�� Association.

As part of the UofL community for more than 40 years as a student, faculty member, associate dean, interim dean and now dean, Hill said she finds joy not just in teaching the next generation of dental professionals, but also in developing the next generation of faculty. As the dental school’s leader, she said she plans to continue the school’s focus on being a national exemplar in oral health education, research and community engagement with continued emphasis on community-centered care and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“To achieve our goals, we must take a relationship-driven approach to engaging the broader university community and external stakeholders,” she said. “Our success is tied to partnerships across campus, within Louisville, throughout Kentucky and beyond.”

UofL News:��Tell us how you first landed at UofL.

Margaret Hill:��I’m from a little town in Eastern Kentucky – Ravenna. I’m a proud alumna of Estill County High School and I went to Eastern Kentucky University for my undergrad. I came to the UofL School of Dentistry partially because it just felt right. It was a good fit for me.��

UofL News:��You’ve been part of the UofL community for more than 30 years as a student, faculty, associate dean and now interim dean. What has kept you here?��

Hill:��For me, I think I can distill it down into something very simple. I am addicted to the magic that happens – and it usually happens at chair-side when there’s a student as the operator, a patient in the chair and a faculty member working together. The charge that you get in a clinical setting or the charge that you get when you’re in a didactic setting or a research setting, when students have that ‘aha’ moment and they get it. You have helped them understand a major concept, and especially if it was something that they were struggling with. It is one of the biggest thrills I’ve ever experienced in my life. I think most of us who are in the educational environment live for those moments. There’s such a sense of accomplishment and joy that you’re passing on what someone gave to you.

UofL News: Many people say the School of Dentistry is like a family. What do you think?

Hill:��Very much so. This place is and has always been a family. It’s always felt like family to me. Sometimes it’s quantifiable in the ways that we support each other, and sometimes it’s just that sense of knowing that others are here for you and here to support you, and they’re interested in your success.

We want our graduates to be able to be the best, safe, competent, confident, beginning dental professional they can possibly be. Everything we do is oriented toward that. There’s no decision that is made that isn’t oriented toward that at its fundamental, basic level. We want our students to be successful.��

UofL News:��Thinking back to when you were in dental school, what is one great piece of advice from a faculty member that has stuck with you?

Hill:��We lost Dr. Tom O’Toole recently, and I’ve thought a lot about the contributions he made for all of us who were able to work with him in a clinical or classroom setting. He was a remarkable example of somebody who had such an excellent sense of human nature. I believe that in today’s language we would say he had a very high emotional intelligence.

He taught me so much about working with people, including children. He was a pediatric dentist, and so many of the things that he taught were focused in working with pediatric patients, but it can be applied to people of all ages. He never talked down to children, they just weren’t as knowledgeable as somebody who was a little bit older. And he treated everyone with respect. I use his advice every day.

UofL News: Could you ever have imagined that you’d end up serving as interim dean?

Hill:��Not in a million years. I feel like I represent every woman who has ever gone through this institution. I feel like I represent every woman who’s ever worked for this institution. It’s really important for us in our history, and I can’t tell you what a privilege it is to be able to be the first woman to serve in this position.��

UofL News: What are your goals as the current leader of the School of Dentistry?

Hill:��My goal is to stay on track with many of the initiatives that Dr. Bradley has started and continued in some cases. We’re not moving away from any of those things. We have a tremendous team assembled, and I have the privilege to work with many individuals dedicated to making sure we educate the best safe, competent dental professionals that we can educate.

My other goal is to continue to work toward our site visit from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) that’s coming up in 2023. It’s really important that we are successful. We are actively in preparation for all of the self-study that has to be done prior to accreditation, and it’s going very well.

I am truly honored that Dr. Bradley chose me to lead the school at this time, and I am fully committed to continuing its legacy of 135 years of excellence in patient care, education and research.

��

The new site also gives dental students a community site near Louisville to learn alongside a full-time licensed dentist. School of Dentistry Interim Dean Margaret Hill says it is important for these future health care providers to grow their skills in a variety of settings outside the school.������

“As our students travel to other parts of Kentucky, they are maturing into culturally competent dental practitioners,” Hill said. “We build service into the educational experience, not just on a volunteer level but as a part of the curriculum,” Hill said.������

In recent years, the school opened a clinical rotation site in Paducah through a collaboration with West Kentucky Community and Technical College. UofL also sends students to Beverly, Kentucky, located in the eastern part of the state, to learn with a dentist at the Red Bird Dental Clinic. ������

Pallavi Patil is an alumna of the School of Dentistry and the full-time dentist at UofL’s Shelbyville dental office. Patil says she looks forward to mentoring students and building relationships with patients. ������

“I think it’s important to establish a good rapport and trust between doctor and patient. This helps patients feel comfortable and motivated throughout their comprehensive dental care,” she said.��������

The new dental practice offers affordable dental care, and financial assistance may be available to those in need, thanks to the dental school’s Compassionate Care fund. This fund has helped numerous patients of the school pay for treatment. Donors to Compassionate Care include individuals and several organizations, including the Delta Dental of Kentucky Foundation. The foundation also has committed to help pay initial start-up costs at the Shelbyville site, making dental care even more economical for people in the region.��������

The is in close proximity to UofL Health – Shelbyville Hospital and other health care providers.������

Hill says in addition to serving new patients, the practice hopes to attract those who currently or previously traveled to the School of Dentistry for care. ������

“For some of these folks, it’s very difficult to make a trip to downtown Louisville – so this will save them time and money,” she said. “It’s all about improving access to care.”����

View the from the ribbon cutting event.��

Paige Moore with the School of Dentistry contributed to this article.

Gonzalez announced Wednesday that School of Dentistry Dean Gerry Bradley will serve as interim provost. Dean since 2016, Bradley has extensive academic and administrative experience, previously serving as associate dean for research and graduate studies and chair of developmental sciences at the Marquette University School of Dentistry. Since coming to UofL, he has played a key role in many important initiatives at the university, including serving as chair of several dean searches and co-chairing the Executive Budget Steering Committee.

Margaret Hill, associate dean for academic affairs, will lead the School of Dentistry as interim dean.

Gonzalez also appointed Gail DePuy, professor of industrial engineering and interim vice provost in the Center for Engaged Learning, to serve as interim senior vice provost. She will have oversight of the other vice provosts and oversee key initiatives in the provost’s office. ��A former acting dean of the Speed School of Engineering, DePuy has been instrumental in developing and shepherding the university’s strategic planning effort since 2019.

Paul DeMarco, professor of psychological and brain sciences and interim director of undergraduate research and creative activity, will assume the role of interim vice provost for the CEL.

The appointments are effective immediately.

“With these changes to our already strong leadership team, and with the continued outstanding efforts of you, our faculty and staff, we are well positioned to continue our growth as a premier anti-racist metropolitan research university that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez also said she expects to fill two other key positions, the vice provost for faculty affairs and the vice president for diversity and equity, “in the coming weeks.”