Dominick P. DePaola, DDS, PhD, a visionary leader, dental educator and researcher, died April 16. Former dean of the Dental School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and of the Dental School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. DePaola also served as President and Dean of the Baylor College of Dentistry of the Texas A&M University System.

At the time of his death, Dr. DePaola was academic dean of the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, and President Emeritus of The Forsyth Institute.

The first person to have served as the President of both the ADEA and AADR, Dr. DePaola was a frequent consultant to the National Institutes of Health, the food and pharmaceutical industry, the American Dental Association, and the American Society of Nutrition (ASN). In 2001, he was awarded an Honorary Membership to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the only dentist ever to receive this honor. He has also been the 2009 recipient of the William J. Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement as an educator.

Dr. DePaola is survived by his wife, Rosemary, and their daughter, Alexis. Donations can be made to the Dominick and Rosemary DePaola Scholarship Fund, 180 Remsen St., Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. 11201.

Read Dr. DePaola’s Inside Dentistry interview here.

Read the ADA News article here.

Read the NY Times obituary here.