In 1988, when HIV awareness was in its infancy, more than two-thirds of dentists reported feeling "uncomfortable" when treating people with HIV.
Michael Glick wasn't one of them.
Glick, UB's School of Dental Medicine dean since 2009, established a clinic designed to provide dental care for patients who were HIV-positive.
In its first year, the clinic treated over 2,000 people with HIV.
"I think it's our creed and our duty as medical professionals to provide care for all patients," Glick said. "We cannot deny them that."
In October, the American Association of Dental Education (ADEA) awarded Glick with the Editorial of the Year for the third consecutive year. He has also received the Samuel Charles Miller award, which is the highest academic honor given by the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Glick serves as editor in chief of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), the premier academic publication in oral health.
Glick, a native of Sweden, has become internationally known for his work to expand the scope and role of dentistry.
"[Dean Glick] has a national and global reputation," said Ed Morrison, the chief marketing officer for the dental school. "And the goal for [the school of dental medicine] is to define excellence in international oral medicine and education. We want to be the standard by which all else is measured, and we have a real chance to do that because of the collaboration Dean Glick has on a global level."
Glick received his degree in oral health from the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem before coming to the United States to complete his residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
In his time as dean, Glick has worked to expand UB's impact on the Western New York community. On Nov. 9, he helped unveil UB's new dental van, a mobile dental clinic that will give free dental examinations to underprivileged elementary school students.
"[UB's] community outreach is second to none," Glick said. "We treat 150,000 patients a year. Only 50,000 are treated in the clinic."
And for UB's dental patients, a trip to the dentist may mean a lot more than getting their teeth cleaned. Glick is an outspoken advocate of expanding the duties of a dentist to areas more traditionally associated with physicians.
Oral health professionals have an obligation to take a more active role in their patient's health because of the growing health epidemic in the United States with obesity, according to Glick. He said if current obesity trends continue, the next generation will have a lower life expectancy than the previous generation for the first time in American history.
Glick said dentists are in a unique position to stop this from happening.
"Last year, 70 percent of adults visited a dentist; only 30 percent visited a physician," Glick said. "[Dentists] are in a position to give medical advice or refer to people to the right physicians, and we can provide other services like screening patients for diabetes or testing for HIV. We should be health care professionals who specialize in oral health."
On top of his responsibilities as dean and editor in chief of JADA , Glick is also currently authoring two textbooks, adding to three he has already co-authored.
He also teaches a class once a week on oral health.
"It's an eight-day-a-week job," Glick said. "[But] there is something that needs to happen in the oral health care profession, and I have an opportunity to do that. I don't want to squander that opportunity."
Despite the heavy work load, Glick manages to stay involved with students in the dental medicine program.
"It's hard, really hard to be a student in dental medicine," Glick said. "They'll take 30 credit hours a semester. So students know that when it comes to seeing me they have [freedom to do so any time]. Whenever my door is open, they can come in and talk to me."
Glick meets with each class at least twice a year and keeps an open-door policy for students to visit with him - it's necessary because of dental students' tough work load, he said.
Glick's involvement is appreciated by the often-overwhelmed dental students.
"[Glick] is great," said Matt Valerio, a third-year dental student who takes over 30 credit hours. "He makes it a priority to meet with students every semester, and we'll see him in group settings with seven or eight of us a few times a semester, too. Last week, I was at a conference for dental students in Chicago. He was there and he made a point of meeting with all the UB students who were there, too. He took us out to dinner."
Currently, Glick is overseeing the school of dental medicine's strategic-planning process, an initiative that will recommend changes - like updated equipment and infrastructure - based on the needs of the school.
Glick's staff said UB's dental school is in good hands with the dean in charge.
"Defining excellence isn't just a slogan here," Morrison said. "[Glick] has a platform without borders. His best work is yet to come."
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