Dr. Sean Edwards to lead dental school’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Hospital Dentistry3 min read

Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 11, 2024 – Dr. Sean Edwards has been named chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Hospital Dentistry at University of Michigan School of Dentistry, effective January 1, 2025.

Dean Jacques Nör announced the appointment after an extensive search by a committee of faculty, staff and residents.

Dr. Edwards is the James Hayward Endowed Clinical Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Chief of Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Hospital Dentistry (OMFS/HD).

Edwards has an extensive background in oral and maxillofacial surgery since earning his DDS from Dalhousie University School of Dentistry in Halifax, Nova Scotia, followed by his MD and residency at the University of Michigan Medical School. After his residency, he completed a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in pediatric craniofacial surgery. He returned to Ann Arbor for a fellowship in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery in 2006 and has been part of the OMFS/HD department since being appointed as a clinical assistant professor in 2007. In 2017, he was named to the Hayward Professorship and has served as associate chair of the department since 2023.

Edwards’ clinical expertise and interests include craniomaxillofacial anomalies, pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, cleft lip and palate, craniofacial trauma, pediatric oncology, and pediatric neoplasms of the craniomaxillofacial structures.  He has written more than 45 papers in peer-reviewed publications, is the author of 15 book chapters and has given more than 200 lectures throughout the world on topics including reconstructive surgery, cleft lip deformities, pediatric oncology and orthognathic surgery in special needs patients.

As an active faculty instructor, Dr. Edwards teaches and lectures on all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the predoctoral, graduate and postdoctoral levels. He has mentored more than 35 dental students and oral surgery residents.

In making the announcement, Nör also noted the contributions of Dr. Brent Ward, who has served as OMFS/HD chair since 2015 and remains a faculty member.  “We are grateful for his service as department chair, providing leadership for significant expansions in the influence and footprint of his department locally, nationally and internationally.” Nör said.  He also thanked the search committee, led by Dr. Jan Hu, for its work during the search.

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The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral healthcare education, research, patient care and community service.  General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the school to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan.  Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies.  Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.  For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit us on the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.  Contact: Lynn Monson, associate director of communications, at [email protected], or (734) 615-1971.