MICHAEL ALFANO

ALFANO--Michael C. Michael C. Alfano, DMD, PhD. It is with profound sadness that the students, faculty, and staff of the New York University College of Dentistry record the passing of one of its most esteemed and beloved deans, Dr. Michael C. Alfano, professor and dean emeritus of NYU Dentistry. An extraordinary leader, Dr. Alfano served the College with great distinction and transformed its academic reputation and social fabric during his deanship from 1998 to 2006. Under his leadership, new roles for dentists and new models for health care education were embraced, dental care for underserved New Yorkers expanded, fund raising achievements led to the creation of major new facilities, global partnerships expanded, and NYU Dentistry emerged as an important center for health care research. He brought a singular spirit of entrepreneurship and openness to innovation to the College community and challenged the dental profession through initiatives such as a campaign to raise awareness about oral cancer and dentistry's role in terrorism preparedness. Dr. Alfano believed that the path forward for dental care and for health care in general must lie in new synergies developed through interdisciplinary health research and education. Prior to becoming dean, Dr. Alfano had distinguished himself in senior positions in both the corporate sector and academia. He was nationally recognized for his leadership in dental education and research, as well as for insightful thinking, innovative approaches to education, and improving communications among the academic, government, and business sectors. He was a founding director of the Friends of NIDCR and the Santa Fe Group, and served as a member of, or consultant to, various health-related organizations, including the National Institutes of Health. He was a Trustee of the New York State Dental Foundation until 2006 and in 2008 was awarded the inaugural William J. Gies Award for Vision by a Dental Educator by the ADEAGies Foundation. He served as a director of the not-for-profit Delta Dental of New York Insurance Company from 2010 to 2015 and also served as a Director of the YMCA of Greater New York, the largest YMCA system in the country, from 2010 to 2014. Dr. Alfano was a prolific author, the recipient of numerous research grants, and the holder or co-holder of seven patents. Beyond all of his professional accomplishments, Mike Alfano was a cherished colleague and friend, whose exemplary life of service and generosity touched all who were privileged to know him. To his wife JoAnn and their entire family, we extend heartfelt sympathy for his loss. Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc Herman Robert Fox Dean New York University College of Dentistry