Dr. Isabel Garcia ’76 has been named dean of the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
Garcia’s career spans 34 years in public health, clinical practice, research, teaching, and administration. Most recently she was deputy director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a part of the National Institutes of Health.
Garcia earned a doctor of dental surgery degree in 1980 from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan in 1988. She completed a residency in dental public health at the University of Michigan and a fellowship in primary care policy from the U.S. Public Health Service. She studied chemistry at Mary Washington.
“Dr. Garcia brings a great depth of leadership experience to all the core activities of the UF College of Dentistry and UF Health, from education to public health to research and technology transfer,” said UF President Bernie Machen.
A fellow of the American College of Dentists, Garcia is certified by the American Board of Dental Public Health. She is an active member of the American Dental Education Association, the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Dental Association.