Dental Faculty Sweep 2019 Faculty Senate Awards
The UTHSA Faculty Senate held a meeting on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at which they presented awards to Dr. Adriana Segura and Dr. Suman Challa, both School of Dentistry leaders.
Dr. Segura was presented with the 2019 Administration Leadership Award, due to her outstanding management through the past few years. In her presentation speech, Dr. Stefanie Seitz, Assistant Dean of Students in the School of Dentistry, spoke on how Dr. Segura took on the new position of Associate Dean for Academics, Faculty and Student Affairs in 2017. This new administrative position consolidated the responsibilities of two previous positions, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Student Affairs, creating a broader scope of work.
In addition to her primary duties of ADAFSA, Dr. Segura took the helm of the dental school as Interim Dean upon the retirement of Dr. William W. Dodge in May of 2018 and led the school onward until the appointment of Dean Peter M. Loomer in February of 2019. Furthermore, once abdicating the deanship, Dr. Segura jumped full-speed ahead into chairing the steering committee for the October 2019 accreditation site visit for the School of Dentistry.
With genuine emotion and gratitude, Dr. Segura thanked the Faculty Senators for their support and recognition of her continued efforts.
Dr. Suman Challa was recognized by the Faculty Senate with the 2019 Faculty Leadership Award. In Dr. Cara Gonazales’ absence, Dr. Cheryl Burns, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, presented Dr. Challa with his award. She spoke highly of Dr. Challa’s leadership as past chair of the UTHSA Faculty Senate, mentioning that his guidance and participation never wavered even as his responsibilities grew.
In July of 2019, Dr. Challa was appointed as Interim Assistant Dean for Advanced Education Programs and Strategic Initiatives and was awarded a $5.7M grant from the Center for Medicare Services, enabling the School of Dentistry to provide oral healthcare to nursing home residents.
On behalf of the entire School of Dentistry, we would like to congratulate both Drs. Segura and Challa for contributing to the culture of excellence across our institution. In Dr. Segura's words, "dental school rocks"!