The OHSU School of Dentistry welcomes a number of new faculty members this month. Dean Phillip Marucha, D.M.D., Ph.D., with the support of the provost’s office, is increasing the number of dental faculty, with the goal of having a six-to-one student-to-faculty ratio on the predoctoral clinic floor.

“Our faculty needs are very important right now,” said Dr. Marucha. “We want to take care of the full- and part-time faculty we have currently, by rewarding them for their hard work and ensuring they have the training and development they need, as well as bringing on new faculty to ensure excellent patient care and education.”

Please help us welcome the following individuals:

Amit Punj, D.M.D., B.D.S., has joined the faculty as an assistant professor of restorative dentistry. Dr. Punj recently received his certificate in prosthodontics from Montefiore Medical Center. Prior to advanced education, Dr. Punj was managing clinical director at Aspen Dental in Machesney Park, Illinois, and managing clinical director at Allcare Dental and Dentures in Rockford. Dr. Punj received his doctor of dental medicine from the Tufts University School of Medicine in 2005, and a bachelor of dental surgery from K.L.E. Society’s Institute of Dental Sciences in Karnataka, India.

Craig Robbins, D.M.D. `04, is an assistant professor of restorative dentistry, after having joined the school as an affiliate faculty member earlier in the year. Dr. Robbins owns Harmony  Family Dentistry in Vancouver. Prior to opening his private practice, Dr. Robbins was an associate at Grin & Bear It Family Dental Center, Dental Care Today, and Permanente Dental Associates. Dr. Robbins received his bachelor of science in urban planning from Brigham Young University, and was a history minor.

Ying Wu, D.D.S., M.S.D., Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of pathology and radiology. Dr. Wu was most recently an assistant professor of oral diagnosis and oral medicine in the department of general dentistry at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She completed her doctor of dental surgery at Harbin Medical University in China, a master’s degree in periodontology from Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing, a doctoral degree in oral biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master’s degree in oral medicine from the University of Washington. Her research interest is orofacial pain.