UW News

January 27, 2005

New chair named for School of Dentistry’s Periodontics Department

Dr. Martha Somerman, dean of the School of Dentistry, has announced that Dr. Thomas Flemmig, professor and chair of Muenster University Hospital and Westfalian Wilhelm University of Muenster, Germany, will join the school as chair of the Department of Periodontics this summer.

Flemmig received his Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree from Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg in 1985 and did his residency at Hamburg University in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He spent four years at the University of California Los Angeles as a visiting assistant professor doing research in periodontics and oral biology. From 1990 to 1999, Flemmig rose from assistant professor to professor and head of the Department of Periodontology at the School of Dental Medicine at Julius-Maximilians of Wuerzburg. In 1999 he joined Muenster University Hospital as professor and chair.

“Dr. Flemmig comes to us with a strong background in clinical research with a focus in the areas of implantology, microbiology, and immunology,” Somerman said. “He is very accomplished and we look forward to having him join our School.”

Flemmig succeeds Dr. Murray Robinovitch, who retired as chair of periodontics at the end of December, after a 38 year academic career. He had also served as the chair of oral biology and the acting chair of restorative dentistry before his periodontics appointment. Robinovitch will remain involved with the school as professor emeritus of oral biology and periodontics.

Dean Emeritus Paul Robertson has agreed to serve as acting chair of periodontics until Flemmig’s arrival. Robertson was dean of dentistry from 1992-2001.