First chair of new restorative dental sciences named at UF

Jean-François Roulet, D.D.S., was recently appointed the first chair of the University of Florida College of Dentistry’s new department of restorative dental sciences, effective Oct. 7.

For the last eight years, Roulet has been director of the department of research and development/clinical at Ivoclar Vivadent, a leading international dental company, where he currently serves as a senior expert in professional services. He lives in Schaan, Liechtenstein.

“This position is of critical importance to the college because, as chair of a new department created by the consolidation of operative dentistry, prosthodontics and the D.M.D. team leaders, Dr. Roulet will help shape the culture and future of both the department and the college,” said Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.D., M.P.H., professor and dean.

Roulet earned his D.D.S. from the University of Bern School of Dentistry in Switzerland in 1974 and immediately began his academic teaching career as a lecturer at the University of Bern. Since then he has taught at institutions in Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Italy and the United States. His most recent academic appointment was chair of the department of operative and preventative dentistry and endodontics at Charité Berlin, one of the largest university hospitals in Europe associated with the Free University of Berlin and Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

In addition to his work at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1981, his U.S. experience includes spending 1989 to 1990 at UF as a visiting professor in the department of dental biomaterials working with Dr. Ken Anusavice.

Roulet holds four patents, is a member of many professional organizations, has won numerous awards, mentored many students through dissertations and is also actively engaged in research. His current areas of research interest are minimal invasive dentistry, composites, ceramics, adhesive dentistry, esthetic dentistry, digital dentistry and application concepts in preventive dentistry.

As chair of the college's recently formed department of restorative dental sciences, Roulet will be responsible for administration, faculty recruitment, mentoring and professional development, and fiscal management, as well as setting strategic direction for the department and its teaching, research and service endeavors.