Louise Tupta Veselicky, D.D.S, has been appointed interim dean of the School of Dentistry at West Virginia University. Dr. Veselicky replaces James Koelbl, D.D.S., who is resigning later this year.

Veselicky received a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and a D.D.S at WVU . She received a master’s in dentistry as well as education at the University of Pittsburgh. She has served on the WVU faculty since 1991.

“Dr. Veselicky is an effective leader, and successful teacher who will continue the 50-year tradition of excellence of the WVU School of Dentistry,”said Robert M. D’Alessandri, M.D., who made the appointment.”Her energy and compassion are ideal for the school as it continues to provide the state with a nationally recognized oral health center for education, research and service while improving the dental and oral health of all citizens, especially West Virginians.”

Koelbl, dean of the school since 1999, will be starting a new School of Dentistry at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.

Veselicky has served on the faculty in the department of periodontics since 1991, most recently as clinical associate professor. She has served as senior associate dean for educational programs in the school of dentistry, interim chair of periodontics and interim associate dean of clinical affairs.

“It is an honor to be asked by Dr. D’Alessandri to lead the School of Dentistry during this transition period,”Veselicky said.”I am looking forward to this opportunity to serve the people of the state of West Virginia by continuing the tradition of quality dental education, research, service and patient care.”

She was inducted into the American College of Dentists in 2002 and won the WVU School of Dentistry Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000.

Veselicky authored two chapters, Assessing Patient Characteristics and Performing Periodontal Procedures in”Dental Hygiene in Review,”first edition, published in 2001.

She has been published in numerous journals and her special interests include periodontics and rural pediatric dentistry and early intervention. Her husband, Ken, is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology in the WVU School of Medicine. They have a daughter, Mary, who attends St. Francis School.

The first dental class entered WVU in the fall of 1957, with dental hygiene added in 1961. Since then, over 1750 dentists and over 725 dental hygienists have graduated, and graduates currently practice in 54 of the State’s 55 counties.

The School of Dentistry offers a D.D.S. degree as well as a B.S. degree in dental hygiene, and postgraduate programs in the dental specialties of orthodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery and endodontics, as well as a Master’s program in dental hygiene. Additionally, an advanced education program in general dentistry (AEGD) is offered in Charleston, and a general practice residency program is available in Morgantown.