Assistant dean for innovation

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine welcomed Sompop Bencharit, D.D.S., MS, Ph.D., FACP, in the role of assistant dean for innovation, in November 2022.

“The unique role of assistant dean for innovation reflects the college’s reputation for leading in areas such as digital dentistry. It also aligns with our position within a freestanding academic health sciences center, where collaboration and innovation are among our most closely held values. We could not be more pleased to announce Dr. Bencharit joining MUSC,” said Sarandeep Huja, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.

In his role, Dr. Bencharit will engage constituents collaboratively to develop a vision around innovation and implement strategies that will direct activities to sustain the college’s leadership in innovation. In addition to fostering a culture of innovation, Dr. Bencharit will lead with evidenced-based approaches to facilitate identifying and implementing new technologies in patient care, clinical education and clinical/translational research. He will oversee the implementations of new technologies in dental education and patient care as well as the development of novel oral health-related innovations.

“The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine is bursting with potential for innovation across its three missional areas of education, research and patient care. I am excited to have a direct role in supporting new ideas and translating them through clinical practice, education and research innovation,” said Dr. Bencharit.

Dr. Bencharit comes from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry and College of Engineering, where he was an Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Research, and Founding Director of Digital Dentistry Technologies. He established the curriculum, personnel, and workflows for VCU digital dentistry as well as created a pathway in industry-sponsored research.

He received his D.D.S. and diploma in Prosthodontics from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and certificate and masters degree in Prosthodontics, Ph.D. in Oral Biology and certificate in Clinical Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the International College of Dentists. He was recently awarded the 2021 ACP Distinguished Researcher.

He has numerous publications (>90 peer reviewed articles, >100 published abstracts, as well as numerous monographs, editorial commentaries, and invited articles) in prosthodontics, implant dentistry, digital dentistry, salivary biomarkers, as well as protein structural biology.

He currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Prosthodontics, Academic Editor for PLoS ONE, Scientific Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports, Editorial Board for the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics Monographs, and Editorial Contributor for the ADA/Elsevier PracticeUpdate Clinical Dentistry (>17,000 subscribers worldwide). He also serves as Director for the International Association for Dental Research/American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR/AADOCR) Prosthodontic Research Group, as well as Research Committee Member for the ACP and American Academy of Osseointegration (AO).