Kenneth Chance, D.D.S.

Dr. Kenneth B. Chance, Sr. is Dean and Professor of Endodontics at the Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine (CWRU) since 2014. He is the first African-American permanent Dean of two U.S. Dental Schools (Case Western Reserve University and Meharry Medical College). He was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, received a BS degree from Fordham University, in New York, and a DDS degree from the CWRU dental school. He received a GPR certificate from the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, in NY and a certificate in Endodontics from Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine. At the University of Kentucky, he was Professor and Chief of Endodontics for fourteen years. Dean Chance is Past President of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) the National Dental Honor Society. Dr. Chance is the first African-American male dean elected to the Administrative Board of the Council of Deans, as Member-At-Large of the American Association of Dental Schools in 1999. He is a Life Fellow of the American and International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Academy of Political Science. He is a Life Member of the ADA, ODA and Greater Cleveland Dental Society. Dean Chance is a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice in Dentistry. He served as a Pew National Dental Leadership Fellow and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow and Board Member. He received the CWRU School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004. Dr. Chance was the first dentist elected to the Case Western Reserve University Board of Trustees. There, he served as Co-Chairman of the Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee. He stepped down after nine years in order to serve as Dean of the School of Dental Medicine. Dean Chance successfully led the most ambitious building project in the history of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. He received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. He is a member of the 100 Black Men of America Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. The Dean Kenneth B. Chance, DDS Endowed Distinguished Lectureship was established at CWRU in 2021. Dr. Chance has received over 80 awards, citations and special recognitions, numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and has made more than 160 invited presentations, both nationally and internationally.