UConn Health

April 7, 2026 | Courtney Chandler

2026 UConn Health Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Awardee is Dr. David Shafer

Shafer is associate professor and chair of oral and maxillofacial surgery

dentist in white coat

David Shafer DMD is an oral surgeon and chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UConn Health. July 20, 2020 (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health)

The 2026 recipient of the UConn Health Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award is Dr. David Shafer, associate professor and chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UConn School of Dental Medicine.

Shafer is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar in oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology and has made significant contributions to both the postdoctoral and predoctoral curricula in the School of Dental Medicine. Shafer is an accomplished practitioner who is sought after by dental and medical colleagues throughout the state and region for the management of complex patient needs.

“Dr. Shafer has been at UConn Health since 1990 and has made outstanding contributions in education, research, clinical care and administrative service,” said Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean of the School of Dental Medicine “Under his leadership, the oral surgery residency program has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier training programs. He is incredibly deserving of this honor from the UConn Health Board of Directors.”

Shafer received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his DMD cum laude from Harvard University. He completed his training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in 1990 and joined the faculty of the UConn School of Dental Medicine the same year as assistant professor. He was promoted to senior rank with academic tenure in 1997. Dr. Shafer served as the program director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency program from 1997 through 2025 and as the chair of the department since 1999.

A consummate educator, Shafer has made significant contributions to both the postdoctoral and predoctoral curricula in the School of Dental Medicine and the Graduate School. In addition to directing the core curriculum for the oral surgery residency program, Shafer directed and taught coursework in pain and anxiety control, sedation, implant therapy, medical emergency management, clinical pharmacology, and the biology of the temporomandibular joint complex. His contributions to the teaching program have been recognized with the Kaiser Permanente Teaching Award and other honors. Shafer has been inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society, has fellowship status in the American College of Surgeons, and was one of the first Americans to be elected to membership in the International Team for Implantology (ITI).

Shafer is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar in oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology. He has participated in 23 funded research projects, including 4 NIH grants. He has more than 50 manuscripts and 43 scientific abstracts and has given over 40 invited presentations. He has served as the research advisor for multiple graduate students and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, JADA, the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology.

Shafer’s record of administrative service is equally impressive. In addition to his departmental leadership role, Shafer has served on numerous School of Dental Medicine committees, including Deans Advisory, Executive Committee of the Dental Staff, Clinical Affairs, Quality Assurance, Predoctoral Admissions, Student Evaluations and Appeals, and Academic Performance; he has also served as the Chair of Dental Senate. At UConn Health, Dr. Shafer has served on HCRAC, the Animal Care Committee, and was the Vice President of the John Dempsey Hospital Medical Board for more than a decade. He continues to serve as the Associate Chief of Staff of the Medical Staff and has been the Chief of the JDH Department of Dentistry since 1997. His dedication to the advancement of the hospital was twice recognized with the JDH Medical/Dental Staff Award of Excellence. In addition, Shafer serves as a voting member of the UConn Health Board of Directors Clinical Affairs Subcommittee, a position held since 2002. At the national and international level, Shafer was selected by his peers for several significant leadership roles. He has served as the District 1 Trustee of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and has held every office in the organization. He has also served on the administrative board of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) as board director for the Council of Hospitals and Advanced Education Programs, as well as secretary and chair of the Council, representing the interests of all advanced education and residency programs in the U.S.