{"id":51616,"date":"2011-12-02T11:23:04","date_gmt":"2011-12-02T16:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=51616"},"modified":"2011-12-02T11:47:54","modified_gmt":"2011-12-02T16:47:54","slug":"someone-who-can-see-the-big-picture-and-keep-track-of-the-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2011\/12\/someone-who-can-see-the-big-picture-and-keep-track-of-the-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeing the Big Picture While Keeping Track of the Details"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Steven Lepowsky, senior associate dean for education and patient care, at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. (Tina Encarnacion\/UConn Health Center Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Steven Lepowsky of the UConn School of Dental Medicine<\/a> has played an integral part in making the dental school one of the most well-respected in the country.\u00a0 Lepowsky has taken on many roles during the nearly 20 years he\u2019s been at the school and has now been promoted to senior associate dean for education and patient care, where he assumes responsibilities for both academic affairs and clinical affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn most cases, at other universities, what Dr. Lepowsky is responsible for is a two-person job,\u201d says Dean Monty MacNeil of the dental school. \u201cIt is a tremendous amount of work and requires someone who can manage the complex situations that come with the job \u2013 someone who can see the big picture while also keeping track of the details. We found this person in Dr. Lepowsky.\u201d<\/p>\n

These responsibilities include maintaining professional relationships with the 17 community health sites throughout the state \u2013 such as Hill Health in New Haven and CHC Inc. in New Britain \u2013 that the dental school is partnered with.\u00a0 These partnerships modify the curriculum to allow students and residents to learn in a hands-on manner while also supporting over 30,000 patient visits annually at these sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy growing the University’s community-based programs, Dr. Lepowsky has been instrumental in changing the nature of our school and the way we teach,\u201d says MacNeil. \u201cHe has been the mastermind behind keeping our school on the forefronts of modern education while also helping serve the less fortunate across the state that need our help the most. This benefits both the school and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lepowsky was also influential in planning the recently launched Connecticut Clinical Education and Practice Team (CONNcept) in the West Hartford office. CONNcept is a pilot model that incorporates fourth-year dental students, general dentistry residents, and a faculty practice leader who treat patients and learn together as a team. Lepowsky’s efforts were recently focused on the design and renovation of the facility, the recruitment of the CONNcept practice leader and other faculty, the selection of the students and residents who would be involved on the team, and the hiring of support staff necessary for the implementation of the model.<\/p>\n

Lepowsky has also played a critical role in the dental school maintaining exceptionally high educational standards; earning positive accreditation status; significantly expanding the residency training programs with the assistance of federal grant funding; and encouraging self-learning and the clinical assessment of what is being taught.<\/p>\n

But Lepowsky refuses to take complete credit for his accomplishments. \u201cI think it is critical to keep things in perspective,\u201d he says. \u201cAchievements are not made singularly, but result from groups of very talented and committed people working together. I have been very fortunate throughout my career at the UConn Health Center to work with outstanding faculty, staff, students, and residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an eye looking ever toward the future, Lepowsky will be focusing his efforts on a variety of tasks in the coming years:<\/p>\n