Ann Arbor, MI — September 12, 2011 — Dr. Margherita Fontana, an associate professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, has been chosen to participate in a prestigious national leadership program.

Fontana is one of 54 women from across the country selected to participate in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM)® program for women.  The program, now in its 17^th year, focuses on preparing women for senior leadership positions at academic health centers.

“I strongly believe ELAM provides a unique opportunity to effectively focus on developing my administrative and leadership skills,” she said.  “I will also endeavor to increase my knowledge of financial and budget management, learn best practices in leadership and learn how to negotiate and communicate.  These are tools for a lifetime,” she continued, “which will help me become better prepared — from a personal, research, and service perspective — to develop solutions to problems that face dental education and the dental profession.”

Fontana earned her dental degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela in 1990 and a PhD in oral health sciences from Indiana University in 1996.  She was a member of the I-U faculty from 1997 to 2009 before coming to the U-M School of Dentistry in 2009.  She is the immediate past president of the cariology section of the American Dental Education Association.  Fontana was recently recognized as “The Outstanding Teacher of the First-Year Dental Class” for her new cariology course.  Her research focuses on caries management in children.

“The School of Dentistry made a concerted effort to elevate and reinvent its cariology program when it hired Fontana and her husband, Dr. Carlos Gonzales, in 2007,” said Dr. Stephen Bayne, chair of the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics.  “They are two of the most-recognized and talented young cariologists in the world and have already made significant contributions to our new dental curriculum and the CRSE research program.  We are fortunate to have their ideas, energy, and leadership in helping dentistry further define itself with its focus on risk assessment and evidence-based presentation,” he added.

Participants are nominated and supported by the dean or another senior official of their institution.  Fontana said she was encouraged to apply for ELAM by her department chair, Dr. Stephen Bayne, Dr. Dennis Lopatin, senior associate dean, and Dean Peter Polverini.