Congratulations to Dr. Kenneth Nusbacher on being named the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs of the UK College of Dentistry (UKCD).  
Speaking on Nusbacher’s appointment, UKCD Dean Dr. Jeff Okeson noted, “I have been impressed with his insights and suggestions for our future. I believe he will be very effective in this position, and I look forward to working with him in this very important position in the college.” 
“I see the role as serving our clinics by providing a support structure for the resources needed to carry out our educational and service missions. Our clinical affairs team should provide what is needed for all of our experts (faculty and staff) to provide exemplary education and care. There are three things that I have done (or continue to do) that have helped me to be prepared; I direct a clinical program, helped open our Turfland clinics from their onset and directed our strategic planning and Institutional Effectiveness. These different aspects coupled with many years of educating in the DMD clinics have helped me have a big picture view of what we are about here at UKCD,” shared Nusbacher.  
Nusbacher received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UKCD) in 2008. He has been with the college since 2011, starting as a part-time faculty member while being in private practice locally. Once realizing he really enjoyed the teaching aspect, Nusbacher transitioned to full-time faculty in 2012. Over the years at UKCD, he has had various appointments such as Division of Restorative Dentistry Clinical/Preclinical Faculty member, Clinic Director UK Dentistry at Turfland General Dentistry, and Director of UK College of Dentistry Dental Assistant Program.  
Speaking on what he hopes to accomplish in his new role, Nusbacher shares, “For the students, we want to continually move them closer to being best prepared for their clinical lives in the real world, including the continued implementation of digital technologies that are rapidly becoming the standard in dentistry.  This educational advancement is symbiotic with the patients getting an improved, more efficient experience. It is vitally important that we always remember that our primary mission is education; it is our purpose at the UK College of Dentistry.”  
Before transitioning into this role, Nusbacher served as the interim Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs for six months. He found that serving in this capacity aided his transition into the position and has found his interactions with faculty and staff the most rewarding.  
“I have gotten to interact with people who I never have before; staff members in some of our grad clinics, faculty with whom I had limited interaction previously. It also has been really enjoyable to see that we have already made a few changes that make our clinics both better as a work environment and as a patient visiting based on the ideas of those "in the trenches" so to speak; No one knows our clinics better than those who are there every day,” shared Nusbacher.