Dr. Zetterman tabbed as interim dentistry dean

Pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Rowen Zetterman, MD, will begin serving as interim dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry this month. He will oversee the college’s nine academic programs, five departments and four dental clinics.

Janet Guthmiller, DDS, PhD, who has served as dean of the college since September 2014, has been named dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry.

"For the past year, Dr. Zetterman has been part of the college of dentistry team, serving as a consultant for the college’s accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation. His expertise and collaboration have been invaluable throughout the accreditation process," Dr. Guthmiller said. "Dr. Zetterman has been an exemplary team member and will continue to work with our faculty, staff and students to further the mission of the college."

Dr. Zetterman is a professor emeritus of internal medicine at UNMC, where he served as chief of gastroenterology and hepatology and vice chair of the department of internal medicine. As interim dean, Dr. Zetterman will collaborate with UNMC leaders on key UNMC and college initiatives.

"Throughout his time at UNMC, Dr. Zetterman has distinguished himself as a respected, committed and thoughtful leader," said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. "I look forward to working with him in his role as interim dean as he continues to lead the UNMC College of Dentistry forward."

Dr. Zetterman received his MD from UNMC in 1969 and completed an internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at UNMC and a hepatology and nutrition fellowship at the New Jersey College of Medicine at Newark.

He was a gastroenterologist for the United States Army at Walter Reed Army Medical Center before he returned to UNMC in 1976 as an assistant professor in the department of internal medicine. During his time at UNMC, Dr. Zetterman has served in multiple leadership positions, including associate vice chancellor for strategic planning, associate vice chancellor of academic affairs and director of faculty mentorship programs.

He has served in key leadership positions for organizations including the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, Nebraska Medical Association, American Medical Association and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. He also served as chief of staff for the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System and as dean of the Creighton University School of Medicine from 2009-2012.

A formal search for a new UNMC College of Dentistry dean is underway.