CHAPEL HILL — The UNC Board of Governors have awarded Dr. Gregory Chadwick, dean of East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine, with the 2017 Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service.
Chadwick came to ECU in 2005 to lead the effort to establish the School of Dental Medicine. Prior to becoming dean in 2012, he served as the school’s associate dean for planning and extramural affairs and as interim dean before being named to the permanent post in 2012. Under his leadership, ECU graduated its inaugural class of doctors of dental medicine in 2015 and established the first of the CSLCs in 2012, and graduated its inaugural class of doctors of dental medicine in 2015.
“Our University and the entire state is indebted to Dr. Chadwick for his leadership and tireless efforts building ECU’s School of Dental Medicine and changing lives across North Carolina,” said UNC President Margaret Spellings.
The Holhouser Award is bestowed each year on one faculty member from the UNC system who exemplifies public service toward improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians. Dr. Chadwick is the fourth faculty member from ECU to win the award.
Chadwick earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating from the UNC School of Dentistry, he practiced general dentistry in community health centers before entering a residency program in endodontics. He earned a master’s degree in endodontics from the UNC School of Dentistry and practiced in his hometown of Charlotte for nearly 30 years.
“Dr. Chadwick’s service is a testament to ECU’s longstanding commitments to provide health care and professionals across our state,” said ECU Chancellor Dr. Cecil P. Staton. “We are certainly proud of his service, and it is a great example of the commitment of ECU.”
Chadwick is a former president of the American Dental Association, where he led the effort to expand an initiative that provides free oral health services for children with little or no access to dental care. He also served as president of the North Carolina Dental Society, the Second District Dental Society and the Southern Endodontic Study Group.
Chadwick is a fellow of the International and American Colleges of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy and a founding member of the Holiday Dental Conference. A diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, Chadwick served for 18 years as a part-time clinical professor at his alma mater and for 14 years as chair of the endodontic section at Carolinas Medical Center, where he served on the faculty for more than 25 years. He was selected by a 24-member Board of Regents from all 17 districts in the International College of Dentists USA Section as Outstanding Dental Leader in 2015.