Known as “Dr. O” to faculty, students and staff at Case Western Reserve University, Ronald L. Occhionero was committed to providing real-world opportunities for dental medicine students and improving access to quality dental care for nearly six decades.
In 1967, he founded the Department of Comprehensive Care at the dental school, which established a new paradigm in clinical dental education.
Occhionero initiated, developed and implemented the dental benefits program for CWRU faculty, students and staff. The program began offering dental benefits to the university community at a reduced cost in 2002.
He retired in 2022 after 58 years at the university.
