2023 Diploma Ceremony Speaker Announced

Dr. Van Dyke

Thomas Van Dyke, DDS, PhD, a Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine alum, will deliver the address for this year's diploma ceremony.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Science from Case Western Reserve (CWR '69), Van Dyke went on to receive his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the School of Dental Medicine (DEN '73), and a PhD in Oral Biology from State University of New York in 1982.

Van Dyke has published more than 375 papers in basic immunology related to inflammatory periodontal infections and has won many honors and awards—most recently the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Academy of Periodontology in 2021.

Van Dyke's research centers around the structural and functional relationship of abnormalities of the inflammatory process with focus on phagocytic cells and microorganisms, in the etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal and other infectious-inflammatory diseases. He is also involved in clinical research and clinical trials focusing on drug treatment for periodontal disease and local delivery systems.

As vice president for Clinical and Translational Research and chair of the Department of Applied Oral Sciences, Van Dyke provides leadership for Forsyth’s clinical research team and is responsible for expanding Forsyth’s clinical presence in the research community while driving the Institute’s efforts to expand connections to industry and corporate partners.

A member of the School of Dental Medicine Alumni Board of Directors, Van Dyke will be celebrating his 50th reunion at the 2023 Homecoming and Reunion events this October.