With Gratitude: Honoring Dean Chance’s Enduring Legacy

As the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University reflects on this inspiring year, we offer heartfelt gratitude to Dean Kenneth B. Chance, DDS (DEN ’81), whose eleven years of leadership have transformed our institution. His tenure is distinguished by bold educational innovation, remarkable technological advancements, strengthened community engagement and an unwavering commitment to his alma mater.

Under Dean Chance’s guidance, the school successfully completed and transitioned operations to the Health Education Campus, including the construction and opening of a new, state-of-the-art Dental Clinic. He further propelled clinical excellence through a $2.6 million upgrade to the Simulation Clinic and the introduction of cutting-edge tools such as HoloLens mixed-reality educational technology and the Yomi robotic system for implant surgeries. 

Community impact also flourished. Last year alone, more than 35,000 Cleveland-area residents received over $5 million in care through the Dental Clinic and six community programs—advancing oral health equity across Northeast Ohio.

Dean Chance’s vision for the future is embedded in the school’s strategic plan, "The Business of Dental Education", launched in 2023 and set to guide continued progress. His legacy will also endure through the Dean Kenneth B. Chance, DDS Endowed Distinguished Lectureship, established in 2021 to foster cross-disciplinary discussions on critical healthcare challenges.

At the School’s Night of Celebration, CWRU Trustee Jacqueline Nance, Esq. (LAW ’92), unveiled Dean Chance’s official portrait, honoring his extraordinary leadership. “The school stands taller today—and will continue to benefit for generations to come—because of his enduring influence,” said Nance.