Harold Slavkin, DDS, former director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, died Dec. 22 at the age of 85.
Dr. Slavkin was a leader in the craniofacial research field and founded the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at the USC dental school, according to a Jan. 8 obituary from the American Dental Association.
While serving as director of the NIDCR, Dr. Slavkin expanded the organization's research portfolio and helped create the first surgeon general's report on oral health in 2000.
In addition, Dr. Slavkin served a term as president of the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research, the release said.