06 November 2025

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Dr. Rogerio Castilho named director of the dental school’s Global Initiatives program

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Faculty member Dr. Rogerio Castilho has been appointed Director of the Global Initiatives in Oral and Craniofacial Health (GIOCH) program at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Through GIOCH, dental school students travel with faculty to 12 countries for symposia, research and educational experiences that have resulted in several research projects and joint publications. Students and faculty perform patient care in some of the countries, collaborating with local dental schools and clinics. The dental school’s international partners are currently in Kenya, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, China, India, Honduras, Jamaica, Brazil, Chile and Guatemala.

As Director of GIOCH, Dr. Castilho will identify and develop international programs for the School of Dentistry; develop models for student experiential learning outside the dental school; explore globalization partnerships with other U-M schools and colleges and represent the dental school on university-wide activities in global affairs; and serve as an informational resource for faculty and students in the school who are pursuing international experiences and collaborations.

Dr. Castilho is a professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. He has extensive experience as a research scientist and educator in tissue regeneration, skin biology, and bioengineering of soft tissues.

The appointment, effective October 1, was announced by Dean Jacques Nör. He thanked faculty member Dr. Margherita Fontana who served as GIOCH Director since 2021. During her tenure, the Office of Global Initiatives expanded and enhanced the strong collaborative ties with institutions from the various countries.

Castilho received his DDS degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas and his MS and PhD in Oral Pathology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He completed his postdoctoral training in epithelial and cancer biology in the U.S. at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Castilho has published in several high-profile journals including Science, Cell Stem Cell, Cancer Research, Stem Cell Reports, Clinical Cancer Research, and the Journal of Dental Research, among others. He currently serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine. Additionally, he is an ad hoc reviewer for more than 20 scientific journals, including Cell Stem Cell and Cancer Research.

Source: https://dent.umich.edu/