The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Medicine and Surgery represents an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and patient care. The academic programs of the department integrate diverse discipline ranging from public health to oral and maxillofacial pathology. Patient care includes emergency dental services, admissions, elective oral and maxillofacial surgery and radiology. Additionally, the Rosenthal Clinical Center provides a research and therapeutic environment for patients with compromised and complex medical problems. The mission of the department is to educate dental students to be able to provide competent diagnostic, management and therapeutic skills in the disciplines taught by the department. The chair, Michael E. Pliskin, D.D.S., Ph.D. has a long career in dental education beginning in 1970. He received his dental specialty training in oral pathology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and a Ph.D. in experimental pathology in cancer immunology also from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pliskin has conducted research in the immunologic aspects of normal growth control and its relationship to cancer.