Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Raul Garcia elected for IADR vice president
Dr. Raul Garcia, professor and chair of health policy & health services research, was elected vice-president of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR), effective June 2025. He is the first GSDM faculty member to hold this position.
Following his year as vice president, he will serve as president-elect (2026) and then president (2027).
Garcia said he was interested in joining the IADR executive board after serving as president of the IADR’s American Division (AADOCR) from 2017-2018. He found it to be a very rewarding experience, both professionally and personally, and wanted to continue his engagement.
“Frankly, I was surprised to have won,” Garcia said. “The two other nominees I ran against are highly accomplished scientists and internationally recognized in their fields. I’m also thrilled to be the first BU faculty member to be elected to the IADR leadership.”
According to Garcia, his term as AADOCR president and his participation in joint efforts between IADR and AADOCR have given him a good sense for how the organizations can work collaboratively on policy initiatives. Garcia’s primary goals over the next three years are to support students and new investigators and to expand the influence of IADR on global oral health policies.
“[I plan to] work collaboratively with IADR colleagues, academic institutions, professional dental associations, and international organizations, such as the WHO, to ensure that dental, oral, and craniofacial research is a priority globally,” Garcia said.