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Jack E. Gotcher, DMD, PhD, Named Interim Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) has named Jack E. Gotcher, DMD, PhD, Professor and Program Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency, as Interim Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, effective May 1st. As he steps into this new leadership role, Dr. Gotcher will transition the Program Director role to Michael Winstead, DMD, MD.

Dr. Gotcher brings more than 40 years of clinical, academic, and administrative experience to this leadership role. A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, he previously served as Chair of the department from 1998 to 2002 - making this appointment a natural and meaningful reprise of past leadership. "Dr. Gotcher has been a pillar of our campus community for over four decades, shaping both the clinical excellence and academic mission of the department," said Robert M. Craft, MD, UTGSM Dean. "His return to this leadership role reflects a deep well of experience, institutional knowledge, and a long-standing commitment to patient care and resident education."

Dr. Gotcher earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1975 before obtaining his PhD in Anatomy from the University of Utah in 1978. After completing his residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in 1982, he joined the faculty and has since been instrumental in advancing the field through education, clinical care, and research.

An active mentor, lecturer, and researcher, Dr. Gotcher's areas of clinical expertise include orthognathic surgery, nerve repair, dental implant surgery, and craniofacial trauma. His recent research has explored biomimetic platforms for bone regeneration and the use of thermoplastic polymers in surgery. In addition to authoring numerous peer-reviewed publications, he serves on the editorial board of Wound Repair and Regeneration and contributes regularly to national and regional professional societies. He has served in leadership positions at the local, state and national level, including Chief of Medical Staff at UTMC, President of the Tennessee Dental Association and Vice Chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association. He also served as Chair of the Knox County Board of Health during the critical COVID-19 pandemic period of 2020-2024.

"I am honored to help our department, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center as we continue to advance the department’s important roles in education, research and patient care," said Dr. Gotcher. "We will strive to preserve and improve our department’s role in all areas of oral and maxillofacial surgery, to set the stage for a bright future for our residents, our fellows and our patients."

Dr. Gotcher steps into this role following the tenure of Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, FACS, who has made significant contributions to the department. The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine appreciates Dr. Carlson’s leadership and looks forward to the continued success of the department under Dr. Gotcher’s guidance.

Posted April 28, 2025