Michael C. Alfano, D.M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Michael C. Alfano is a highly respected educator, leader, and innovator in dental and higher education. He earned his D.M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and his Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry & Oral Biology from MIT. 

He served as Dean of NYU College of Dentistry starting in 1998 and later became Executive Vice President of New York University in 2006, overseeing budget, finance, real estate, and planning operations. He retired from NYU in 2014 and served on the boards of Dentsply Sirona, the Santa Fe Group, and Friends of NIDCR. 

Dr. Alfano received numerous honors, including the ADEAGies Foundation’s inaugural William J. Gies Award for Vision in Dental Education in 2008, Oral Health America’s Tribute Award (2016), and the Alpha Omega International Achievement Medal (2016). He was recognized for his insightful thinking, innovative approaches to education, and efforts to bridge academic, governmental, and industry sectors. 

A founding director of the Santa Fe Group—and earlier of the Friends of NIDCR and Nexus Magazine—Dr. Alfano helped shape national discussions around oral health policy, research, and interprofessional education. His enduring legacy is one of vision, leadership, and transformative impact in healthcare, research, and education.