Califano elected a director of the American Board of Periodontology

East Carolina University professor Dr. Joseph Califano, director of periodontology in the Department of Surgical Sciences at the School of Dental Medicine, was elected to serve as one of nine directors of the American Board of Periodontology.

Califano will be installed at the board’s annual meeting this month. He will serve a six-year term.

The ABP is one of nine specialty boards recognized by the American Dental Association. The board serves to advance the art and science of periodontics and elevate the quality of periodontal care through the examination, certification, and recertification of periodontists.

The ABP develops and oversees the administration of the written and oral exams required to become a board certified periodontist or diplomate of the ABP. Califano was a board examiner for seven years prior to a national run this year for a directorship.

“Dr. Califano was elected a director by the membership of the American Academy of Periodontology, which says a great deal about his reputation in the profession. Directors are to represent the best of the best in periodontics. Our students are the recipients of his expertise, and we are fortunate to have him on our faculty,” said Dr. Grishondra Branch-Mays, chair, School of Dental Medicine Department of Surgical Sciences.

A native of Bayshore, N.Y., Califano received a certificate in periodontology, a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology, and a D.D.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Before joining ECU, Califano was the director of post-graduate periodontics at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in Chicago. His research interests include pathogenesis and immunopathology of periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, microbial genetics of periodontitis associated bacteria and computer guided implant dentistry.

Califano is a member of the American Dental Education Association and the American Dental Association.