Lloyd H. Straffon, D.D.S., professor of dentistry and adjunct clinical professor of dentistry in the School of Dentistry, will retire from active faculty status on August 31, 2006.

Dr. Straffon received his D.D.S. degree in 1963 and his M.S. degree in 1967, both from the University of Michigan. He joined the School of Dentistry as a research associate in 1967 and was appointed assistant professor in 1969. He was promoted to associate professor in 1975 and professor in 1980.

A specialist in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Straffon has been an active participant in the department's teaching, research and clinical activities. From 1970-71, he was the first director of the new pediatric dental clinic at Mott Children's Hospital. He was director of the graduate program in pediatric dentistry from 1990-93, director of the pediatric dentistry clinic from 1993-2003, and served a second term as director of the pediatric dentistry graduate program from 2003-05. He has served on more than 30 master's thesis committees.

Dr. Straffon has received numerous honors during his career. He was named a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 1970 and was the co-recipient of an award for excellence in literature from the Journal of the American Society of Dentistry for Children in 1973. He was elected to the American College of Dentists in 1981 and served on the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatric Dentistry from 2001-05. Dr. Straffon was elected president of the local Chi Chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Society in 2005-06. He has published more than 60 scientific articles and has presented numerous lectures nationally and internationally.

The Regents salute this distinguished health sciences educator by naming Lloyd H. Straffon professor emeritus of dentistry.