Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent

Overview
Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, has served as dean of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and senior vice president of Columbia University Medical Center since August 1, 2013. He received his DMD and DrMedDent degrees from the University of Bern, Switzerland, where he also obtained certificates in oral surgery and prosthodontics. From 2003-2013, he was the dean of the School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, where he led a curriculum update, oversaw Maryland’s expansion to become the largest public dental school in the U.S., re-engineered the school’s business operation, and expanded the school’s global presence.
Before joining the University of Maryland, he held several positions at the University of Michigan, including professor at the School of Dentistry, research scientist at the Center for Human Growth and Development, director of research at the School of Dentistry, and professor and chair of the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences. While at Michigan, he was named the William R. Mann professor and held the Roy & Natalie Roberts endowed chair.
Dean Stohler is a leading expert on pain management and on jaw disorders such as temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJD). He has helped lead National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded work into the genetics, endocrinology, and neurobiology of the human response to pain—particularly in patients with TMJD, a chronic and painful jaw joint disorder that affects from 5–12 percent of the population. He was a member of the team that was the first to show that thinking that a placebo will relieve pain is enough to prompt the brain to release endorphins, the body’s own painkillers, and that this corresponds with a reduction in how much pain a person experiences. Dr. Stohler’s more than 120 articles and book chapters have been cited more than 5,400 times.
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Dental Medicine
Administrative Titles
- Dean, College of Dental Medicine
- Senior Vice President for Dental Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- DDS, 1974 University of Bern, Switzerland
- DMD, 1975 University of Bern, Switzerland
Honors & Awards
1989: Chi Chapter OKU Dental Honors Society
1993-1994: President, IADR/AADR Neuroscience Group
1994-1995: President, Association of University TMD and Orofacial Pain Programs
1997-2003: Dean William R. Mann Endowed Professor
2000-2005: NIH-NIDCR BSC Member
2005-2008: NIH-NIDCR BSC Chair
2002-2003: Dr. Roy and Natalie Roberts Endowed Professor
2003-present: Fellow, International College of Dentists (FICD)
2003-2013: Honorary Member, Maryland Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
2003-2013: Honorary Member, Baltimore Association of Dental Surgeons
2003-2013: Honorary Member, American Academy of the History of Dentistry
2004:Honorary Professor, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
2005-present: Fellow, American College of Dentists (FACD)
2007: Honor Award, Pierre Fauchard Academy
2008: Honorary Membership, Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics
2008: Recognition Award, National Dental Association NDA
2009: Honorary Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2009: Israel (Sonny) Shulman Award, Maimonides Society, Washington, D.C.
2009: University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, “Distinguished Service Award”
2009: Honorary Member and Award of Merit, Horace Hayden Society
2009: Horace Wells Award of Merit
2010: Honorary Professor, Sichuan University, West China College of Stomatology
2010: Jerome M. and Dorothy Schweitzer Research Award
2011: Special Appreciation Award, Pierre Fauchard Academy
2012: Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation, Merit Award
2013: Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Nippon Dental University
2013: Recognition Award, National Dental Association
2015: OKU Vice President