Our History and Legacy

The LSU New Orleans program finds its roots as the second oldest OMS residency in the [COUNTY], dating back to the 1930’s. In 1972 the newly founded LSU School of Dentistry absorbed the OMS program previously administered by Loyola Dental School and Charity Hospital. John N. Kent DDS, FACD, FICD became the first department head and served 1973-2008 in New Orleans. He also served as the department head at the medical school in Shreveport from 1978-2003. Dr. Kent still serves on the OMS faculty but in August 2008 Likith Reddy, DDS, MD, FACS became the department head in New Orleans. From 1973-78 the training was three years, four years from 1978-1989 and in 1989 the program became an OMS-MD integrated residency lasting 6 years. Nine of our residents have obtained a PhD. 

Residency Program Directors were John Kent, DDS (1973-79), Michael Zide, DDS (1979-84), Dale Misiek, DMD (1984-1998). From 1998-2005 Tom Teenier, DDS, MD, Michael Block, DMD, Alexander Pazoki, DDS, MD, John Stover, DDS, MD, PhD, and Randall Wilk, DDS, MD, PhD each served 1-2 years. Jon Perenack, DDS, MD has been director since May 2005. The residents received their education at Charity Hospital of New Orleans, Ochsner Foundation Hospital, VA, Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge, University OMS in Charlotte, NC and several metropolitan private hospitals in the three cities. 

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons trained at LSU enjoy many and varied professional successes. Over 95% are board certified and practice in 40 states. Many have become full or part time educators, research contributors, book authors, and dozens are ABOMS board examiners and officers of OMS, Dental and Medical organizations and institutions. Our graduates have assumed top leadership positions with American Assocation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, State Dental and State Board Examination Organizations.

LSU OMS established the first $1,000,000 chair, The James R. Peltier Chair, in the LSU Medical Center. Significant research by the faculty has generated nearly $10 million in funding through NIH, NIDCR, State, Peltier Chair, and private sources. The full and part time faculty and those in private practice have contributions in over 30 textbooks and 500 journal publications.

The LSU Comprehensive Review Course in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery over the past 35 years has educated nearly 50% of all OMS in America preparing for OMS Board Examination and Certification. Our Advanced Cosmetic Maxillofacial Surgery Course has been given for nearly 20 years. Many “first ever” courses have been given in a variety of maxillofacial and dental reconstruction topics.

Our LSU Faculty and all LSU Graduates are proud of the pioneering contributions to our specialties’ wide scope of surgical privileges. That scope includes research and technical advances in Orthognathic/Craniofacial Surgery, TM Joint and Facial bone Reconstruction, Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Dental Implants.