$5M gift to fund endowed professorship, support establishment of Center for Integrative Global Oral Health

Penn Dental Medicine has received a major gift that will provide the resources to help build the School’s leadership role in global oral (public) health. A $5 million gift from Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Garry Rayant and his wife, Kathy Fields, will create a new endowed professorship at the School and provide foundational support to establish the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health.

“We are immensely grateful to Garry Rayant and Kathy Fields for this exceptional gift,” said Penn President Amy Gutmann. “Penn Dental Medicine has long been a pioneer in advancing innovations that transform dental education, research, and practice here in Philadelphia and throughout the world. This inspired commitment will continue that work by creating the Fields-Rayant Endowed Professorship and allowing us to take significant steps toward launching a new Center for Integrative Global Oral Health.”

“The tremendous vision and generosity of Dr. Rayant and Dr. Fields will have a far-reaching impact,” said Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Mark S. Wolff. “Through this new Center, we will be able to elevate the discussion on the vital role of oral health as part of overall health, to influence local, national, and global oral health policy, and to educate and train graduates to lead in developing public policy and addressing health inequities.”