Dr. Randy Kluender serves as Chairman of the Georgia School of Orthodontics Board of Trustees. Dr. Kluender attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and Masters of Science degree in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Kluender’s professional career has been that of a clinician, educator, and administrator. Dr. Kluender previously was the Associate Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Advanced Dental Education along with being the Director for Continuing Dental Education and Information Technology at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. His career in dentistry did not start in dental education but a solo pediatric dental practice in 1979. He started his dental education career as a part-time clinical instructor in 1985 while maintaining his private practice.
During his tenure as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Colorado, he secured over $2.5 million in grant funding with the majority of those funds starting new programs to help people in need. For three years he was the Regional Consultant for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentist’s Dental Home Initiative that linked Headstart children with dental homes.
Dr. Kluender participated in the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute and was selected for ADEA’s Harry Bruce Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C He actively worked on legislative issues impacting oral health, informing legislators about the relationship of oral health and general health, diversity in the healthcare workforce, student indebtedness and financial aid, and funding for dental schools in the United States. These issues also included advocating for additional funding for oral health care for the underserved, the continuation of Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding for dental schools, loan repayment strategies for students, dentists, and new dental faculty. Additionally, he advocated for increasing the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding that provides significant financial support for research grants to health science centers and dental schools in the U.S.
He has held many leadership roles in organized dentistry including the American College of Dentists and Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Dr. Kluender initiated the White Coat Ceremony for dental students at Colorado that emphasizes ethics and professionalism in dentistry.