Larry Cunningham Jr. was recently named the next chair of oral and maxillofacial surgery and associate dean for hospital affairs at the School of Dental Medicine and UPMC. He also will serve as interim program director for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency program.

Cunningham, a native of Texas, comes to Pitt after an 18-year career at the University of Kentucky, where he served as professor and chief of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

“Pitt Dental Medicine is exceptionally fortunate to recruit someone of his caliber, ethics and commitment,” said Dean Bernard J. Costello. “Dr. Cunningham is well known for his loyalty, problem-solving capabilities, passion for education and masterful clinical skills.”

Cunningham received his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Texas at San Antonio and then obtained his MD and residency certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery from the training program at Parkland Health and Hospital System. Cunningham has a broad clinical interest in maxillofacial surgery and is an internationally recognized expert in the management of traumatic facial injuries.

As a member of the cleft lip and palate team at the University of Kentucky, his practice included alveolar cleft repairs and jaw surgery for patients with facial differences. He is particularly skilled in the surgical management of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease, including total joint replacements. Cunningham frequently lectures on the management of injuries to the nerves that innervate of the lower lip and tongue.

Cunningham is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and currently is treasurer of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery’s Board of Directors, and is also a member of several associations and boards. He also served as a leader in many regional and local organizations.

Read more about Cunningham at Pitt Dental's website and UPMC's Life Changing Medicine blog.