Dr. Earl Freymiller, an eminent oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a professor at the
UCLA School of Dentistry, is the inaugural holder of UCLA's Bob and Marion Wilson Endowed Chair.
The endowed term chair — the eighth at the dental school — was established to support the teaching, research and public service activities of a distinguished faculty member who has demonstrated leadership in dental surgery and education and a strong commitment to community service in the field of dentistry.
The chair was created with a $1 million endowment to honor longtime supporters Bob and Marion Wilson for the immeasurable generosity they have shown to the school over the years.
"Dr. Freymiller was an obvious choice for me as the first Bob and Marion Wilson Endowed Chair," said Dr. No-Hee Park, dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry. "He truly encompasses the spirit of giving back that the Wilsons embody, through his dedication to teaching, research activities and public service."
A graduate of Harvard University's School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School, Freymiller joined UCLA in 1989 as an assistant professor in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Over his 24 years at the school, he has served in many roles, including as chair of that section and the division of diagnostic and surgical sciences. Since 1995, he has also been chief of dental services at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Outside academia, Freymiller is deeply involved with the nonprofit Thousand Smiles Foundation, which provides dental care and maxillofacial surgery to less fortunate children in Mexico. Since 1990, he has performed surgery on more than 100 children as part of his volunteer work.
"We see children that have ear infections, hearing problems and poor speech development due to their oral cavity deformities," Freymiller said. "With the work we do, we have helped countless children lead more normal lives."
