Dr. Randy Kluender is the former President of the Georgia School of Orthodontics and currently serves as Senior Advisor to the President. He also serves as a member of GSO’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Kluender attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and Master of Science degree in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Kluender’s professional career has spanned clinical practice, dental education, and academic administration. He previously served as Associate Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Advanced Dental Education at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where he also served as Director of Continuing Dental Education and Information Technology. His career in dentistry began in private practice when he opened a solo pediatric dental practice in 1979. In 1985, he began his career in dental education as a part-time clinical instructor while continuing to maintain his private practice.
During his tenure as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Colorado, Dr. Kluender secured more than $2.5 million in grant funding, with the majority of those funds supporting new programs designed to serve people in need. For three years, he served as Regional Consultant for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Dental Home Initiative, which connected Head Start children with dental homes.
Dr. Kluender participated in the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute and was selected for ADEA’s Harry W. Bruce Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C. He worked extensively on legislative issues affecting oral health, including educating legislators about the relationship between oral and overall health, diversity in the healthcare workforce, student indebtedness and financial aid, and funding for dental schools throughout the United States.
His advocacy also included increased funding for oral healthcare for underserved populations, continuation of Graduate Medical Education funding for dental schools, loan repayment strategies for students, dentists, and new dental faculty, and increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, which provide significant support for research at health science centers and dental schools across the country.
Dr. Kluender has held numerous leadership roles in organized dentistry, including with the American College of Dentists and Omicron Kappa Upsilon. He also initiated the White Coat Ceremony for dental students at the University of Colorado, emphasizing the importance of ethics and professionalism in dentistry.