The West Virginia University School of Dentistry recently awarded Dami Kim, DDS, Elizabeth Southern Puette, MSDH, and Kim Zaremba-Rabatin, DMD, promotions in rank in recognition of their accomplishments and contributions to the mission of the School. Their promotions were effective July 1.
Dr. Kim, who has been promoted to the rank of associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, joined the faculty at WVU in 2020. In addition to her role as an educator, Kim serves as director of the pediatric dentistry residency program and as a pediatric dentist at WVU Dental.
Kim earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Toronto and completed advanced training in general practice and pediatric dentistry at Jacobi Medical Center in New York City. She is a board-certified pediatric dentist. Prior to joining the faculty, Kim cared for patients in private practice for more than a decade.
With Kim’s leadership, the School of Dentistry established the first and only pediatric dentistry residency in the state of West Virginia. The School now welcomes three residents each year into its two-year program, and the first cohort of residents completed the program at the end of June.
Also receiving a promotion to the rank of associate professor, Puette has been a member of the faculty in the Department of Dental Hygiene at WVU since 2020. She teaches both didactic and clinical courses in the four-year B.S. in Dental Hygiene program.
Puette earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dental hygiene from Old Dominion University. She worked as a registered dental hygienist in private practice and at a health department prior to serving on the faculty. She also served in several public health volunteer roles.
In addition to her work with students, Puette serves as the oral health champion for West Virginia as part of the 100 Million Mouths Campaign, an initiative coordinated by Harvard School of Dental Medicine and UMass Chan Medical School to integrate oral health curricula into health profession schools, and as a member of the WV Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition Early Detection Subcommittee.
Dr. Zaremba was promoted to the rank of clinical associate professor in the Department of Periodontics. Zaremba has been a faculty member at WVU since 2015, and she serves as an adviser for the first- and second-year students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery programs.
Zaremba earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and completed the periodontics advanced education program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She also completed a general practice residency at Dayton VA Medical Center.
In addition to student education, Zaremba has been in private practice for more than 30 years.
To be eligible for promotion, faculty members must demonstrate significant contributions to the School’s mission through excellence in teaching, scholarship and/or service.
WVU Dental is the clinical practice component of the WVU School of Dentistry, offering comprehensive general dentistry and specialized treatment by faculty, resident, and student dentists.
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