Peter Sargent, PhD, has been appointed chair of the division of oral biology and vice chair of the department of stomatology.

Sargent is a professor of oral Biology and holds a secondary appointment in the School of Medicine’s department of physiology. He is a member of both the oral biology and the neuroscience PhD programs. Sargent came to UCSF in 1989 after serving on the Stanford faculty for seven years. His research focuses on nicotinic receptors expressed by neurons and on the consequences of the diversity of these molecules in the nervous system.

“Dr. Sargent is particularly known for his dedication to and skills in teaching,” says John Greenspan, BDS, PhD, chair of the department of stomatology, who announced the appointment yesterday.

Sargent directs the Neuroscience course given to first-year dental students -- a course that he designed in his first few years on faculty. In 1993, he chaired a curricular review that resulted in substantial changes in the basic science curriculum and is now leading a major review of the School's predoctoral curriculum. He has received numerous awards from students and fellow faculty for his outstanding teaching. He chairs the School’s Basic Science Coordinating Committee and the Curriculum Steering Committee.

He replaces Nina Agabian, PhD, who served as division chair for one year.

Agabian is a professor in the division of oral biology, holds a secondary appointment in the department of pharmaceutical chemistry, and heads the department of stomatology’s program in molecular pathogenesis. “Under her leadership, the division underwent scrutinous review of its administrative structure and began to make long-term plans for its improvement,” said Greenspan. “She has asked to be allowed to concentrate on her many other responsibilities on campus and in her field. We thank her for her leadership and initiative during the past year.”

1st appeared 8/20/97