Kevin Donly, DDS, retires after 24 years of incredible service and achievements at the School of Dentistry

Mandy Saal

March 1, 2023

A huge thank you and congratulations to Kevin Donly, DDS, MS, professor and chair of the Department of Developmental Dentistry in the School of Dentistry, for his retirement this February. A dedication of over 24 years at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry with an immeasurable, positive impact on our programs, clinics, students, staff and faculty.

Donly received his Doctor of Dental Science degree in 1984, a certificate in pediatric dentistry, and a Master of Science in 1986, all from the University of Iowa. He became board certified in Pediatric Dentistry in 1993.

“Dr. Donly has taken the UT Health San Antonio Pediatric Dentistry program to the top tier. He is the quintessential leader,” stated Jeffrey C. Mabry, DDS, MS, a clinical professor of developmental dentistry and director of the Dental Center for Children at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

“He is well-connected and internationally known, and respected. This enables him to recruit and retain ‘the best and brightest’ faculty members. He masterfully nurtures, supports, and challenges his faculty to reach their highest potential. He is a skillful administrator and an absolute ‘wizard’ when it comes to managing the department budget, through good times and bad. In summary, Dr. Donly checks all the boxes required of a department chair. He is extraordinary as a leader, educator, researcher, clinician, administrator and mentor,” added Mabry.

Donly was a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, past president of the American Society of Dentistry for Children, past president and chair of the Public Information Committee for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a principal investigator on a Program Project sponsored by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a board member for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation and the American Dental Association Foundation, and Pediatric Dentistry Commissioner of the Commission on Dental Accreditation where he served as the chair of the Document and on the Policy Committee. He was also cross-appointed as a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.

Donly has published over 350 chapters, manuscripts, and abstracts associated with research on pediatric dentistry, dental restorative materials, and clinical utilization. He has received grants or research support from the United States Health and Services Administration, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the 3M, ESPE, Premier, Bisco, GC, Dentsply, Ivoclar, Kerr, Procter and Gamble, Church and Dwight, NuSmile, Optiva, Oral-B, Enamelon, Atrix Laboratories, Inc. and Guidor companies.

Please join us in celebrating the incredible career, leadership, research, hard work and dedication that Dr. Donly chose to put forward at UT Health San Antonio!