Marjorie Jeffcoat, an emeritus professor of periodontics and former dean of Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, died on November 21. She was 69.

Dr. Jeffcoat received an SB (bachelor of science) in 1972 from MIT and a DMD certification of periodontology in 1980 from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. From 1978 to 1988, she served as an associate professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where she also served on a number of clinical and academic committees. In 1988, Dr. Jeffcoat moved to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, where she was assistant dean of research and professor and chair of the department of periodontics. At Alabama, she also held the James Rosen Endowed Chair of Dental Research, served as interim chair for the department of oral biology, and was a member of more than a dozen committees and task forces.

In 2003, Dr. Jeffcoat came to Penn, where she was named dean of the School of Dental Medicine (Almanac February 11, 2003). That same year, she also became a professor in Penn Dental’s department of periodontics. During her time as dean, Dr. Jeffcoat brought Penn Dental’s graduate scores and ranks on regional examinations to all-time highs, recruited several noteworthy faculty members, and reversed school debt and broadened the School’s research portfolio during an economic recession. She stepped down as dean in 2008 (Almanac July 15, 2008), but continued to serve on Penn Dental’s faculty until her retirement in 2016, when she took emeritus status.

In addition to her tenure at Penn, Dr. Jeffcoat served as president of the American Association for Dental Research (1995-1996), the International Association for Dental Research (2000-2001), and the Academy of Osseointegration (2004-2005). She was a member of the National Institutes of Health-NIDCR Advisory Committee for Research on Women’s Health. She served on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals, including as editor-in-chief of the Journal of The American Dental Association from 2001 to 2004, and on numerous advisory committees and commissions at the state, national and international levels.

During her career, Dr. Jeffcoat received many awards, including the prestigious Clinical Research Award and Gies Award from the American Academy of Periodontology. She also received the President’s Achievement Award from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. While at Penn, she was awarded the Surgeon General David Satcher Keynote Lecturer Award from the Commissioned Officers Association (Almanac September 27, 2005). She also was elected a fellow of the International College of Dentists (Almanac October 25, 2005). 

Dr. Jeffcoat is survived by her husband, Robert. Plans for a memorial will be announced at a later date.