James Ragain, DDS, PhD, the first alumnus of the College of Dentistry to become dean, recognized the excellence that already existed in the college when he took the helm and dedicated himself to taking the college to new heights during his tenure.
After six years of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, Dr. Ragain retired from his role as dean of the College of Dentistry June 30. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Ragain was an extraordinary leader and source of inspiration.
To recognize Dr. Ragain’s impact and celebrate his legacy, the college is hosting a special celebration in his honor on Friday, August 23. During this celebration, Dr. Ragain will formally receive the title of Dean Emeritus, a testament to his profound influence and contributions to the college.
“I was very honored and humbled to take on this awesome responsibility,” Dr. Ragain said. “After six years of serving as dean, I am still honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to make a difference in the College of Dentistry and the oral health of the citizens of Tennessee, Arkansas, and the region.”
Dr. Ragain’s impact on the College of Dentistry began long before he became the dean.
Originally from East Tennessee, Dr. Ragain joined the Navy Dental Corps after graduating from the College of Dentistry in 1984. He was described as a “dedicated student,” whose devotion to the University of Tennessee was unparalleled.
Dr. Ragain’s dedication to hard work persisted throughout his career. During his Navy service, he held prominent roles in clinical dentistry and dental research, including overseeing the largest Operative Dentistry Department at the Naval Recruit Institute/Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research for four years. After retiring from the Navy, he returned to the College of Dentistry as a faculty member, served on the Dentistry Alumni Board, and ultimately became its president.
“Dr. Ragain’s leadership skills were quickly recognized by the board and he rose to the position of president,” said Tim Lanier, senior director of Development for the College of Dentistry.
Dr. Ragain’s leadership skills and work ethic were again recognized when the college’s search committee selected him as dean in 2018.
Dr. Ragain acknowledges that his tenure was marked by significant challenges, but he embraced them as opportunities, finding deep rewards in overcoming them and driving meaningful progress.
“We had some bad times,” he said. “The dark days of COVID-19 were terrible. It was a challenge meeting the safety mandates to get our clinics open and running smoothly. Our faculty, students, and staff rose to the occasion, and we persevered. Dentistry cannot be taught remotely. We had to come back to campus. Our residents were the first folks to open our clinics, and they paved the way for our dental and dental hygiene students. For their courage and tenacity, I will be forever grateful. During COVID, we graduated all our students while keeping our standards high.”
Dr. Ragain also played a significant role in the Healthy Smiles Initiative, a state-funded initiative that aims to improve access to oral health care across the state.
“The most obvious highlights of my tenure were the opening of the Delta Dental of Tennessee Building and the Healthy Smiles Initiative, including our new clinic in Kingsport, Tennessee,” Dr. Ragain said. The Delta Dental Building is a significant addition to the College of Dentistry and was named in honor of Delta Dental of Tennessee. The state-of-the-art facility opened on the Memphis campus in April 2023. The new building supports the expansion of the dental school’s educational programs by providing more classroom and lab space.
“This beautiful facility has put our dental school on the map,” Dr. Ragain said. “With this addition we were able to increase our dental class size up to 130 students and our dental hygiene class to 48 students per year. This increase of the student body will ultimately improve our dental workforce across the state of Tennessee.”
“I have the utmost respect for Dr. Ragain and I cherish the mentorship Jay has given me, as well as our friendship that has blossomed,” said Ken Tilashalski, DMD, who is now the dean of the College of Dentistry.
Peter Buckley, MD, UT Health Science Center’s chancellor, praised Dr. Ragain for his outstanding contributions to the university. “Over the past 52 years, as a UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry alumnus and leader, your many contributions, especially those benefiting trainees, alumni, and our communities, have been substantial, enduring, and much appreciated.”
“We thank Dr. James Ragain for his extraordinary leadership and vision that have profoundly transformed our College of Dentistry,” the chancellor said. “His dedication has not only elevated the institution to new heights, but has also created a lasting impact that benefits not just our college, but the entire state. His legacy of excellence will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of countless individuals for generations to come.”