Stephen Pachuta

Dr. Pachuta is serving as Dean, and Professor of Restorative Dentistry at West Virginia University School of Dentistry.  He is an experienced senior healthcare executive with a significant background leading large diverse healthcare organizations. His professional skills include a proven ability to motivate and align healthcare organizations with a strong record of success leading in the national and international healthcare communities, as well as on large administrative and headquarters staffs. His focus areas of experience include executive leadership, strategic leadership, organizational leadership, healthcare operations, quality, patient safety, policy, strategic planning, execution, budgeting, and human resources. He served as a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. His assignments as a Flag officer included Director for Health Services, Headquarters Marine Corps and Medical Officer to the U.S. Marine Corps; Director for Medical Resources, Plans and Policy, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and Chief, Navy Dental Corps. Prior to his selection as a Flag officer, he served as the Executive Assistant / Senior Policy Advisor to the Surgeon General of the Navy and commanded the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka Japan (CEO level responsibilities). He earned a certificate in Comprehensive Dentistry from the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, a Master of Science in Health Sciences from The George Washington University and a Master of Arts in Bioethics and Health Policy from Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Pachuta is the recipient of the American Hospital Association, Federal Health Care Executive, Award for Excellence for 2011. He retired following 32 years of Naval service in December 2017.  He enjoys international travel, distance running and SCUBA diving.