A Mentor, Scholar, and Advocate for Faculty Development: Remembering Dr. Walter Psoter’s Contributions to Eastman Institute
Walter Psoter, DDS, PhD, (GPR ’80) brought global perspective and outstanding mentorship to his role as a faculty member at Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH). He passed away December 11 at age 74.
Dr. Psoter’s relationship with the University of Rochester spanned decades and reflected a lifelong commitment to public health dentistry and academic service. He earned his DDS from New York University, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class, and later completed his PhD in Epidemiology at Yale University. His academic career was marked by a sustained focus on head and neck cancer, oral cancer detection, and the socioeconomic determinants of oral health. His work placed him among the top scholars in his field, ranking in the top 2.2% worldwide in Dentistry and the top 3.2% in Oral Health and overall, according to ScholarGPS, one of the world’s most comprehensive scholarly analytics platform.
At EIOH, Dr. Psoter was perhaps best known for his passion for faculty development. In 2022, he became co-leader of the HRSA-EIOH EPIC Dental Faculty Development Program, a role that aligned seamlessly with his long-standing commitment to mentoring educators and strengthening academic careers. Colleagues consistently describe him as an exceptional mentor and as someone who took the time to understand individual goals, encouraged innovation and collaboration, and guided faculty thoughtfully through promotion, scholarship, and leadership pathways.
“Walt had a genuine and sustained commitment to faculty development,” said Linda Rasubala, DDS, PhD, MSHPE site director of EIOH’s Howitt Urgent Dental Care. “He encouraged people to grow, to take intellectual risks, and to see themselves as scholars and leaders. Many of us advanced in our careers under his guidance. His impact was lasting, both personally and professionally.”
Dr. Psoter’s academic journey helped shape his mentoring style. Early in his career, he worked extensively in community health centers and global public health settings, including Haiti and Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Costa Rica. He later held faculty and research appointments at NYU and Lutheran Medical Center, where he served as a researcher in a nationally oriented, community-based residency program. These roles reinforced his belief that dentistry must be grounded in equity, access, and real-world impact.
Cyril Meyerowitz, DDS, MS, EIOH director emeritus, first knew Dr. Psoter as a resident in the early GPR classes at Strong Memorial Hospital. He recalled his “quirky, brilliant, iconoclastic mind” and early interest in public and community health. “Walt had great academic potential and a genuine concern for underserved populations,” Dr. Meyerowitz said. “At EIOH, his interests in public health and faculty development led to multiple grants and meaningful scholarship, including important work on oral cancer detection in general dental practices. He made a real difference here.”
That difference was often felt most strongly on a personal level. Sean McLaren, DDS, MBA, EIOH chief officer for Quality, Compliance and Safety, described Dr. Psoter as a mentor who became a trusted confidant. “Walt helped me look at things differently,” Dr. McLaren said. “He cared deeply about the people he mentored, followed up with them, and offered thoughtful advice shaped by his own varied experiences. He was someone who genuinely enjoyed being a mentor.”
EIOH Director Eli Eliav, DMD, PhD, MBA, reflected on Dr. Psoter’s legacy as both a scholar and a mentor. “Dr. Psoter was committed to developing others. His work strengthened our research mission, but just as importantly, his mentorship strengthened our faculty, residents and staff.”
A celebration of his life will be arranged by his family at a later date. Click here for Dr. Psoter’s full obituary.
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