Dr. Evelina Kratunova appointed interim head of pediatric dentistry
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The UIC College of Dentistry is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Evelina Kratunova as the interim department head of the UIC College of Dentistry Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Kratunova has demonstrated the abilities, expertise and experience to lead the department.
Kratunova joined UIC in 2015 following clinical and academic appointments in Ireland, and is a tenured associate professor, a board-certified pediatric dentist, Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and holds attending privileges at the University of Illinois Hospital.
Kratunova received her dental education at the Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria, and completed specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Dublin Dental University Hospital, University of Dublin, Ireland, where she earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery in Pediatric Dentistry and received the Dean’s Prize for outstanding postgraduate student performance. Her additional qualifications include the Specialist Fellowship Diploma and Membership Diploma of the Faculty of Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, a Diploma in Child Psychology, and a Certificate in Healthcare Management from the Yale University School of Management.
At UIC, Kratunova has developed a significant role in postgraduate education, research mentorship, and clinical training. As coordinator of resident research, she mentors pediatric dentistry residents throughout the research process, from developing the research question and study design through presentation and publication and she provides clinical supervision in postgraduate and predoctoral clinics, as well as in hospital and operating room settings.
She also serves as co-course director in the M.S. Oral Sciences curriculum. During her time at UIC, she has served on 54 M.S. thesis committees across pediatric dentistry, endodontics, and orthodontics, including 15 as committee chair. Her mentorship has contributed to 27 research awards received by residents and students at the institutional, state, and national levels, including six Punwani Best Resident Research Awards. In recognition of her commitment to education and mentorship, she was named UIC College of Dentistry Clinical Faculty Mentor of the Year in 2018.
Kratunova’s scholarly work is grounded in clinically relevant questions in pediatric oral health. Her research encompasses restorative materials and pulp therapy, minimally invasive approaches to early caries and enamel remineralization, developmental dental anomalies, pediatric local anesthesia, general anesthesia outcomes, antibiotic stewardship, and oral health in children with complex medical conditions. She has led and contributed to a broad portfolio of clinical, translational, and laboratory-based studies, including federally and institutionally supported projects. Her scholarly record includes 6 book chapters, more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and accepted manuscripts, more than 100 abstracts and posters, and numerous national and international scientific presentations.
Beyond her clinical and academic responsibilities, Kratunova has established a substantial record of institutional, national, and international service and leadership. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Council on Scientific Affairs, serves on the boards of the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentistry and Mobile Care Chicago, and contributes to several UIC College of Dentistry committees, including the Faculty Affairs Advisory Committee, Research Advisory Committee, and M.S. Oral Sciences Advisory Committee. Internationally, she serves as a section head for the Fellowship Examination of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry and is a past president of the Irish Society of Dentistry for Children. She also serves on editorial boards and as a reviewer for several pediatric dentistry journals. Across these roles, Kratunova has maintained a strong commitment to advancing pediatric oral health through clinical care, education, scholarship, mentorship, and collaborative leadership.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kratunova as she begins her new leadership role.