Bernard J. Costello, MD, DMD

Dean of the School of Dental Medicine; Thomas W. Braun Endowed Professor

University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Bernard J. Costello is the Thomas W. Braun Endowed Professor and serves as Dean for the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh where he has been a full-time faculty member since 2001. Dr. Costello is Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Chief of Pediatric Maxillofacial Surgery at UPMC Children’s Hospital where he the longest serving surgeon on the cleft-craniofacial team. Dr. Costello earned his doctorates in dentistry and medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. Following his residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Costello completed a pediatric craniofacial fellowship at the Posnick Center for Facial Surgery and Georgetown University Medical Center.

As dean, he has helped safely and successfully lead the school through the COVID-19 pandemic with higher clinical production, volume, and student experiences than any of the previous non-pandemic years by focusing on team efficiency, transparency, cultural transformation, and quality clinical care. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, fundraising and development have also hit new highs, as well as alumni engagement with a new emphasis on community impact, diversity, and alumni development.

Dr. Costello is primarily known for his translational research in regenerative medicine strategies for craniofacial deformities and has been a primary investigator and team science collaborator for projects and multi-institutional grants aimed at developing regenerative technologies with Pitt Dental Medicine’s Center for Craniofacial Regeneration. He also authored novel guidelines for responsible pain management that focus on a non-opioid approach and has been a strong advocate for measures to fight the opioid addiction crisis.  He has published numerous peer reviewed publications and has served as an editor and authored content for several key texts focusing on craniomaxillofacial reconstruction.

Dr. Costello has also served in leadership positions with a number of professional associations, boards and foundations. He is currently the Vice President for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Past-President of the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons, and Past-President of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. Dr. Costello regularly lectures world-wide on pediatric and adult facial disorders and craniofacial regenerative translational research. He also treats facial injuries for the Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey team in conjunction with UPMC Sports Medicine.