Remembering Yanfang Ren: Esteemed Researcher and Educator Leaves Lasting Legacy at URMC
Yanfang Ren, DDS, MPH, PhD, a world-renowned professor at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health and a highly respected researcher, died unexpectedly while hiking in San Diego. He was 63.
Ren devoted his career to advancing the science of oral health through thoughtful research, compassionate teaching, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of patients and communities. With a multidisciplinary background spanning dentistry, oral pathology, oral surgery, orofacial pain and public health, he consistently connected scientific discovery with real-world application.
“Dr. Ren’s work has left an enduring mark on dentistry, public health, and patient safety,” said David Linehan, MD, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. “He was a dedicated and deeply valued member of our faculty and mentor and leader in education and innovation that has long made Eastman Institute for Oral Health one of the world’s most highly regarded academic dental centers.”
Over the course of his career, Ren authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to meaningful advancements in areas such as dental erosion, oral pain, esthetic dentistry, and access to care. He ranked among the top 1% of dentistry scholars worldwide and the top 1.5% of all researchers globally.
Among his many contributions, Ren’s work on ventilation and infection control stands as especially impactful and enduring. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty surrounded the safety of dental and healthcare environments, Ren led research that brought clarity to how airborne transmission could be mitigated through improved ventilation and environmental controls. His findings provided critical, evidence-based guidance that allowed dental practices—and healthcare settings more broadly—to continue delivering care safely.
“Dr. Ren’s research helped reinforce a fundamental principle now embraced across healthcare,” said EIOH Director Eli Eliav, DMD, PhD, MBA. “He showed how air quality, ventilation, and environmental design are essential components of patient and provider safety. From dental operatories to medical clinics and long-term care facilities, Dr. Ren’s contributions have influenced how spaces are designed, how to manage risks and how care is delivered safely.”
Ren also led a landmark research project published in JAMA Network Open detailing the successful elimination of opioids from dental prescriptions for acute pain, showing that alternative treatments can be effective. His leadership in transitioning Howitt Urgent Dental Care to an opioid-free model positioned the clinic at the forefront of a national movement toward non-opioid pain management in dentistry.
“Dr. Ren was a nationally and internationally known dental scientist with broad expertise in dental caries, dental erosion, effects of smoking on dental restorations, and many other areas,” said Christopher H. Fox, DMD, DMSc, chief executive officer of the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research. “He and his colleagues at EIOH published one of the first papers on the delivery of dental care in the early days of the COVID pandemic. He was an active volunteer leader in our scientific groups and committees. He will be deeply missed by our research community.”
“Dr. Ren was the most brilliant researcher and clinician I have had the opportunity io interact with,” said Hans Malmstrom, DDS, PhD, professor and chair, EIOH General Dentistry, who collaborated with Ren on multiple research projects. “He published so many groundbreaking articles over the years and has been an exceptional mentor to our residents in the clinic and for their master’s degree projects.”
Ren served as founding director and clinical chief of the Howitt Urgent Dental Care Center from its inception in 2010, as well as the founding chair of the EIOH Diagnostic Sciences Department. He was principal investigator of 30 of the 45 grant-funded research projects he was involved in during his career at EIOH.
He earned his DDS and a PhD with a specialty in Maxillofacial Surgery at Beijing University, and a PhD in Odontology at Umea University in Sweden, an MPH at the University of Rochester, and post-doctoral certificates in Orofacial Pain, and Advanced Education in General Dentistry at EIOH.
As an educator, Ren was deeply respected and admired. He mentored many students, residents, and colleagues with generosity and humility, sharing not only his knowledge but his passion for discovery and service. His recognition with the coveted Iranpour Award for Excellence in Clinical Education reflects the lasting impact he had on those he taught and inspired.
Ren built lasting academic collaborations with universities in China, while his scientific work connected professionals worldwide and bridged research and clinical practice.
“He is highly respected internationally and was instrumental in introducing comprehensive general dentistry care in China to broaden the skillsets of general dentists,” added Malmstrom. “Few people I know have had such an impact on dentistry on a global level.”
“Dr. Ren’s passing is deeply painful and is a great loss,” said Eliav. “He will be remembered as an extraordinary colleague, mentor, researcher, clinician, and friend whose impact on our institution, our students and the field of dentistry is immeasurable.”
Ren is survived by his wife Ying Chen, DDS, MS, who he met during his residency at EIOH, and their daughters Johana Ren and Briana Ren, his mother Xiangyun Li, his brother YanEn Ren and his sisters WenQing Ren, WenLi Ren and WenLan Ren, who will cherish his memories forever.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Ren's memory can be made to Eastman Institute for Oral Health.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m, Sunday May 3, at the University of Rochester's The Interfaith Chapel, 1045 Wilson Blvd. A reception will be held from 11:30 am - 1 p.m., followed by a burial serive at Mount Hope Cemetary. RSVP is requested if attending the reception.
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