Michael J. Metz, DMD, MSD, MS, PhD
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry

Divisions of General Dentistry, Pediatrics and General Practice Residency

Dr. Metz is a native of Louisville, Kentucky where he attended DeSales High School class of 1990. Following high school, he attended the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences earning his BA in Developmental Biology and Analytical Chemistry class of 1996. Next, Dr. Metz was admitted into the University of Louisville School of Dentistry where he completed his doctorate in medical dentistry (DMD) class of 2000. Dr. Metz was then commissioned as a Naval Dental Corps Officer with the US Navy until 2010. He was stationed at Norfolk Naval Dental Center (Norfolk, VA), 3rd Dental Battalion (Okinawa, Japan), Naval Recruiting Command (Indianapolis, IN) and Naval Hospital Beaufort (Beaufort, SC). While stationed at Naval Recruiting Command Indianapolis, Dr. Metz completed his master of science in dentistry (MSD) from Indiana University with post graduate certificates in operative and preventive dentistry. Also during that time, Dr. Metz completed his master of science (MS) from Indiana University in Clinical Research as well as his board certification through the American Board of Operative Dentistry (ABOD). 

Dr. Metz joined the faculty at ULSD in 2010 where he taught all aspects of general dentistry. His primary focus is cariology, preventive dentistry and operative dentistry. Dr. Metz was promoted to associate professor with tenure July 1, 2017 where he assumed chairmanship of the Department of General Dentistry and Oral Medicine. On July 1, 2018 Dr. Metz assumed the role of chairman for the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry under the direction of Dean Gerard Bradley. On July 1, 2022, Dr. Metz was promoted to full tenured professor where he continue to chair the department of comprehensive dentistry under the direction of Dean Margaret Hill.

In 2021, Dr. Metz completed his doctor of philosophy (PhD) in education and assessment through the University of Louisville College of Education. His active research interests are active learning, spaced retrieval practice, self-assessment, peer-assessment, and faculty calibration.

Dr. Metz is married to Cyndi Metz, PhD, vice-chair department of physiology and thread director, UL School of Medicine. Together they have two beautiful children, Parker David and Zoey Adaline.