About Dr. Roger Wood
For more than 40 years, Dr. Roger Wood built a reputation as a skilled pediatric dentist with a rare dedication to patients with special needs. In his Midlothian-based practice, he became known for saying “yes” when other dentists turned patients away, establishing a “practice within a practice” that welcomed adults with developmental and acquired disabilities. By the time he retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one-third of his patients had special needs.
Dr. Wood’s commitment continues through the creation of the Dr. Roger Wood Special Care Clinic at the VCU School of Dentistry, which he and his wife, Karen, helped make possible. The clinic provides a sensory-adaptive, accessible environment for patients while serving as a training ground for dental and dental hygiene students to gain experience caring for individuals with special needs.
A former chief of dentistry at Johnston-Willis Hospital, Dr. Wood has extensive experience providing care under sedation in hospital settings. His patient-centered approach has inspired countless families, colleagues and future dentists.
Dr. Wood is now an affiliate faculty member of VCU’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Beyond his practice and teaching, he and Karen have long been active in outreach, participating in Missions of Mercy projects across Virginia to bring quality dental care to underserved communities.
As colleague Dr. Jeff Johnson notes, “Dr. Wood’s life legacy has been about providing care for people who wouldn’t otherwise get it.” Through his leadership, generosity, and vision, that legacy will shape oral health care and dental education for years to come.