University of Toronto: Dentistry Dean Resigns Over Antisemitic Slides

Anil Kishen, the dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, has voluntarily resigned from his leadership role following an internal investigation into his use of antisemitic imagery during a lecture. The university confirmed that Kishen will remain on staff as a tenured faculty member despite his departure from the deanship.

Trevor Young, the university’s vice president and provost, announced the change in a letter dated November 5. The letter was distributed to members of the Faculty of Dentistry and later shared by the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation. Young stated that the decision was voluntary, marking the end of Kishen’s term as dean but not his academic tenure at the institution.

The investigation centered on slides Kishen used in a February lecture covering strangulation theory and dental pulp. The review determined that the materials included images commonly associated with antisemitic tropes. Young noted that the investigation found Kishen did not intend to promote antisemitism when he selected the visuals. The dean had limited knowledge about the specific imagery and its historical associations with Jewish people at the time of the lecture.

Despite the finding regarding intent, the University of Toronto confirmed that the slides objectively contained antisemitic imagery. The investigation also reviewed how the incident affected the faculty community. Young reported mixed reactions among staff and students. Some community members accepted Kishen’s immediate apology, while others expressed that they were deeply hurt by the use of the specific images.

B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy organization, publicized the controversy in February by sharing the images on social media. The group described the visuals as part of a lecture on strangulation theory and dental pulp. One image displayed an illustration of a figure with a face painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag. The torso of the figure was wrapped in what appeared to be an Israeli flag, with the body and hands bound by rope. Text next to the figure asked: “Does strangulation theory occur in the dental pulp?”

A second image depicted a man with a hooked nose swimming in a pool of money. The word “immunity” was written on the outside of the pool. B’nai Brith Canada argued that the use of these visuals indicated that antisemitism and antizionism have permeated academia in Canada. The organization suggested that a senior academic felt emboldened to include such imagery in a specialized dental lecture.

As part of the resolution, Young wrote that Kishen has undergone training to learn more about antisemitism. The university stated he will continue his role as a tenured faculty member. The investigation concluded its review of the February incident, and the letter from Young served as the final communication to the faculty regarding the outcome.

The University of Toronto did not provide further details on the specific date of the next faculty meeting or additional steps beyond the training and the dean’s resignation. Kishen’s transition out of the deanship marks the end of his administrative leadership, while his position as a tenured professor remains unchanged.